RC:
I never understood and will never understand why Porsche started to "hide"(cover) the engine bay, it remains a mystery to me.
Most probably, the new design didn't allow the cooling fans to be placed on the engine lid (like in 996 and 997). They had to be fixed on top of the engine and therefore this structure.
Besides, you cannot see the actual engine on most cars nowadays with these plastic covers used. I hated the Boxster for the concealed engine and now the 911 is suffering the same invisibility.
"Form follows function"
Jun 17, 2013 4:12:01 PM
It is engineering, everything Porsche does is form and function - brilliant really (I totally understand the logic behind 'PDK only'!). It allows for more consistent and directed flow of cooling air. They design it to look okay but there is a reason we can't see the engine. Good for them - they decided to take the heat from the folks who want to see the motor and instead remove the heat for extra performance and cooling. Air cooled 911 engines had similar engineering with many required passages behind the big fan the air-cooled engines had. BTW who thinks the little plastic fans are puny compared to the old air-cooled fan? Will they work in 10 years, 20, 30? I miss the days then the stock 911 engine was air-cooled dry sump, air-craft rated and could be run at max rpm until the tank was empty - on slick tires.
Jun 19, 2013 8:37:44 AM
Leawood, surely you mean function + cost. This is not the Porsche of the 70's and 80's, when engineering ruled.
Do you really think that fake double-barrel exhaust finishers, each of which has a diameter 2x as large as the underlying exhaust pipe, is about function? Or the "engineered" exhaust sound? Or the whole rear engine layout? Really?
Jun 19, 2013 11:21:01 AM
KMM:
Leawood, surely you mean function + cost. This is not the Porsche of the 70's and 80's, when engineering ruled.
Do you really think that fake double-barrel exhaust finishers, each of which has a diameter 2x as large as the underlying exhaust pipe, is about function? Or the "engineered" exhaust sound? Or the whole rear engine layout? Really?
Okay - good points all. Sometimes I forget its 2013 and not 1984. Dang