The new turbocharged V8 powerplant debuting in the 2017 Porsche Panamera Turbo will also be used in various Audi and Bentley models.
The company opened a new factory near its 911 plant in Stuttgart, Germany, where the powerplant will be built and supplied to Audi and Bentley, both of which also fall under the Volkswagen Group umbrella. That means you can expect to see the turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 engine powering the revamped Bentley Mulsanne and Audi A8 models next year.
According to an report, Porsche invested nearly $88.6 million into the new factory that employs 400 workers and will build around 200 engines per day. In the 2017 Porsche Panamera Turbo, the engine provides 550 horsepower and 567 pound-feet of torque. It is also up to 30 percent more fuel efficient compared to its predecessor, thanks to its ability to deactivate half its cylinders under partial load.
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There is also a possibility that this V8 engine will be used as a hybrid powertrain, as it is designed with a modular structure, allowing the engine to be more versatile when it comes to electrification. The new factory could also be responsible for an all-electric powertrain for the Mission E, Porsche’s eventual Tesla Model S fighter.
In the coming years, the German automaker plans to invest around $777.5 million into the new factory and also has plans to construct a new paint shop and a separate assembly plant in Stuttgart.
[Source: Automotive News]
