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why did porsche switch water cooled engines

by Isidro Wunsch II Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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Because Porsche wanted to keep up with the competition, meet tougher emission standards, and yield better performance and engineering feats, all engines in Porsche models switched to a water-cooled design. Do air-cooled cars overheat in traffic?

Water cooling allowed an engine redesign that included four valves per cylinder, and which brought the higher power outputs, the improved fuel economy, and the reduced emissions that the market and legislators were all demanding.

Full Answer

What was the first Porsche with a water cooled engine?

Porsche’s famed engineer, Hans Mezger, penned much of the engine’s design and it would be in another Le Mans-winning car that a derivative of his water-cooled motor would make its Neunelfer debut. The Porsche 911 GT1 was the first Neunelfer to feature a fully water-cooled flat six engine.

When did the Porsche 959 get water cooled?

Water-cooling: A Porsche 911 history. Around the time of the 959’s delayed launch in 1986, Porsche was also readying its first fully water-cooled flat six for the dominant Porsche 962C sports prototype, a car that would win the 24 Hours of Le Mans in both 1986 and 1987 in the hands of the works Rothmans team.

How much power does a Porsche 911 Turbo have?

After the engine facelift with a displacement of 3.6 litres, this increased to 320 PS, and in the anniversary edition “40 years of Porsche 911”, the power output even reached 345 PS. The 911 Turbo also received a new water-cooled flat engine.

What kind of engine does a Porsche 993 have?

Water-cooling: A Porsche 911 history. It would go on to triumph at Le Mans in 1998. While all the production Porsche 993s still retained the classic air-cooled flat six, the 911 GT1 homologation special of 1996 featured a 3.2-litre twin turbocharged motor based on the fully water-cooled engine first seen in the 962.

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Why did Porsche stop using air-cooled engines?

The flat engine design was preserved – but not its air cooling, because this cooling principle did not have enough reserves to comply with the increasingly strict emissions regulations.

When did Porsche switch water-cooled engines?

1998During its first 50 years, Porsche built a loyal following for its engines that released heat directly into the air. After 1998, the automaker switched to water-cooled engines that use liquid coolant. “For the community, this was at first very difficult to accept, and it's still a big milestone,” said Fabig.

When did Porsche stop making air-cooled cars?

Porsche · digital presskit · The 993 (1993) – the last air-cooled model.

Why did Porsche put the engine in the back?

Because someone at the top of Porsche, presumably, dictated that the 911 would be for more than two people, the engine needed to be mounted behind the rear axle: in order to make space for the rear seats.

Why do people prefer air-cooled Porsche?

The air-cooled flat engine was also an ideal choice for sports cars such as the Porsche 911 as its low design lowered the car's centre of gravity, giving a sportier and more dynamic style of driving. Installing the engine at the back also gave more traction as the weight rested on the drive axle.

Are air-cooled Porsches reliable?

They're just fabulous cars. If you like a little more of the traditional Porsche look, the 964 was the very best of the traditional-looking Porsches; it's the best to drive and it's extremely reliable.

Which is better air-cooled or liquid cooled?

The flashier option for temperature management, liquid cooling offers incredible performance combined with a visual appeal that no other cooling system can match. In these systems, liquid (typically water) transfers heat away from components and is generally much better at heat management than air alone.

Do air-cooled Porsches overheat?

Air-Cooled Porsches Overheating While uncommon, an air-cooled Porsche can still overheat. With air-cooled Porsches, the entire engine is used as one giant heat sink, moving air from driving.

Why are Porsche 911s so expensive?

Porsches are expensive because of the cost it takes to produce a car with excellent performance and handling. They invest a lot of money in their R&D and materials to produce cars that set the standard for sports cars everywhere. Since their materials are complex, many aspects of the car are handmade.

Is rear-engine better than mid-engine?

Advantages of rear-engine cars Since the engine's weight is on the rear wheels, the traction is high. Hence, the initial acceleration is also better (for rear-wheel-drive cars). The power delivery and steering are split between rear and front wheels. Hence, they do not undergo high loads as in a front-engine car.

Why is the 911 still rear-engined?

Why is that? It turns out rear-engine cars have some significant advantages. It all has to do with weight distribution. Since there's more weight on the rear-driven axle in a 911 versus a normal sports car, there's more load on the rear tires, which means more traction on acceleration.

Why are supercar engines in the back?

Mounting the engine at the rear wheels puts the weight and the power unit right next to the drive wheels. This weight helps to improve traction and acceleration. The weight balance in these vehicles is skewed toward the rear, but they have a better centre of gravity than a front-engine vehicle.

Do VW bugs still have the engine in the back?

Unlike the original Beetle, the New Beetle has its engine in the front, driving the front wheels, with luggage storage in the rear.

What cars have the engine in the back?

These are the best rear-engine vehicles of the past, without the inclusion of the Beetle or the 911.15 2016 Smart Fortwo.14 Tesla Model S.13 1993 Ferrari Mondial.12 Mitsubishi i-MiEV.11 Lotus Elise.10 1999 Toyota MR2 Turbo.9 1981 DeLorean DMC12.8 BMW 700.More items...•

Is a Lamborghini engine in the back?

In a modern Lamborghini, as you may have guessed, the layout employed is a rear mid-engine layout with the engine behind the driver.

Is the Porsche 911 rear-engine?

The Porsche 911 (pronounced Nine Eleven or in German: Neunelfer) is a two-door 2+2 high performance rear-engined sports car introduced in September 1964 by Porsche AG of Stuttgart, Germany. It has a rear-mounted flat-six engine and originally a torsion bar suspension.

When did Porsche 911 stop using air cooled engines?

With the fifth generation of the 911 introduced in 1997 – the type 996 – Porsche took the bold step to stop using air-cooled engines. After 34 years, the sports car manufacturer completely revamped its icon with the new 911 and in doing so solved a number of urgent challenges.

How many PS does a Porsche 996 have?

It also formed the basis for the Porsche brand cups, and was the starting point for many race victories of Porsche customer motorsport all over the world. In the 996, the 3.6-litre naturally-aspirated engine initially had an output of 360 PS, and then 381 PS. The 911 GT3 RS followed in 2003 as an even sharper edition.

Why is the flat engine not air cooling?

The flat engine design was preserved – but not its air cooling, because this cooling principle did not have enough reserves to comply with the increasingly strict emissions regulations. In contrast, the newly developed water cooling system was ready for the future.

When did the 911 start water cooled?

Everyone knows that the Porsche 911’s water-cooled era started in 1998, don’t they? Well, yes and no. The Porsche 996 Carrera – launched just before the turn of the millennium – may have been the first fully water-cooled production Neunelfer but it wasn’t the first to get the H2O treatment.

How many valves does a Porsche 935/78 have?

Raced by the factory Martini Porsche squad, the 935/78 featured new cylinder heads featuring four valves per head and, most interestingly, water-cooling (although the block remained traditionally cooled by air).

What was the first Neunelfer to have a flat six engine?

The Porsche 911 GT1 was the first Neunelfer to feature a fully water-cooled flat six engine. It would go on to triumph at Le Mans in 1998.

When did Porsche 959 win Le Mans?

Around the time of the 959’s delayed launch in 1986, Porsche was also readying its first fully water-cooled flat six for the dominant Porsche 962C sports prototype, a car that would win the 24 Hours of Le Mans in both 1986 and 1987 in the hands of the works Rothmans team.

When was the Porsche 959 made?

Launched in 1986, the Porsche 959 featured an air/water-cooled flat six, similar to the unit seen in ‘Moby Dick’. A similar cooling setup would be used in the Porsche 959 – launched 30 years ago this year – the supercar’s 2.85-litre flat six engine a close relative of Moby Dick’s 3.2-litre unit with its water-cooled cylinder heads.

Who designed the Porsche 911?

Porsche’s famed engineer, Hans Mezger, penned much of the engine’s design and it would be in another Le Mans-winning car that a derivative of his water-cooled motor would make its Neunelfer debut. The Porsche 911 GT1 was the first Neunelfer to feature a fully water-cooled flat six engine. It would go on to triumph at Le Mans in 1998.

Is the Porsche 911 water cooled?

Fitted to the carbon fibre monocoque Porsche 911 GT1-98, the water-cooled engine would help Weissach to its 16th 24 Hours of Le Mans triumph in the same year that Porsche decided to debut the new 996 Carrera, the first water-cooled production 911. While the M96 engine of new Carrera was an all-new design, the GT1’s engine would form ...

The classic air-cooled Porsche 911

At one time, the 911 lineage contained the fastest, best-cornering and best-braking cars in America, and the 1983 Porsche 911 SC Cabrio I rented from DriveShare did not disappoint. Clutch down, and a firm twist of the key ignited the 3.0-liter flat-six that was hiding under the massive rubber-lipped whale tail.

Water-cooled is still cool

Many Porsche aficionados deemed the 944 less worthy of the Porsche badge because their water-cooled engines were mounted at the “wrong” end of the car. However, with the engine mounted up front and the transaxle gearbox at the rear, the 944 is a much more balanced car than the 911, with nearly 50/50 weight distribution.

Which would you choose?

Looks are subjective, of course, so it’s hard to say one was more beautiful than the other. Being a mid-80s kid, the 944 induces a sense of nostalgia. I tend to lust over low, wide stances and flip-up headlights, including vehicles that take on a similar silhouette, like the second-generation Mazda RX-7 or the Toyota’s MR2.

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1.Why did Porsche switch from air cooled to water cooled …

Url:https://www.quora.com/Why-did-Porsche-switch-from-air-cooled-to-water-cooled-for-their-911-cars

13 hours ago Because Porsche wanted to keep up with the competition, meet tougher emission standards, and yield better performance and engineering feats, all engines in Porsche …

2.The 996: First 911 with water-cooled flat engine

Url:https://newsroom.porsche.com/en/history/porsche-911-seven-generations-part-5-typ-996-16487.html

32 hours ago Why is Porsche from air-cooled to water-cooled? The world was changing, and the air-cooled engine simply wasn’t able to change with it. Water cooling allowed an engine redesign that …

3.Water-cooling: A Porsche 911 history - Total 911

Url:https://www.total911.com/water-cooling-a-porsche-911-history/

11 hours ago  · Water cooling allowed an engine redesign that included four valves per cylinder, and which brought the higher power outputs, the improved fuel economy, and …

4.Why water-cooled Porsches deserve more attention

Url:https://driveshare.blog/2021/10/12/why-water-cooled-porsches-deserve-more-attention/

6 hours ago  · With a history dating back to 1896, the air-cooled engine was the go-to engine design for much of the mid-to-late 90s. Unlike water-cooled engines that were closed circuit …

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