"Clemsie McKenzie" (thestirringcolumn)
03/10/2016 at 12:55 • Filed to: OppoThesis
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"Clemsie McKenzie" (thestirringcolumn)
03/10/2016 at 12:55 • Filed to: OppoThesis | 0
| 11 |
Look, when Porsche announced that the next gen Boxster/Cayman (718) would be downsized to a turbo flat-four, I was the first to be disappointed. But I’ve had time to think about this. Maybe a 4-pot Boxster means a lot a good stuff is in the works. In theory.
As I’m sure you know, there’s this pretty widely accepted idea that Porsche never wanted to give the 6-pot Boxster/Cayman more power because then it would be better than a 911, for less money, mainly because its engine is in the correct place for a sports car. And I guess there’s some truth to that. Even the reportedly awesome Cayman GT4 had only 385hp, a few horsepower more than a base 911. It also had a very long gearing, which impaired acceleration. Which conspiracy theorists duly noted.
But now that the 718 has a downsized 4-pot, it clearly slots in behind a base 911 in terms of luxury feel and legitimity as a sports car. So what then would be stoping Porsche from making us a sweet, sweeeet 718 Cayman GT4RS with much more power? It might outrun the slower 911s, but I don’t think the demographics that were going to buy, say, a 911 Carrera S for around $110k would be cross-shopping it with a souped up 718 with a four-cylinder for the same price. Simply not the same status.
Of course, it was already a bit the case, which is why we got the GT4. But for us, it was a bargain Porsche, and I think most of us would have bought that instead of a no-option 911. Now, a GT4RS wouldn’t be the sports car bargain of the century, it would just be the best version of a cheap Porsche. Less expensive, with a less cool engine.
So let’s just hope that Porsche comes to the same conclusion I did, and cooks us the mid-engine sports car we deserve. But then again, this is just a theory. A man can dream.
All images are from Porsche
Tekamul
> Clemsie McKenzie
03/10/2016 at 13:06 |
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They’ll still keep it reigned in below the 911. It doesn’t matter what the specs are on the engine, it still has to look ‘inferior’ to drive sales to the 911.
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Clemsie McKenzie
> Tekamul
03/10/2016 at 13:11 |
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Well my point is that having a 4-pot is enough to make it look inferior, and so then can push the bhp a bit. Just a theory though!
Leon711
> Clemsie McKenzie
03/10/2016 at 13:13 |
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http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/car-news/motor…
The 718 is already far quicker than the 981.
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Clemsie McKenzie
> Leon711
03/10/2016 at 13:22 |
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Yes yes I hear that! But the chassis can take more. We need, demand and deserve moar powaaah.
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Tekamul
> Clemsie McKenzie
03/10/2016 at 13:25 |
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Yeah, I don’t know how Porsche perceives their customers. Is cylinder count sufficient if the baby brother is still smoking it around a test track?
It’s a good way to find a silver lining, though. Personally I’m pissed they’ve gone full turbo line.
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Clemsie McKenzie
> Tekamul
03/10/2016 at 13:32 |
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Oh yeah I’m pissed too. The sound of the N/A flat-six was one of the best. That’s why I tried a bit hard to find hope I guess!
jjhats
> Clemsie McKenzie
03/10/2016 at 13:34 |
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i never understood the hate for the 4 cylinder. were these haters around when Porsche made the awesome 356, 912, 914 and 944? Also how would long gearing impair acceleration when it would ultimately mean less time lost shifting
Saracen
> Clemsie McKenzie
03/10/2016 at 13:44 |
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It was already confirmed that the GT4 and Spyder models will be the only 718 models with with the Flat-6.
GTS models will get a pumped up version of the 2.5.
I’m excited about the flat four because a brand new base Porsche will actually have a suitable amount of power now. 300bhp and 280lb-ft sounds good to me.
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Clemsie McKenzie
> jjhats
03/10/2016 at 13:44 |
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I don’t hate the 4 cylinder. It’s just that the flat six was so incredible.
Yeah longer gearing does mean less shifting, but because of the physics of gearing (don’t know how to explain that simply), I think you lose more than you gain. Closer ratios are better for acceleration, that’s why race cars have them, and that’s part of the reason why F1 runs 8 gears.
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Clemsie McKenzie
> Saracen
03/10/2016 at 13:45 |
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Oooh so we still get a 6er with the next GT4? That’s great!
Also, yeah. More power to come I think, and that’s what I’m excited about!
willkinton247
> jjhats
03/10/2016 at 14:57 |
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Or my favorite Porsche, the 718 RSK Spyder.
