Boxster and Cayman new engines

Four-cylinder power confirmed for next-gen

Two fewer cylinders, one more turbo, and as much as 395 hp.

Speaking in an interview with German publication Auto Motor und Sport yesterday, Porsche CEO Mattias Müller indicated that the future of the Cayman and Boxster line would be four-cylinder power. A flat-four turbocharged engine has already been tipped for the Macan crossover, potentially debuting later this year, but this is the first official word that a Porsche sports car would have anything other than a flat-six in it for the first time in decades.
The rationale for the change is a trend in downsizing seen throughout the industry as manufacturers plan to hit coming emissions targets. BMW nixed their lovely straight-six for a turbocharged four in their basic 3 Series, so Porsche's move to a smaller-displacement forced induction engine makes sense—perhaps not on an emotional level, but definitely on a regulatory one.