For Valentine’s Day, Porsche has declared its love for the V8 engine. A love story that began in 1977 with the 928 and continues today with the Cayenne and Panamera, and even tomorrow at Le Mans. Discover the models that have preferred this V-shaped architecture to the mythical six-cylinder flat.
The history of Porsche is not limited to the 911 and its mythical six-cylinder flat. Forty-five years ago, in 1977, the Stuttgart manufacturer presented at the Geneva Motor Show its first production car powered by an eight-cylinder V engine: the 928. Today, Porsche continues to equip some of its models with this type of engine. On the occasion of Valentine’s Day, the brand has decided to declare its love for the V8, an engine that has found its way under the hood of some of the manufacturer’s most emblematic productions. Back to a long saga.
>> V8-powered Porsches in pictures <<
928: the genesis
Porsche already equipped some of its racing cars with eight-cylinder engines, but in a flat architecture. The 928 is the first road model to adopt a V8 in the front position, much to the chagrin of purists. But who cares, those who take the time to try this four-seater coupe are generally complimentary and the 928 won the following year, in 1978, the “Car of the Year” trophy. To this day, it is the only sports car to have been crowned with this precious title. Between 1978 and 1995, 61,000 copies left the factories, intended mainly for the market across the Atlantic. We cannot therefore speak of a complete failure, but the 928 never managed to replace its highness 911, contrary to what Porsche initially envisaged. However, it was available in many versions throughout its career: 928, 928 S, S2, S3 and S4, then S4 Clubsport, GT and GTS. When it came out, the V8 – open at 90° – 4.5 l developed 240 hp. It will be rebored to 4.7 l, 5.0 l and 5.4 l depending on the version, for powers up to 350 hp.
Cayenne: rebirth
The Porsche range was deprived of V8s for almost seven years. We have to wait until 2002 and the release of the Cayenne to find an eight-cylinder under the hood. It is the manufacturer’s first five-door model, and what is more, its first SUV. It is above all the one that will save Porsche from its financial setbacks. The Cayenne is now in its third generation and is now available as an SUV-coupe. In its top-of-the-range version, called Turbo S E-Hybrid, its 550 hp 4.0-litre V8 biturbo is associated with an electric motor for a cumulative power of 680 hp. In June 2021, the latest version called Turbo GT equipped with a 100% thermal V8 of 640 hp broke the Nürburgring record in the SUV category. The Cayenne completed the 20.832 km German circuit in 7”38’9, which puts it ahead of the Audi RS Q8, built on the same platform and equipped with a very similar engine.
Panamera: the lineage
One could almost consider the Porsche Panamera as the heir to the 928… even if there are two doors difference. No more grand touring coupe, this time we are in the presence of a real sedan. However, there are similarities such as the V8 at the front and an atypical silhouette. Porsche had already had the idea of extending its range with a dynamically styled five-door, foreshadowed by the 989 concept in 1988. A prototype precisely derived from the 928 and whose profile is reminiscent of the first generation of the Panamera. Like the Cayenne, the sedan is offered in many versions including hybrids, under the same name E-Hybrid. It has also been available as a Sport Turismo station wagon since 2018.
918 Spyder: innovation
The year 2013 is that of the appearance of the “Holy Trinity”, a name that will mark fans of exceptional cars. The manufacturers Porsche, Ferrari and McLaren present their first hybrid hypercars. A trio made up of the Porsche 918 Spyder, the LaFerrari and the McLaren P1. The one that interests us today is obviously the German ultra-sportswoman. The 918 adopts a 4.6 l naturally aspirated V8 in the central rear position, derived from the engine of the RS Spyder endurance prototype (see below). As a bonus, it is fitted with two electric motors (one per axle) for a total power of 887 hp. What reduce the 0 to 100 km / h in 2.7 s and reach 345 km / h in top speed. Plug-in hybrid, the hypercar can travel around thirty kilometers in 100% electric, unlike its rivals. Like that of its predecessor, the Carrera GT, the chassis of the 918 Spyder is made of a carbon monocoque and has a retractable roof in two parts. Only 918 copies of the Spyder were produced, from 2013 to 2015.
Racing DNA
Alongside the public asphalt, Porsche continued its love affair with the V8 on the track with the RS Spyder. Designed for the ALMS (now IMSA) American endurance championship, the RS Spyder boasts a fine track record with no less than three victories in the championship across the Atlantic in the LMP2 category between 2006 and 2008. This past year, she also won the same championship in Europe, the 12 Hours of Sebring, as well as the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The RS Spyder once again won the title in La Sarthe, still racing in LMP2. Porsche ended its endurance adventure with victory at Sebring in 2010.
The Stuttgart brand will return to the discipline in 2023 at the 24 Hours of Daytona with a prototype that meets the new LMDh regulations, which this time will make it possible to aim for absolute victory. Currently in the test phase, the car is equipped with a hybrid biturbo V8 limited to 680 hp and breaking at 10,000 rpm. It will have to face strong competition, in particular the Peugeot 9X8 or the future Ferrari hypercar. But Porsche is counting on it to get a twentieth victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and thus reinforce the prestige already acquired by its V8 engines.
