The new Cayman was shown to the public late last year, and has already been met with laudatory remarks from auto scribes all over the world. A beautiful mixture of creases and curves, the 2014 Cayman is sure to be a sales success. The 981 Boxster is also receiving credit for its handling prowess, and the new Cayman will surely add to that with its hard top contributing greater torsional rigidity and a more connected chassis.
Buyers looking at the 981 can currently choose from a 2.7L flat six “base” model with 275 horsepower, as well as the uprated 3.4L flat six “S” with 325 horses. These two engines and trim levels are similar in ethos to the outgoing 987. While the 911 lineup is inundated with trim levels, performance levels, and option packages, the 981 chassis is limited to only these two. Is the world ready for a similar proliferation of Cayman and Boxster offerings? Should Porsche build a flat 4-cylinder engine to slot into the lineup? If asked my opinion, I would emphatically shout “YES”!
There was rumor of a new “baby-boxster” roadster model last year, which was both affirmed as possible, and later completely denied. After that, the rumor mill began to swirl with a “sub-base” trim line of Boxster and Cayman, possibly with a four cylinder engine, which was again denied. Since late last year, I’ve heard rumors of a new engine in the works at Porsche, said to be unveiled at the 2013 Frankfurt Auto Show this fall. No indication has been given as to which car this potential engine might slot into, yet it is my hope that it is destined for 981 propulsion. While it would make sense for Porsche to produce a new engine specifically for use in the sure-to-be-successful Macan (perhaps a 3 liter turbo V6?), I hope that they defenestrate sense altogether, and go instead with something that brings about a resurgence of the soul of the company.
Re-Create the “Slow Car Fast” Mentality”
Think back to the days of the 356, the heady days of the beginning of the company we all love. The 356 was not a powerful car, but it was a giant killer, it punched above its weight class. It has always been, and will always be, more fun to drive a slow car quickly than it is to drive a fast car slowly. With that ethos in mind, the 356 was rewarding to a proper “momentum” driver, providing quick lap times, an excellent on road driving experience, and created a legacy for a company that continues to grow to this day. A new, less powerful engine for the Cayman and Boxster couple could re-create some of the lost “slow-car-fast” mentality that Porsche was once known for.
The hugely successful Scion FR-S and Subaru BRZ twins, with long waiting lists, high sales numbers, and an excited group of sports car fans proves the fact that there is a market for this type of car that values balance and dynamism over speed and power. If there was ever a chance for Porsche to go back to their roots, this is it. While sense was thrown out the window in this scenario, and my mental capacity for determining the costs associated with such an endeavor, I would still make my professional recommendation that a 4-cylinder Porsche does make business sense. A 2.5 liter flat-four engine developing somewhere in the ballpark of 225 horsepower would allow a new Boxster or Cayman to reach a new base pricepoint somewhere closer to the mid-$40,000 range.
While the flat-four engine could be used to introduce the 981 to a new segment slightly lower on the price scale, the new engine could also be optimized to increase the 981 chassis appeal on the higher end of the spectrum as well with the use of some technologies which are already intimately familiar to Porsche as a company. Forced induction being the first, and flywheel driven hybrid being the second.
When a turbocharger is added to my imaginary 2.5 liter four, the power could jump to a level a bit higher than the existing 3.4, making perhaps as much as 370 horsepower using inline twin-turbochargers for maximum driveability. With this kind of punch in a mid-engine chassis, those studying the Porsche lineup might argue that the Cayman and Boxster would then be scavenging sales from a base model Carrera. This argument is why I would limit this engine, at least at first, to only the Cayman in a limited production high-performance model along the lines of a “GT2 Lite”. A sport and track oriented suspension setup, Spartan interior appointments, and bespoke bodywork aerodynamic enhancements would ensure an entirely different purchasing demographic from those seeking a base model 991 Carrera. As the highest performance models of the Porsche lineup convert exclusively to PDK transaxles, this model could continue to be offered with a 6-speed manual transmission for the “raw driving experience” that some customers still yearn for. Priced around $80,000 with a limited range of options, this Cayman “GT2 Lite” could offer a return to the turbocharged rear wheel drive experience that has been largely absent since the 964 Turbo ended production in 1994. A limited production run below 2000 units would be nearly guaranteed to sell out almost instantaneously.
While I am sure that Porsche is not looking to be cross-shopped with a budget Toyota or Subaru sport compact, it would be foolish to assume that they aren’t paying attention to market conditions. Porsche is among the most market cognizant and intelligently marketed brands in the world, and if the company viewed adequate justification for this type of engine, chances are they would already have plans in place to produce it. So, will the new engine shown in Frankfurt be my imaginary 2.5 liter? My magic 8-ball says “outlook not so good” , but I remain hopeful. My heart longs for the day that I can once again buy a brand-new Porsche with that signature flat-four rumble.
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View Comments (17)
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this speculation. I really hope that Porsche is planning to introduce a 4-cylinder to the Cayman / Boxster lineup soon to give it more of a wide range on the marketplace. Whether it's a naturally aspirated ~250 horsepower entry level Cayman or a turbo-charged 370 hp performance model. If the new 4 cylinder, 2.5L is extracted from the current 400 horsepower 3.8L in the 991-S, that would develop approximately 265 horsepower naturally aspirated.
If Porsche does produce a naturally aspirated flat 4, I will be the first person to place an order for one.
Every conversation I've had with Porsche staff concerning price points and entry-level Porsches has always ended with their comments regarding brand identity and not wanting to "dilute the brand." That is, they like keeping Porsches expensive. Many of us, including myself, believe that the high entry price makes new Porsche models relatively unobtainable, yet does not make them any more desirable.
Scrubs like myself had to develop a workaround if we were to scratch that itch, so to speak. Every Porsche I've ever owned had to be used, used up, and sometimes even busted. That was all I could afford, and I have accepted my lot. The aftermarket suppliers have thankfully enabled this scenario, and the demand for older Porsches has reflected that This is not really such a bad situation, after all. Older Porsches are eminently recyclable.
Methinks that this has not been lost on the marketing professionals at Porsche. Thus, a 4-cylinder 981 will not really "expand" the market for newbies, as the price for an entry-level Boxster, which was initially marketed as in the $40,000 range, will probably sell in the - my guess - $40,000 range. And, like many of us, my income has been marching backwards in this economic cycle, so I envision myself buying another used Porsche.
That's OK by me. I just got a lead on a nice 356C in my neighborhood...
I completely understand what you're saying (and that's basically the same boat I'm in, waiting for used) but I would like to believe that Porsche would realize the benefit of embracing this "less expensive" sports car market. It would help reduce costs, fuel consumption and expand the Porsche fan base. Besides, most owners of Boxsters / Caymans aren't really interested in the cars simply because of the exclusivity (as are 911 owners for example). Cayman / Boxster owners are more interested in the quality of the car and the driving pleasure on a daily basis, which would be almost as good in a 4 cylinder variant. It would also help distance the Cayman as the "poor man's Porsche" from the more upscale 911.
The whole idea that Porsche is okay with the release of a 4-cylinder SUV, rather then a 4-cylinder sports car, just makes me want to throw up. Talk about conforming to douchebag customers. If they want to let their entry level cars remain only as a used option, then they need to let VW release the Macan as a VW. A 4-cylinder Porsche SUV, but not a 4-cylinder Boxster or Cayman? Seriously, What the fuck?!
On a personal note, I was born and raised in Porsche's largest market, sourthern California and I think it would be a huge benefit for them to release a 4-cylinder Boxster / Cayman. Most people here buy Porsches and drive them in ridiculous traffic 80% of their lives. The main reason why porsches are so popular here is because the southern California marketplace is so familiar with cars that they appreciate and lust after the quality of the craftsmanship and the overall superb calibration of the car. It has almost nothing to do with outright performance like I believe Porsche is convinced of. This is why BMWs are so popular here. It has little to do with performance and everything to do with craftsmanship.
It's clear that the largest market for Porsche is the US, however, think globally and lowering the entry price does make senese and I do believe it will increase sales. Despite the passion arround the Brand it is still a business, now owned by the VW group... they think more in terms of business than in terms of passion, if I had to place a bet, it be on an entre level 4-cylinder 981 within the next 18 months......
I imagine all those 914's filled the Porsche treasury with no permanent damage to Image. As a Porsche owner, I didn't want the image diluted by SUVs. Again it filled the coffers & probably allowed Porsche to stay in business. I definitely like the idea of a 4 cylinder, learning how to drive and move up if you feel the need for more speed & can afford it.
Sorry to disagree but I think a flat 4 is a bad idea. The BRZ is successful because it is a great handling car for $25k with a huge aftermarket of cheap parts. The 2.7L Cayman is already underpowered! LOL I'd never pay $50k for a 4 cyl Cayman. Add the most common options and it will be in the $50k + range.
BTW all cars are momentum cars at 100hp or a 1000hp
I agree with Bruce. A 4 cylinder cayman or any Porsche is a bad idea. Unlike probably most of the people commenting here, and especially at other car sites or magazines, I actually owned a Cayman; it was an S. This isn't the 1950s anymore. Even if Porsche made a new 356, it wouldn't be safe on today's roads or especially highways. A Porsche must have passing power or it's not going to be a "giant killer." Again, unless you're daydreaming about the 1950s. A 4-cylinder sports car would dilute the brand.
Also, if you can't afford a 6-cylinder Porsche, that's your problem. The complaining gets tiring. Get a better job! Buying a new Boxster for about 50K is not a big deal. Think of all the cars for sale at that price. I don't particularly make a lot of money, but I've owned 5 Porsches since 2008 (and driven 25 different examples) - only one of them was brand new. That's fine with me. Owning a Porsche is not an entitlement.
Also, as a Porsche enthusiast, I'm amazed at how many knuckleheads are out there, PCA-types included, judge people on the different models they buy. I traded my Cayman S for a 997 Carrera S. You can't draw any conclusions from that. I like the 911 better for a number of reasons. It is my passion. But both cars are exceptional sports cars. They're just different. I also own a 996 Turbo. Some people, again who comment and who never owned, driven or even sat in the car in question, will say the Turbo is softer or it's a grand tourer. I drive that car in the same spirited way I drove the Cayman S or my Carrera S. It's far from soft. Turn off PSM on a rainy day, drive hard, and I guarantee you will get as much intensity as you can stand.
You can keep deluding yourself into thinking a 4-cylinder Porsche is a more pure Porsche or whatever makes you feel better about yourself.
Reading your post, I couldn't help but laugh at your immaturity. "or whatever makes you feel better about yourself." <-- That was really very funny! Do you think you're cool owning a 996? Does that car make you "feel better about yourself"??? LOLOLOLOL, I almost died laughing reading that. I love meeting people like you in person because you legitimately make me laugh, I really mean that.
I'm 29 years old, I make just under $100,000 a year, I own 3 cars and I would have absolutely no problem paying $60k for a car, and I very well may do that simply because I love the way the new 981 looks. The looks and the interior of the car are the ONLY reasons I want one. I have no interest in driving them to PCA events (I have another car for that). So why do I say that I won't order a 981 until an "underpowered" 4 cylinder version is released? Because I very simply do not need the extra power. In fact, I don't want the extra power, I'd rather have the extra fuel savings just like the rest of America.... and let me tell you why that is...
I live in LOS ANGELES, maybe you've heard of it? Porsche certainly has because they sell 500% more cars here then they sell IN ANY OTHER CITY ON THE PLANET. So now that we've established that Porsche sells most of its cars here, let me just give you a little slice of what it's like to drive in "Porsche heaven", because you obviously do not live here assuming that power is all anyone wants. Currently I have a 12 mile commute that takes me 60 minutes in traffic and 15 minutes in no traffic. That's 12 miles per hour average. Before this commute I had a 4 mile commute that took me 35 minutes in traffic and 10 minutes without traffic. That's SEVEN MILES PER HOUR... Every... Fvcking... Day... And you think all Porsche drivers want power huh?
So why is Porsche selling so many cars in this awful traffic ridden city? Well I guarantee you that It has almost nothing to do with speed. It has everything to do with quality. We SIT INSIDE our cars for hours every single day. We don't drive very far mind you, we sit and wait FOR HOURS. A nice car is almost as important as a nice house, simply because you live in your car for a substantial part of your life. This is why the Cayenne and Panamera are Porsche's two most popular cars.
The fact is that 99% of Porsche buyers will never go to a single PCA event, 99% of Porsche buyers don't give a rat's ass what car you drive and 100% of new Porsche buyers can afford a hell of a lot more car then you can based on the fact that you're bragging about buying a $30k car, when a minimally equipped NEW Porsche is easily twice that price.
If all we wanted was more power, and +2 more cylinders, then we wouldn't be driving Porsches in the first place!!!!! We'd all be driving Mustangs, Camaros, Vettes and even Vipers (V10, because more is better right??????!). Obviously we are not. Lower-powered, higher quality cars is the very essence of what Porsche is as a brand.
Reggie, you're really vulgar. That's obvious. Who needs to swear on a post like this? And you're missing a few key points I was trying to make, or rather venting a few annoyances:
1. 4-cylinder Porsches don't work for the brand anymore. That's why Porsche pulled the plug on the idea a couple years ago.
2. I love all Porsches, believe me. it just gets annoying when people expect to pay the same for new Porsche sports car as any other car. Anyone can afford a Porsche if you buy used. And there's nothing wrong with that.
3. Many of these people who champion a lower-powered Porsche think they are more of a purist than another with a Turbo or higher-powered car. It almost feels like discrimination. I would argue the 911 is the best sports car ever because it has always had the perfect blend of agility and power. But Boxsters and Caymans are great too. I've owned and driven them. The commenter, Bruce, was right. As brilliant as the Cayman is on a back road, it is a little underpowered on the highway.
4. On a personal note, I am far from immature. I agree with you about chasing power. I have no interest in that. I would never own any of the American muscle cars you named. Only Porsches for me. I was just making what I feel is a point about discrimination against non-purist Turbos and the like. My next Porsche, hopefully, will be a late 1980s Carrera 3.2 with 217 horsepower... I live in the Boston area, by the way, and you're welcome to cover here and enjoy are roads.
"1. 4-cylinder Porsches don’t work for the brand anymore. That’s why Porsche pulled the plug on the idea a couple years ago."
PROBLEM. Porsche has been working on a 4-cylinder SUV for years. It's called the Macan. Soooo what were you trying to say about Porsche ditching the 4-banger because it didn't work for the brand? And are you perfectly happy with a 4-cylinder SUV, as opposed to a 4-cylinder 981? Porsche is already planning to dilute the brand with yet another SUV. Why? Because people will buy them, that's why, it's really quite simple. My argument is that they should use the same logic and release a 4-cylinder 981 simply because people will buy them.
The last 4-cylinder engine produced by Porsche was in the 968 which was a car with a $40k base price with an engine that produced 236 naturally aspirated horsepower. This was only 11 horsepower less then the 3.6L air cooled 964 at the time. The turbo variant of the 968 produced 305 horses and 370 pound/feet of torque, and a few rare variants produced as much as 350 horses. The irony here is that the 968 was no where near as popular as its predecessor, the much less powerful 944 which debuted with 143 horsepower in 1982 and ended production with 162 horses in the base car in 1991. The important factor here is that the 944 had a bse price of roughly half the price of the short lived 968. The 944 sold over 170k units and is remembered for saving Porsche from Bankruptcy in the mid-80s. Meanwhile the 968 was a total failure and sold only 12,700 units worldwide in its 4 years of production. The main reason it failed was because it was simply too expensive, which is the #1 problem that people have with the current 981. Porsche kept increasing the power with the 944 and it became less and less popular as the price increased....
But that is not the end of the story. The 968 would be succeeded by the wildly successful 986 aka the Boxster. A car with a base price under $40k, offered only as a convertible, with a flat-6 engine that produced a meager 200 horsepower. This car too was remembered for saving Porsche from bankruptcy in the late 90s because it was incredibly popular, not because it was incredibly fast. It was popular because it was good looking and it was more affordable, so it sold more units, it's very simple. The current 981 is beautiful and it will only become more popular if they can reduce the cost of the car by $6k-$10k. This will not only benefit Porsche by reducing operating costs, but it will also expand the brand to a wider range of people.
Reggie is a typical L.A. douchebag!
I guess I am dueschbag like Regie because I live in LA. Reg actually makes extremely valid points. I drive a porsche because I love the way it drives. There is nothing that compares to the performance of a Porsche. I don't have any problem with the introduction of a 4-Banger, but it must have sufficient power. Currently, the Boxster is supposedly going to be available in a turbo charged 4-cylinder motor that puts out a minimum of 360 horsepower. That is more power than any of the 6 cylinder motors in the current Boxster lineup. So, what's wrong with that??? That is a very Porsche like thing to do. A Boxster, with a 4 cylinder motor, putting out more HP than any of the Boxster currently existing. I would buy one right out of the gate. Why??? Because I can fly up the 110 when traffic is light. Also, I get to enjoy the interior and comfort of the car (as well as the great gas mileage in a 4-banger) when traffic in LA is bad. Plus, I have to have a convertible when living here in LA LA LAND. I love it. See you on the weekends at the NEW PORSCHE EXPERIENCE in Torrance, soon.
Maybe everyone here is correct in their opinion. But come on, Making the most powerful and fast 4 cylinder, and putting it in the lightest and highest performance chasis is what PORSCHE IS ALL ABOUT.... Just make sure that little 4-banger is turbocharged and close to 400 HP for me.
Dear Sir-
You mention that "If you can't afford a 6 cylinder Porsche, that's your problem"; but if enough people can't afford a 6 cylinder Porsche, it then becomes Porsche's problem!
Really Reggie- Buy some polish. For that MOUTH!
If Porsche builds a flat 4 banger the company will be going backwards and will be putting that product in direct competition with Subaru and others who can build a similar less quality product for less money. The buying public will see the price and (just like the Corvette/911S comparison in the latest edition of Car and Driver) and the auto journalists will have a field day comparing the new Subaru, or Acura, or Toyota and declaring that it is a better value than the proposed Porsche. Porsche hold your head high and keep making world class sports cars!
I had heard the new flat 4 engine would be two thirds the weight of the old Boxster engine (so make the new 'baby' Boxster lighter/faster) and be turbocharged so it would be much more powerful (395 Hp) than the old engine + more ECO friendly emissions wise + more economical on fuel. Sounded a great idea to me - but as I only have a Boxster 986 2.7 2000 (which to me is as good a car as I ever had...in fact I love it) the fantasy of getting a new engine when mine broke was a nice one...Like F1 (using 1.6 litres) the trend is towards smaller engines that can perform as well in the future...Am in the UK so hope I haven't heard a false rumour
You people are a bunch of cheap ass morons with a really seriously bad taste
Porsche should replace its Flat 6 with a 4 cylinder ? i can't believe you people actually consider that to be a good thing !
i actually can't understand why in the hell would anyone would wanna replace any 6 cylinder of any kind with a 4 cylinder of any kind , no matter how much economical or powerful they are , 6 cylinders are utterly superior , if you want cheaper more economical they can make a 2.0L Turbo Flat 6 instead , they don't need to get rid of the cylinders.
porsche is a charismatic and spirited sports car and an important factor of it is because of the fantastic sound that the flat 6 engine makes , don't even bother to get started with the whole exhaust tweaking and trickery , no amount of trickery is going to make a 4 cylinder sound like a 6 cylinder.