Following on the heels of Porsche’s patent of electrically-assisted twin turbos to combat flow stall, the German automaker disclosed another Porsche patent, this time a unique W18 motor.
Filed in April 2024 and announced last week, this patent showcases a true W layout with three banks of cylinders, each with their own heads. The layout also differs from VW’s previous W8, W12 and W16 engines, which are essentially two narrow angle V engines (VR4, VR6, or VR8) that share a single head across both banks, joined together for a total of four cylinder banks with only two heads.
The Porsche patent details an engine comprised of three banks of six cylinders converging on a single crankshaft, with a 60-degree angle between each bank. The drawings depict an 18-cylinder engine, but Porsche says the design can be scaled down and adapted to have 3, 4, or 5 cylinders per bank, resulting in a 9-, 12- or 15-cylinder engine with a relatively short block.
Additionally, while the 60-degree angle between banks has been chosen to offer optimal combustion and overall balance, Porsche engineers say this can also be varied based on application and packaging limitations.
The patent also shows attention paid to airflow management. Intake plenums are located above the cylinder banks, arranged so air can be drawn directly down into the cylinders through extremely short and and straight intake runners. Exhaust manifolds are positioned to keep the hot gases isolated from the intake plumbing, so the engine can breathe cooler, denser air for better horsepower.
Though not documented, the patent also hints at possible forced-induction options, with provisions that could support a turbocharger for each bank. A triple-turbo setup could offer massive peak power, especially when paired with Porsche’s T-Hybrid electric assisted turbocharger tech.
The question now is, will Porsche build it? Who knows if this engine will ever make it to production, but this patent is a strong statement of Porsche’s commitment to evolving internal combustion technology with continuous innovation.
