Porsche is, I guess, assuming that entry level Boxster/Cayman buyers won't care about the engine details as long as power and performance are OK. I'm afraid however that sooner or later, the high end models will get a 4-cyl. engine too. Unless of course Porsche wants to use synergies with the 911 and use a turbo charged 6-cyl. engine instead.
Truth is: It is getting more and more difficult for car manufacturers like Porsche to build "appropriate" sports cars. So many new environmental laws, it is not easy for them.
I still think that Porsche should create a second brand within the brand, Porsche Motorsport (PM) for example sounds quite attractive to me. Not sure how a second brand within a brand will be handled legally (emissions, etc.) but they could at least offer their top models through that new brand, so they don't have to hold back too much regarding engine power/type and exhaust sounds.
Personally, I would never buy a Porsche Boxster or 911 with a 4-cyl. engine. I already had my issues with the 4-cyl. in the A45 AMG I test-drove. It may be in my head only but I also wouldn't buy a V6 in the Cayenne or the Panamera, sorry.
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RC (Germany) - Rennteam Editor Porsche 991 Turbo S, Porsche Boxster S (981), Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT (2014), BMW X3 35d (2013)