We were expecting to hear more from Porsche’s new mid-engine super car, allegedly called the 960, but we didn’t expect this. The latest reports suggest this Ferrari fighter – or FeFi as they call it – will be powered by an all-new 8-cylinder boxer engine… with four turbochargers.

That sounds a bit bonkers, especially for a car maker like Porsche. But if it turns out to be true, the 960 is going to be one of the most technically fascinating cars of all time. The complexity of that engine beggars belief.

This flat-eight engine will be only 3.9 liter large, but with four turbos, two intercoolers, four adjustable camshafts, a complex multistage intake manifold, and dual-stage exhaust, it will make at least 650 horsepower. Due to the compact nature of boxer engines, Porsche will be able to fit this unit, along with its 7-speed dual-clutch transmission, deep in the middle of the chassis for perfect balance.

The structure will be made from a blend of aluminum, steel, carbon fiber, titanium, and magnesium even. The goal is to keep the curb weight below 1,500 kg. It will feature four-wheel-drive, which enables a 0 to 100 km/h time of 2.5 seconds, but they are already talking about a raw rear-drive version as well.

Everything about Porsche 960 sounds almost too good to be true. But Porsche’s got enough time to make it happen, as the 960 is scheduled for launch in 2017.

Source: Automobile