We had heard rumors of Porsche lopping two cylinders off the next generation Boxster and Cayman, but now Porsche head honcho Matthias Müller has confirmed the news. Oh, and he said they might have 400 horsepower. Whaaaaaaaaa?
In a conversation with Auto Motor und Sport that we saw on Autoweek, Müller said that they will have a four cylinder boxer engine in the next iteration of the Boxster and the Cayman, and also suggested that the mill could make up to 400 horsepower. And not just any four, either — a flat one.
The four cylinder part is totally believable, but 400 horsepower? A Cayman GTS, the new top model, makes 340, less than a base 911 Carrera. A 911 Carrera S makes 400 horsepower. Even if that version of the engine goes in the top Boxster, I find it hard to fathom that Porsche would allow the Boxster or Cayman to make that much power. The Boxster/Cayman is inherently a better car than the 911, but Porsche castrates it so it can't beat the 911.
With 400 horsepower, it'd be tough to make it continue to be worse than the flagship, unless there is a massive development planned for Porsche's rear-engined legend. Let's wait and see.