Porsche engineers continue to return to traditional internal combustion engines, despite years of focusing on electric vehicles. As part of this work, the automaker is actively developing new designs that promise high power with reduced emissions. After experimenting with six-stroke engines and two-component pistons, the company is now opening up new horizons — and we are talking about an 18-cylinder W18 engine.
CarBuzz discovered a recently published Porsche patent application filed with the World Intellectual Property Organization last year. The patent reveals the overall layout of the engine and its potential benefits, and also indicates the possibility of wide application — from luxury SUVs to hypercars.
What's so special about the Porsche W18 engine
The main uniqueness of the new engine lies not only in the number of cylinders, but also in their arrangement. Unlike previous VW Group W-engines, where two narrow V-blocks were combined with a common crankshaft, the Porsche W18 has three separate rows of cylinders with six cylinders each.
The patent provides flexibility: you can create a W12 with four cylinders in a row or a W9 with three. Theoretically, a W15 with five cylinders in a row is also possible. Each row receives its own intake manifold at the top with an integrated throttle valve, and the exhaust system is built according to the "six into two into one" scheme.
Design advantages
Porsche claims that the upper location of the intake manifolds reduces turbulence and air friction when entering the cylinders, increases the density of the mixture and improves cooling. The exhaust channels are located on the sides, which allows you to separate the flows of hot and cold air, increasing engine efficiency.
Additionally, it is possible to install a turbocharger on each row of cylinders, creating a three-turbine engine, which can significantly increase power.
The compact layout makes the W18 the length of an inline six-cylinder engine and the width of a V12, and the W12 the length of an inline four-cylinder and the width of a V8. This versatility opens up new possibilities for engine application.
Among the possible cars that may receive this engine:
- Porsche K1 SUV — a premium SUV, previously planned as fully electric, may now enter the market with an internal combustion engine or PHEV, and the unique W12 will be a strong competitive feature against the Rolls-Royce Cullinan.
- Porsche Mission X — a mid-engined hypercar where the compact W12 is ideal for maintaining balance and high performance.
Porsche has not yet confirmed that the W18 engine or its variations will go into mass production.
The patent may only serve to protect ideas, so it is too early to talk about the real timing of the engine's appearance on the market.
Nevertheless, the new W-configuration demonstrates Porsche's willingness to experiment with engineering solutions and seek a balance between high power, efficiency and innovation.
