Daily Slideshow: 5 Things Unique to Porsche Engines
There's a lot of things specific to our beloved Porsches, but let's start with the most obvious!
Position
Above all else, the main thing that sets Porsche engines apart from all other engines on the planet is where they are located. This distinct decision made by engineers long ago has become the defining feature of the global superstar. Skill, courage, and adaptation are 3 words that describe what it takes to wheel one of these classic sports cars on the limit all thanks to that rear-engine configuration.
Sound and Power Delivery
Flat-6 horizontally opposed engines have a specific sound. Anyone who has heard a GT3 RS knows exactly what we’re talking about here. They idle with gut-shaking bass and howl above 5,000rpm all the way to redline. Echoes of exhaust immediately turn heads to anyone with a pulse running through their body.
Cooling Medium
No other manufacturer has as long of a history with air-cooling their platforms as Porsche. What they managed to do with air alone is nothing short of incredible. They didn’t even entertain the idea of water cooling a car until the 90s. When it comes to Porsche and its uniqueness, this has come to define the brand more than anything else.
Horsepower is Not the Same
Many automotive journalists have commented over the years on power figures that these flat-6 engines produce. Mainly, the observation is made that advertised horsepower somehow feels understated. Part of this is the result of how a flat-6 produces power and another part of it comes through the way transaxles transmit that power to the ground via a direct link with the engine. Everything adds up to create that Porsche magic people fall for.
Variable Turbine Geometry
Arguably, one of the coolest things ever created in the auto industry is variable turbine geometry. Porsche invented this system to help modern turbo engines produce more power. Essentially a compressor blade that changes shape on the fly, VTG counteracts low rpm lag to produce savage launches and bursts of speed on corner exit. One of the most unique things to a Porsche engine and something only they would come up with! Hope you enjoyed reading!