Porsche flat-six engine

Porsche flat-6 engine
Overview
ManufacturerPorsche
Production1963–present
Layout
Configurationflat-6
Displacement2.0–4.2 L (122–256 cu in)[1]
Cylinder bore80–102.7 mm (3.1–4.0 in)[2][3]
Piston stroke66–80.4 mm (2.6–3.2 in)[4][5]
Valvetrain12-valve to 24-valve, SOHC/DOHC, two-valves per cylinder to four-valves per cylinder[6]
Combustion
TurbochargerYes (some models)
Fuel systemMechanical fuel injection
Carburetor
Direct fuel injection
Fuel typeGasoline
Oil systemDry sump
Cooling systemAir-cooled[7]
Water-cooled
Output
Power output110–850 hp (82–634 kW)
Torque output119–730 lb⋅ft (161–990 N⋅m)
Dimensions
Dry weight387–507 lb (176–230 kg)
Porsche flat-6 engine
Flat-6 engine in an older air-cooled 911

The Porsche flat-six engine series is a line of mechanically similar, naturally aspirated and sometimes turbocharged, flat-six boxer engines, produced by Porsche for almost 60 consecutive years, since 1963.[8][9] The engine is an evolution of the flat-four boxer used in the original Volkswagen Beetle.[10][11][12]

1967 Porsche 911R
2006 Porsche Cayman S
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The flat-six engine is most often associated with their 911 model, Porsche's flagship rear-engined sports car which has used flat-six engines exclusively since 1963.[13] The engines were air-cooled until 1999, when Porsche started using water-cooled engines.[14][15][16][17]

In April 2011, Porsche announced the third generation of the 997 GT3 RS with an enlarged 4.0-litre engine having a power output of 500 PS (368 kW; 493 hp). The naturally-aspirated 4.0-litre flat-six engine (the largest engine offered in a street-legal 911) was introduced with their 911 (997) GT3 RS 4.0, in 2011.[18] The engine itself uses the crankshaft from the RSR with increased stroke dimensions (from 76.4 mm to 80.4 mm). This change increased the power output to 500 PS (368 kW; 493 hp) at 8,250 rpm and 460 N⋅m (339 lbf⋅ft) of torque at 5,750 rpm.[19] giving it a power-to-weight ratio of 365 hp per ton. Only 600 cars were built.[18][20] At 493 hp (368 kW),[21] the engine is one of the most powerful six-cylinder naturally aspirated engines in any production car with a 123.25 hp (92 kW) per litre output.[22][6][23][24][25]

Other Porsche models that use flat-six engines are the 1970–1972 Porsche 914/6 (mid-engine), the 1986–1993 Porsche 959 (rear-engine), and the 1996–2021 Porsche Boxster/Cayman (mid-engine).[26][27][28]

The Porsche 962 sports prototype also used a twin-turbocharged flat-six engine.[29][30][31][32]

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  10. ^ "The flat engine tradition". Porsche Newsroom. 3 July 2018. Archived from the original on 19 October 2021. Retrieved 19 October 2021.
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  13. ^ "The flat engine tradition". 3 July 2018. Archived from the original on 19 October 2021. Retrieved 19 October 2021.
  14. ^ "Flat Sixy: The Evolution of Porsche 911 Engine Size, Technology, and Output in the U.S." www.caranddriver.com. 13 December 2013. Archived from the original on 21 September 2019. Retrieved 21 September 2019.
  15. ^ House, © Future Publishing Limited Quay; Ambury, The; Engl, Bath BA1 1UA All rights reserved; number 2008885, Wales company registration (18 November 2015). "Flat six engine: A Porsche 911 history". Total 911. Archived from the original on 19 October 2021. Retrieved 19 October 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  16. ^ "How Porsche's brilliant air-cooled flat-six engine thrived for three decades". Hagerty Media. 3 October 2019. Archived from the original on 19 October 2021. Retrieved 19 October 2021.
  17. ^ "Flat Six Innovations – Porsche Engine Experts". Archived from the original on 19 October 2021. Retrieved 19 October 2021.
  18. ^ a b The Gary Stock Company + Porsche Cars North America, Inc. "Porsche 911 GT3 RS 4.0: Biggest 911 Engine Ever Offered". Archived from the original on 16 April 2015. Retrieved 16 April 2015.
  19. ^ "Porsche AG: Limited edition racing car: 911 GT3 RS 4.0 – Porsche USA". Porsche HOME: Limited edition racing car: 911 GT3 RS 4.0 – Porsche USA. Archived from the original on 17 November 2021. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
  20. ^ "evo – Porsche 911 GT3 RS 4.0 news, pictures and video". Evo. 27 April 2011. Archived from the original on 1 May 2011. Retrieved 30 April 2001.
  21. ^ "evo – Porsche 911 GT3 RS 4.0 news, pictures and video". Evo. 28 April 2011. Archived from the original on 11 August 2011. Retrieved 13 July 2011.
  22. ^ autoblog.com/2011/04/28/video-porsche-911-gt3-rs-4-0-takes-to-the-track/
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  24. ^ "2018 Porsche 911 GT3 gets 500-hp 4.0-liter engine, six-speed manual". Archived from the original on 17 November 2021. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
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  26. ^ "Under the skin: How Porsche revived flat-six engines for the 718". Autocar. Archived from the original on 19 October 2021. Retrieved 19 October 2021.
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