RSS_Auto_Poster
Well-known member
Written by Craig Jamieson
Ever since the Boxster and Cayman traded their flat sixes for four-pots, roughly everyone with functioning ears has clamoured for a return to the proper cylinder count. Here in TG Towers, we"ve been particularly clamorous, even using phrases like "I still can"t forgive Porsche this four-cylinder" when describing Stuttgart"s otherwise excellent mid-engined sportsters.<br /> <br />Thankfully, Andreas Preuninger is a Top Gear sort of guy. As head of Porsche"s GT department, he"s been responsible for the best-sounding, best-driving Porsches of the past two decades. And now he"s responsible for this: the 4.0-litre, flat-six Boxster Spyder. Yours for 73,405.<br /> <br />Yes, we"re happy to report that the Spyder won"t be powered by a version of Porsche"s flat-four engines, as per standard Caymans and Boxsters. Instead, a four-litre, naturally aspirated flat-six sits just behind the cabin, sending power to the rear wheels through a six-speed manual. If you"re going to burn petrol, this is the correct way to do it.<br /> <br />But don"t think that 4.0-litre, naturally aspirated flat-six is a detuned 911 GT3 engine it"s actually an atmospheric version of the current turbocharged 9A2" engines you"ll find in the regular Carrera range. Imaginatively, Porsche has christened it the 9A2 Evo".<br /> <br />Just like in the Cayman GT4, the four-litre flat-six is good for 420 European horsepower, or about 414 of Her Majesty"s horses. You"ll also get more than 300lb-ft of torque, but you"ll have to ask for it peak torque arrives above 5,000rpm, and the red line isn"t until 8,000rpm. Sorry, excuse us for a sec something just did a small dance in our chest while writing that.<br /> <br />But if you"re just pootling say, on your way to North Wales or Scotland"s Highlands there"s cylinder shutdown tech to run on four out of six, piezo (read: insanely high pressure, multistage) injectors to ensure full, clean burns and a petrol particulate filter. Porsche"s put the hard yards in to make sure this isn"t some snarling, petrol-guzzling anachronism.<br /> <br />When you get there, however, is when you"ll notice Preuninger"s biggest contributions to the Spyder. Remember, this is the man responsible for the GT3 RS<br /> <br />"Maybe the biggest leap for the Spyder? Now it is an open GT4, full stop same suspension, all GT4 underneath just topless," says Preuninger.<br /> <br />"This is a car for the back roads in Wales, maybe Scotland too; you would rather dance with the car than drive it that is how I would describe it."<br /> <br />Yes, you read that right: a Porsche with no hint of GT" in its name is basically a roofless Cayman GT4. And that, we"re sure you"ll agree, sounds pretty damn good indeed.
Date written: 17 Jun 2019
More of this article on the Top gear website
ID: 16056
Ever since the Boxster and Cayman traded their flat sixes for four-pots, roughly everyone with functioning ears has clamoured for a return to the proper cylinder count. Here in TG Towers, we"ve been particularly clamorous, even using phrases like "I still can"t forgive Porsche this four-cylinder" when describing Stuttgart"s otherwise excellent mid-engined sportsters.<br /> <br />Thankfully, Andreas Preuninger is a Top Gear sort of guy. As head of Porsche"s GT department, he"s been responsible for the best-sounding, best-driving Porsches of the past two decades. And now he"s responsible for this: the 4.0-litre, flat-six Boxster Spyder. Yours for 73,405.<br /> <br />Yes, we"re happy to report that the Spyder won"t be powered by a version of Porsche"s flat-four engines, as per standard Caymans and Boxsters. Instead, a four-litre, naturally aspirated flat-six sits just behind the cabin, sending power to the rear wheels through a six-speed manual. If you"re going to burn petrol, this is the correct way to do it.<br /> <br />But don"t think that 4.0-litre, naturally aspirated flat-six is a detuned 911 GT3 engine it"s actually an atmospheric version of the current turbocharged 9A2" engines you"ll find in the regular Carrera range. Imaginatively, Porsche has christened it the 9A2 Evo".<br /> <br />Just like in the Cayman GT4, the four-litre flat-six is good for 420 European horsepower, or about 414 of Her Majesty"s horses. You"ll also get more than 300lb-ft of torque, but you"ll have to ask for it peak torque arrives above 5,000rpm, and the red line isn"t until 8,000rpm. Sorry, excuse us for a sec something just did a small dance in our chest while writing that.<br /> <br />But if you"re just pootling say, on your way to North Wales or Scotland"s Highlands there"s cylinder shutdown tech to run on four out of six, piezo (read: insanely high pressure, multistage) injectors to ensure full, clean burns and a petrol particulate filter. Porsche"s put the hard yards in to make sure this isn"t some snarling, petrol-guzzling anachronism.<br /> <br />When you get there, however, is when you"ll notice Preuninger"s biggest contributions to the Spyder. Remember, this is the man responsible for the GT3 RS<br /> <br />"Maybe the biggest leap for the Spyder? Now it is an open GT4, full stop same suspension, all GT4 underneath just topless," says Preuninger.<br /> <br />"This is a car for the back roads in Wales, maybe Scotland too; you would rather dance with the car than drive it that is how I would describe it."<br /> <br />Yes, you read that right: a Porsche with no hint of GT" in its name is basically a roofless Cayman GT4. And that, we"re sure you"ll agree, sounds pretty damn good indeed.
Date written: 17 Jun 2019
More of this article on the Top gear website
ID: 16056
