PORSCHE'S PIONEERING POWER: THE 10 ENGINES THAT REVOLUTIONIZED PERFORMANCE

Not all gearheads are big fans of Porsche, as over the years they have tended to stray away from the status quo and do things their own way. Fortunately, though, these big ideas and revolutionary new technologies have resulted in some frankly awesome sports and performance cars, which have left Porsche with a huge, dedicated fan base.

Let's take a look back over the last 70 years and see specifically which engines helped shaped the brand into the motoring icon it is today, with high-performance road cars and fire-breathing race cars all helping to push Porsche into the spotlight. So, whether it's a flat-4 or a 1,500-horsepower endurance monster. Each engine in this article has pioneered Porsche towards the top, as one of the world's most renowned sports and performance car manufacturers.

547/1 Flat-4

Engine Specs

The Porsche 356 Carrera GS played a pivotal role in pushing the boundaries of what Porsche could achieve in the early days of their production car manufacturing, and the key to its success – both on the road and the track – was the 1.5-liter flat-4 that sat out the back.

Porsche engineers designed a four-cam configuration for the Carrera GS, which allowed for improved airflow and more control over valve timing – resulting in both a higher output and improved engine efficiencies. Thanks to this clever design, the 356 went on to enjoy much motorsport success and has become a highly sought-after collector's piece in 2023.

901/01 Flat-6

Engine Specs

How could we discuss the most prevalent pioneering moments of Porsches history, without focusing on the engine that powered the almighty and forever-successful 911 legacy?

It's no mistake that Porsche used a flat-six in this 911 – the configuration allows for a lower center of gravity, promoting greater stability and improved handling, something which the 911 is of course widely regarded for. A boxer engine like this also benefits from reduced vibrations, which surely has helped Porsche establish itself as a luxury up-market manufacturer in later years.

Without the 901/01, it's debatable whether or not Porsche would've been able to establish itself as the ultimate sports car manufacturer, so perhaps this is arguably one of the most important engines in its history.

911/83 Flat-6

Engine Specs

Leaning more on to Porsche's performance side then, we can consider the 2.7-liter flat-six from the collector's favorite which is the original Carrera RS, which captured the hearts of even the most famous of gearheads, such as the beloved Paul Walker.

The displacement has of course been increased by 0.7-liter, which along with aluminum cylinder heads and a forged crankshaft, has upped the output to an impressive 210 horsepower, plus it will also scream all the way up to and past 7,000 rpm. With performance like this, it's no wonder that the 2.7 RS achieved so much in motor racing; such as an outright win at the 1973 Targa Florio and great success in national events and endurance races.

917/30 Twin-Turbocharged Flat-12

Engine Specs

Talking of motorsport success, let's move on to what is almost certainly the most impressive engine in this article and quite possibly one of the most awesome engines to have ever been produced. Essentially 2 flat-six engines that have been 'stuck together', this flat-12 can release monumental power figures at high boost and was even the star car of Steve McQueens hit 1971 film, Le Mans.

Porsche continued with their love of technical innovation to achieve new successes and used a marvelous twin-turbocharged setup on the 917/30 and an advanced fuel-injection system that ensured not only huge performance figures but also excellent reliability, even when pushed to the limit hitting 200mph plus for 24 hours of continuous punishment. It's no wonder that the original Porsche 917 can fetch upwards of $15 million, there are only a handful of cars on the planet that can offer such a visceral driving experience.

Related: 10 American V8 Engines That Constantly Break Down

930/50 Turbocharged Flat-6

Engine Specs

Turbocharged performance, striking exaggerated design, and an exclusive yet involving driving experience are all that make the 930 Turbo a truly iconic classic performance car, but specifically, how did the engine help Porsche to revolutionize performance? The 930 was among the first performance cars to incorporate turbo technology in an everyday road car, which had rave reviews from both customers and critics coming in, as all enjoyed the monumental step-up in performance that the K27 turbo delivered. Porsche didn't just slap a turbo on and sling them out the door – they did the German thing and did a thorough job, involving advanced engine management systems to ensure the power was not only delivered correctly but also reliably, which helped the 930 to sell in great numbers when compared to other period turbo-powered performance cars.

959.50 Twin-Turbocharged Flat-6

Engine Specs

The Porsche 959 benefited from a wide range of technical innovations that have helped cement it as one of the greatest supercars ever produced, alongside the legendary Ferrari F40. Such innovations included adjustable suspension, advanced aerodynamics, and lightweight construction of aluminum and Kevlar composite panels.

Couple this with a 450 horsepower flat-six, and is it any wonder that this near 40-year-old supercar could achieve speeds of 190 mph and 0 to 60 runs of 4 seconds flat, in a time when it would take your average commuter car 4 seconds to just pull away from a junction. To achieve such great performance, Porsche used a genius piece of technology known as sequential twin-turbocharging; this is when the engine utilizes both a small and larger turbocharger – the smaller gives the greatest low-down performance, while the big turbo takes care of boost when you're really climbing through the rev range.

962/70 Twin-Turbocharged Flat-6

Engine Specs

The Porsche 962 and 959 are actually quite closely related, both deriving from the standard Porsche flat-six engine, however, the 962 was of course developed exclusively for motorsport, so have been modified to suit the requirements of a high-stress endurance racer.

Strengthened internal components, advanced fuel injection systems, and much-improved cooling methods were all necessary to turn the standard flat-six into this 740-horsepower monster and also needed to ensure Porsche could guarantee their driver's consistent power over 24 hours of abuse. Porsche enjoyed victories at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and also from within the IMSA GT championship, which helped to further promote Porsche as a very serious motorsport contender.

980/01 V10

Engine Specs

This engine is from one car that gearheads just don't need an introduction, which is the modern-classic Porsche Carrera GT – a 21st-century supercar that has seen values appreciate as if it were a classic '60s Ferrari.

One of the characteristics that driving enthusiasts love about the Carrera GT is its high-revving V10, with a redline at 8,400 rpm and a six-speed manual gearbox, it'll feel like you can just plant the throttle and keep going. That V10 soundtrack is also fairly intoxicating!

Porsche could achieve such excellence by breaking the bank and using serious tech on internal components, resulting in features like a dry-sump, aluminum crankcase, titanium connecting rods, and even a lightweight magnesium intake system. It's not often an engine like this is created with just one low-production number supercar in mind, which is likely why it's going down in history as an icon so quickly after its production.

M97.74 Flat-6

Engine Specs

While the Carrera GT is a unique V10 Porsche and now approaching 2 decades old, the 4.0 RS is 'just another flat-six' 911, so what exactly makes it worth over half a million dollars (which is multiple times more than its 2011 MSRP)?

Related: 10 Badass Sleepers We'd Buy Over A New Porsche 911 Any Day

The answer is simple – the engine. This is the largest displacement naturally-aspirated engine to have ever been fitted to the 911, and so for many, it is portrayed as the ultimate 911. In addition to that fact, the 4.0-liter RS also uses race-spec components like titanium connecting rods, forged pistons, and a specially developed crankshaft to really boost power, and give a visceral driving experience. This flat-six really is a love letter to the 50 years of 911 engines that preceded it, and clearly demonstrates how far Porsche has developed their iconic engine over the years.

M18.00 V8

Engine Specs

It was time for Porsche to look into the future 10 years ago, and combine hybrid technology to create their first genuine hypercar – the awesome and awe-inspiring 918.

The astonishing 9,150 rpm red line draws drivers in and encourages them to keep their foot flat after every gear change; and when coupled to the electric motors, the 918 really comes alive. Features like regenerative braking help keep the power constantly available and will also improve efficiency.

Related: 10 Cheap Sports Cars With V8 Engines

The engine in the Porsche 918 came along 10 years ago now, to replace the Carrera GT which was approaching 10 years old at the time too, so if anything, we are overdue another flagship hypercar from the pioneering brand that is Porsche, and if these engines are anything to go by, we simply cannot wait to see what they come up with next.

2023-06-05T22:39:31Z dg43tfdfdgfd