ENGINE | – Valencia Plaza

VALENCIA. The Porsche 911 engine has come a long way over the past 60 years: its power has quadrupled and its displacement doubled. Powertrain technology has evolved, but the fundamental concept has remained the same, in both naturally aspirated and supercharged versions. And this will continue to be the case in the future with ultra-sporty hybrid mechanics.

Porsche first presented the 911 at the IAA Motor Show in Frankfurt in 1963. This all-new sports car, which eventually became an icon of the brand, hid a new two-liter six-cylinder boxer engine under the rear hood. volume and 130 hp, which allowed a maximum speed of 210 km/h. Over the past six decades, this technical statement has been the starting point for all developments Nine eleven.

With each generation, the 911 reached new milestones in terms of powertrain. In the early 1970s, Porsche tested turbocharging in racing with great success. And a little later I decided to transfer it into mass production. Thus, in 1974, the 911 Turbo (known internally as the 930) entered the market. With 260 hp, it was one of the fastest cars of its time. From a technological point of view, Porsche was one step ahead of its competitors. For the first time, boost pressure was regulated using a wastegate in the exhaust. This smoothed out the power delivery and made it suitable for everyday use. With a displacement of three liters, it was a significant departure from the naturally aspirated engines of the 911. Thanks to an exceptional combination of turbocharging and petrol injection, the 911 Turbo complied with strict American emissions regulations from the outset.

In 2006, the 911 Turbo achieved an impressive performance leap with the 997 generation: power and torque increased by more than ten percent and power-to-weight ratio reached a new maximum of 133 hp. (98 kW per liter of displacement). Performance has increased dramatically thanks to new, exclusive turbocharger technology, a world first: Porsche has introduced variable geometry turbocharging (VTG) into a petrol engine. This was made possible by the development of nickel-based alloy materials that were extremely resistant to fatigue and high temperatures. The variable geometry was designed to allow the charging system to handle the maximum exhaust gas mass that could be generated, which in turn eliminated the need for a wastegate. “With this breakthrough, Porsche has once again demonstrated its pioneering role in the development of turbo technology,” says Frank-Steffen Walliser, Vice President of the 911 and 718 models from 2019 to 2022. VTG turbines were the key to the creation of the six-cylinder engine. In the 911 GT2 RS, the engine could produce up to 700 hp. (515 kW).

But not all advances in mechanics can be realized at the same speed. As far as transmissions go, there was one that took some time to mature. This is a dual-clutch transmission that Porsche had already used successfully in competition in the 1980s, but which could not be put into series production until control electronics with sufficient power were available. Finally, in 2008, the famous PDK gearbox made its debut on the 911 Carrera 997. This transmission combined the maneuverability and efficiency of a manual transmission with the convenience of an automatic transmission. This first version could shift 60% faster than a torque converter automatic without interrupting traction. The company’s success was absolute from the very beginning, and today more than three quarters of Porsche 718 and 911 sold are equipped with a PDK gearbox.

The next big step is just around the corner: it will happen this year. Porsche has developed an ultra-sports hybrid system, similar to the one it uses in competition, for some versions of the 911. “The high-performance hybrid continues the innovation in the 911 powertrain,” says Frank Moser, current vice president of the 911 and 718 ranges. “This technology benefits the driver when they step on the gas pedal, while at the same time preparing us for future emissions regulations.” Both things are typical for a Porsche 911.