Porsche has patented an 18-cylinder engine configured in a true W shape, a bold engineering move that challenges traditional engine design. This compact powerhouse arranges three banks of six cylinders each at 60-degree angles. Each bank benefits from its own turbocharger, aiming to optimize air intake and exhaust flow efficiently for maximum power output without increasing the engine's physical footprint.
The design separates intake and exhaust paths to reduce heat and friction, promising higher performance while maintaining manageable engine size. While official specs remain under wraps, the complexity and innovation hint at a powertrain meant for a future supercar, likely a successor to Porsche’s 918 Spyder.
Porsche’s patent signals that despite the electric wave sweeping the industry, the combustion engine remains their focus for pushing limits and delivering that visceral performance that defines the brand.
