Porsche is set to ramp up the already potent power output, crushing in-gear performance and overall economy of the 911 Turbo through the adoption of a new tri-turbo system for its existing 3.8-litre, horizontally opposed six-cylinder engine.
The firm plans to replace the twin-turbo set-up of today’s 911 Turbo with a complex triple-turbo induction process similar to that employed by BMW M’s new six-cylinder diesel-powered M550d xDrive and X6 xDrive50d models.
Porsche’s new system is undergoing its final phase of development in the back of engineering prototypes of the new top-of-the-line 991.
As revealed in a series of recent patent applications made by the German car maker, the Porsche system uses three individual turbochargers. One smaller unit is mounted close to the engine to boost low-end response together with two larger ones similar to the Borg Warner units in use today.
As well as increasing overall power and providing a more linear delivery at the lower end of the rev range, the new induction process is also claimed to improve efficiency — something well placed Weissach sources suggest will bring about significant fuel savings.
Details remain scarce, but power for the new 911 Turbo, the coupé version of which is due out early next year, looks set to climb from 495bhp to somewhere in the region of 525bhp — or the same as that of today’s 911 Turbo S. At the same time, combined average fuel economy and CO2 emissions are expected to beat the existing model’s 24.4mpg and 272g/km.
As well as appearing in the 911 Turbo, the new tri-turbo system is also earmarked for the next-generation 911 GT2 and the successor to the GT2 RS.
Greg Kable
source : Auto car
