To me, one of the best parts of driving my 986 S is the sound it makes at WOT at about 6k RPM, as well as the torque curve that makes you want to use the upper end. I think having a torque curve that rises with RPM is part of what makes a car fun to drive.
A few months ago I bought my daughter a VW Tiguan, which has the 2L TSI turbo with its super flat torque curve. While it is definitely quick, the power delivery feels odd to me. It has TONS of bottom end so there no need to go over 5k, along with a sound that doesn't make you want to rev it anyway. It is quick in a daily commuter kind of way. A friend of mine has a VW GTI that uses the same 2L TSI engine with modifications that give it close to 400hp at the wheels. With its DSG transmission, the car IS amazingly quick but I don't know that a similar powertrain would feel right in a Porsche.
Perhaps using largish turbos on these new fours would give a more sporting feel to the new Porsche fours, but I doubt that there isn't much they can do to stop them from sounding like an Subaru. I can only imagine the job aftermarket companies have ahead of them to make these car sound good, without sounding exactly like a tuned WRX.
I guess there is that argument that Porsche is "returning to its roots" with four cylinder engines. I don't buy it. I will bet that no matter what comes next, the 981 Spyder will ALWAYS be the most desirable Boxster Porsche ever makes, followed by the 987 Spyder. I am sure that the new 718 will be faster, handle better and get better fuel economy than the previous cars, but there is much more to a sports car than just that. I am sure the sales people will that will emphasize the "sporting" pops and crackles these engines make on overrun. "So it doesn't sound so great when you rev it, but did you hear the noises when you let off? I just wants to go again. You do know that Porsche used a turbo four cylinder in the Lemans winning prototype right? Did I tell you about how much better fuel economy you will get and how it really is faster than the old one; even if it doesn't sound like it. That is the sound of modern performance. Oh, just listen to that sound it makes as you slow down..." It will be interesting to see how sales go.
If I marketed the car I'd take a no bullcrap approach.
It's faster, it's better almost every way, and it does find routes in heritage... If you want it to sound better though, stop electing governments that treat the EPA as the highest office in the land.
Have a nice day in your new sports car.
I really like the 718, but the sound is by all means the worst aspect, I feel so sorry for sales as they will have to deal with 60% of customers asking where the 2 additional cylinder option is on the build sheet.
That being said, our cars are now the bookend on the other end of the 981 spyder. They have a NA flat 6 that's larger and sounds better then a modern 911 and has two more cylinders than a modern boxster.
(Some kid with a WRX sti with an exhaust that could fit elephant genitalia parks by me at school, it's always been fun to start up the flat 6 beside his flat 4, now I'm gonna savor it just a little more.)
I've read up on the 718 and watched more than a few videos. No doubt, it is seriously quicker than any previous Boxster. I predict there will be a healthy aftermarket for custom exhausts to remedy the lame sound of it.
Too bad Porsche didn't go with a 2 liter, 6-cylinder turbo motor. Sure, it would have cost them a few bucks more due to needing an entirely new design as opposed to just truncating the 911 motor to fit a turbo. But, given the profit margins they've got, why not?
I've read up on the 718 and watched more than a few videos. No doubt, it is seriously quicker than any previous Boxster. I predict there will be a healthy aftermarket for custom exhausts to remedy the lame sound of it.
Too bad Porsche didn't go with a 2 liter, 6-cylinder turbo motor. Sure, it would have cost them a few bucks more due to needing an entirely new design as opposed to just truncating the 911 motor to fit a turbo. But, given the profit margins they've got, why not?
Aftermarket exhaust won't add 2 cylinders or change the firing order. Think of an unmuffled 1970's Baja bug, yikes.
And to think they could have designed it with a 270 degree crank, then it would sound amazing! Just like a late model Yamaha R1 or Honda VFR V4...like this:
That little 4-cyl in the YouTube video still sounds wrong to me.
There are exhaust design tricks that can help a 4-banger. Two into one back into two is a method (Dunstall) that sounded great on the Norton 750 back in the old days. Unequal header lengths can do neat things to sound as well. But, as you said, four is not six no matter what.
That little 4-cyl in the YouTube video still sounds wrong to me.
There are exhaust design tricks that can help a 4-banger. Two into one back into two is a method (Dunstall) that sounded great on the Norton 750 back in the old days. Unequal header lengths can do neat things to sound as well. But, as you said, four is not six no matter what.
Cheers,
Dave
Aero engineer, Fleet support for the Navy.
I remember those pipes, the odd looking 'tee' 2-1-2, right? I had an 850 back in the Cretaceous period...
Roger
Molly
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