Porsche prepared to produce four-cylinder model

Stricter emissions and fuel economy regulations are looming on the horizon for the world’s automakers, which has many car makers completely rethinking their future powertrain offerings. While more mainstream automakers have already announced plans to cut back larger engine production, the world’s exotics have indicated they have no plans on changing their proven supercar formulas. However, Porsche might be bucking the performance car trend as it has engineered a green Plan B into its new car lineup.

Thomas Krickelberg, Porsche’s head of powertrains, revealed that the company’s new range of six-cylinder engines were actually engineered so they could be converted to four pot units. “[There are] the discussions about global warming and the need to reduce fuel consumption,” Krickelberg told Drive. “The target was to have a six-cylinder because that is the criteria of the 911 and the Boxster. But there is still the option to reduce the number of cylinders.”
The result of lopping off two cylinders would be a Boxer four displacing about 2.4L.
Despite the ability to turn its six-cylinder engines into four-cylinders rather easily, Porsche has no plans to produce a four-cylinder models of yet. Instead, Porsche will use the flexibility of its powerplants more as a Plan B – only using the option if the need arises.
Although Porsche doesn’t currently offer a four-cylinder model, the automaker has a lengthy history with the four-cylinder engine, dating back to the company’s first Porsche 64 in 1939.

Although electric vehicles are generally regarded as the future of four-wheel motoring, very few automakers actually have a viable EV platform. The problem in lies with the complexity of an electric vehicle – from the software to the general packaging. That being said, Tesla has become one of the first to produce a proper EV, which has some of the world’s elite automakers taking notice.

Porsche has reportedly placed an order for Tesla’ Roadster EV, which will undoubtedly be used for R&D purposes – a practice not uncommon in the auto industry. The Roadster represents everything a Porsche EV would stand for – excellent acceleration, handling and braking – so it makes sense that the German automaker is so interested in the electric two-seater.

The other reason for Porsche’s interest in the Roadster likely stems from its failure with its own E-RUF electric 911. The E-RUF is an all-electric concept Porsche launched earlier this year, but its performance is more in line with a Toyota Prius than Porsche 911. Zero to 60 in the E-RUF takes a lethargic 7 seconds, with the car’s 4,200 lbs. curb weight taking a serious toll on cornering a braking.

Because of the disappointment with the E-RUF and the news of the Roadster purchase, it appears as though Porsche is going back to the drawing board with its electric plans. That means the first all-electric Porsche is likely several years away, but at least the automakers first production EV will be worthy of the Porsche nameplate.

Porsche may have expanded out of the sports car segments over the last few years – first with the Cayenne SUV and most recently with the Panamera sedan – but the now Volkswagen-led will be returning to its roots over the next few years.

Although the Cayenne has been a huge money maker for Porsche, it really doesn’t fit in the automaker’s sports car theme. As such, Volkswagen’s board has decided to ax the Cayenne from Porsche’s product line after the next-generation of the SUV has run its course. An updated version of the Cayenne will bow for the 2011 model year, but no updates are expected thereafter.

Perhaps even more surprising, VW’s board has also voted to kill off the recently launched Panamera sedan after its initial run, according to Car. The Cayenne and Panamera are expected to finish their current life cycles with production ceasing sometime in 2016.

“VW Group has plenty of SUVs and saloons [sedans] — it doesn’t need Porsche to build them,” an inside source told Car.

Despite the thinning of the ranks, VW is said to be working on a new entry-level vehicle for Porsche. As previously reported, the new model would slot beneath the Porsche Boxster and share its underpinnings with a production version of the VW Bluesport concept.

Porsche is going back to just making sports cars!!!!!!!!