Porsche unveils new downsized, boosted 3.0-L boxer six

The words “Porsche” and “turbo” have been synonymous with ultimate high performance since 1972, when the automaker first used boosted engines in the mighty 917/10 Can-Am racecars. For 2016MY, the company is introducing all-new turbocharged 3.0-L flat-six engines for the 911 Carrera and Carrera S road cars, replacing naturally aspirated (NA) 3.4-L and 3.8-L units. The 911 that carries the specific “Turbo” designation, however, will continue to use a 3.8-L engine.

The 3.0-L Carreras were unveiled at the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show. The downsized-and-boosted “boxer” brings new levels of efficiency and added power; the Carrera gets an extra 15 kW (20 hp) taking peak output to 272 kW (365 hp). The Carrera S produces 309 kW (414 hp), also a 15-kW improvement. The new engines use two BorgWarner turbos, one per cylinder bank.