911 4.0 v8

I was reading a thread on the " Rich & Famous " forum where the OP was disappointed for he who drove the next generation 911 in Germany confirmed it had a 4.0 V8 with no rear seats. And the OP was sad to hear the flat 6 are becoming history and was angry that Porsche chose V8 instead of flat 8. For I have a limited mechanical background, I ask is it really bad news? If so then why? Here is an old video of the spied car: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lVO6xle0SEc

An engine behind the back seat sounds interesting.

V8 and no rear seat (mid engine?) I'd love that. maybe they can give it a better looking rear end too. It would make sense as they could up the power more easily, and the car would be better balanced. The "purist" may cry fowl, but they also cried when the engines changed cooling methods.

The V8 and and new V6 produce more torque at lower revolutions so they are more efficient (ie less emissions) Here is a graph comparing the 3.6 Flat 6 to the new V8 derived 3.6 V6 of the Panamera (to compare apples with apples) The flat 6 needs +34kw and +650rpm to produce 10 Nm less torque

Audi R8/Lambo Gallardo platform underpinning the new 911?

Re: 911 4.0 V8 The 911 will just lose sales to the Panamera if it does not get a 8 and Porsche need to meet CAFE by 2015? If the rumour is true and the 4.0 is a smaller piston 4.8 V8 then we might see a 3.0 (smaller piston 3.6) and 3.6 V6 981/2.

Re: 911 4.0 V8 Seems about a year ago I was typing that thie should be Porsche's next move if they are to stay competitive with Ferrari, and BMW. Right now we see the Lizards, et al fighting to stay on top, often winning only on endurance, driver quality and quick pit stops. I long ago proposed a Porsche lineup that went like this: 4 cyl. Mid-engine Speedster roadster, Boxster/Cayman 6 cyl. Mid-engine, 911 8 cyl. Mid engine, Panamera coupe/4 dr. Front 6-8 GTs, Cayenne in courant configurations. This would cover the gamut and give VW the luxury car, sports, GT, and SUV that they may like while preserving Porsche's competitive heritage. Think about it.

This however is not you typical cabin forward profile of a mid engined V8 (think R8) Pana V8 AWD drivetrain in which case it will still be rear engined (with a longer wheelbase) and with 2 rear seats ie a 911

4.0L flat six not V8. There is abundant information around the net at this point that the next 911 (991) will continue w/ a flat six engine. The 9A1 block introduced in the 997.2 will be the basis for these engines.

This is what I have heard also. If they spring a mid-engine V8 on us, it would be a very big surprise on everyone's part. Not a bad idea, but not likely. Maybe the guy was driving a Pana and mistook it for a 991.

they wont need a v8 the 3.9 gt3rs spanks f430's, etc... that;s a 4.0 flat six.. and there's a panamera coupe coming out.. so maybe they are getting confused..

Hmmm. At the Petite LeMans this weekend, the "spanking" was done not only by the F430s, but also the Corvettes & M3s. 4 liter flat 6s have been in use since last year. Perhaps the 911 will always be rear-engined in homage to the history. But #1 was mid-engined. As suggested above, maybe it will be the Panamera V8 turned around?

Re: 911 4.0 V8 if they made the 991 a mid engine p-car, it would be a no brainer for me to buy the 991. i also want a v8, so that would be perfect. buuuuuut, i feel like its wishful thinking since the 991 would be too big of a deviation from 911's heritage. i think that the heritage is something that they would value too much. wild guess here, maybe they would just do this to the next gt3. but who knows. other car companies threw out everything out the window and chopped off their roots. great ex: ///m division. anyone agree?

^^^ Dont underestimate Porsche- they are in business for profit and will do whatever is necessary to sell more cars. The 991 looks substantialy bigger- to big for a 6. The engine is either in the front, in the rear or in the middle. The shape does not suggest the front (hood to low) or the middle (to much rear overhang and wheelbase to short) Therefor it is in the rear. It is either a Flat or V8. a Flat 8 with PDK for flat 6 puts to much bulk and weight behind the rear wheels. The V8 has a special lighter lower PDK specific to the Panamera with the front diff attached to the block and a driveshaft passing thru the sump that can be reversed (ala Lamborghini Countach) This will put the engine in rear but partly forward of rear wheels with +52/-48 rear front weight distribution (Panamera in reverse) (The Flat 6 4wd 911 rear front weight distribution is 61/39)

Porsche already make a kind of mid engined 911 it's called the Cayman, so I think it's very unlikely. Plus the 911 sells because people like that it's different and that it has it's own character that would be lost were the engine to be placed more optimally. Porsche is not going to mess with the engine out back, 2+2 formula. They might have to do something with the engine though. There's no reason why it couldn't be a V8. RUF have shown that it can be done with the RGT-8 and with no detriment to weight. Again though, part of the character of the car is the flat 6, I'm not sure people would accept it being swapped out for an 8. Again, I'm thinking commercially here rather than practically.

I'd be really really surprised if they got rid of the rear seats. That was one of the Ferdinand's major original design goals of the 911: a sports car that seats four. The legacy of the 911 is a 2+2 with a rear engine. I don't see them changing that.

The problem is the Cayman is only available with a 3.4L engine, no turbo, Max 320 hp. (stock) If they don't give the 911 a mid-engine, they need to considering giving the Cayman a bump in power. Imagine what would be possible if Porsche actually put some weight balance in to the 911 by moving the engine forward a little. Or gave the Cayman a 997 GT3 or 997 Turbo engine. A well balance car, with great power to weight ratio, and all of Porsche's great handling refinements and systems.

I think porsche are slowly realising that the Cayman/Boxster doesn't eat into the 911 sales. The Spyder and the imminent arrival of the Clubsport are proving that. So I think it's only a matter of time before they stick the 3.8 into one. After all, if people want it and will buy it, they'd be mad not to.

What if: 1) They move the 911 up to the 8 cylinders category to compete with the Reds & Bulls. 2) They give the Cayman/Boxster the upgrade to NA 3.8/3.6 6 cylinders category. 3) They introduce the new 4 cylinders turbo charged entry level car. The above should make everyone happy, right?

Could these side intakes prove to be a mid-engine 911? Spy Shots: Porsche 911 Coupe and Cabriolet -- Autoblog

The rear vents seem to suggest rear engine and the side inlets may suggest engine is mounted further forward or not. The rear seems somewhat higher with more of side window upsweep than 997 possibly indicating taller engine or not most telling image yet- appears to be still rear engined with longer wheelbase and rear overhang similar to 997

I had to look a couple of times, to make sure this post wasn't on April 1st (April fool's Day). Mark my words: The new 911 Will be a flat-6, rear-engine, 2+2 - like it always has been. Grand-Am DP, and RUF, are pushing towards V8 - but Porsche isn't. Maybe eventually it will happen, but not any year soon. This is one of the most iconic layouts in all of automobiledom.

+1 You've summed it up. By the way, the side "vents" are camoflage, this has been confirmed by those who have actually seen the mules and posted on other sites.

Mark my words... there will be no flat 8. From an actual manufacturing and engineering standpoint, it will not happen. We can fantasize... but no. Now back to reality, what we see in the Panamera and Cayenne (engine wise), now we are talking...

These pictures are from Wild Speed rendering the looks of the new 991... and I loved it! Wild-Speed's Photos - Porsche 2012 911 (991) | Facebook

I LIKE it. Maybe they finally fixed the ugly rear end of the 911. Now if they can just get the weight a little better balanced!

Somehow the following article came as a disappointment to me... not sure why, but I was hoping the figures would be better: 2012 Porsche 911 - new details reported Plus it seems we will never see the 8 cylinder engine except on the two-door Panamera! I can understand that but I don't like it.