Porsche may have just reimagined the future of hybrid powertrains, and it starts with a rather clever engine idea. A newly surfaced patent reveals a system that combines conventional combustion with next-gen hybrid thinking, but with a twist only Porsche would attempt.
At its core is a flat engine featuring cylinder deactivation, but not in the usual sense. One bank of cylinders is engineered purely for efficiency, designed to “coast” with minimal friction using tricks like ceramic bearings and reduced piston ring drag. The other bank is built for performance, complete with variable valve timing and even variable compression.
This allows the engine to operate in a variety of modes. In full attack mode, all the cylinders fire and power is sent directly to the wheels in the manner of a traditional sports car. Switch things up, and it becomes an electricity generator, running only the efficient cylinder bank to charge the battery in a range-extender setup.
Most of the time, the car would behave like an EV, with electric motors driving both axles. But when needed, the combustion engine steps in – either quietly generating power or going all-out delivering full performance.
It’s an ambitious concept. Complex, likely heavy, and not without compromises. But if it works, this could be Porsche’s ultimate answer to keeping performance alive in a rather complicated future for the car world.
Source: Car Buzz
