Porsche fans who fondly recall the marque's last mid-engine sports car powered by a four-cylinder ‘boxer’ engine, the 914 (1969 - 1976), will be glad to know the German automaker will soon launch another one. Porsche CEO Matthias Mueller recently confirmed the automaker was working on a new four-cylinder boxer engine to power its next generation of sports cars, starting with the next Boxster and Cayman due towards the end of the decade, and now we have a few more details on the engine, including displacement and power figures.

According to CAR, Porsche has developed three versions of the engine, displacing 1.6, 2.0 and 2.5 liters respectively. The 1.6-liter is said to deliver 210 horsepower while the 2.0-liter is said to be good for 286 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. The 2.5-liter should muster up 360 hp and 347 lb-ft of torque, according to the report. To achieve these figures, the engines are said to feature turbocharging and direct-injection technologies.

While all three engines have been designed, only the 2.0- and 2.5-liter units are expected to be utilized by Porsche. The 1.6-liter mill is said to have been designed for the entry-level roadster Porsche was considering launching, but has since canceled.

Look for the larger units to first appear in the next Boxster and Cayman. We could also see the engines used in Porsche’s SUVs like the Macan and Cayenne, possibly integrated with hybrid technology. Eventually, we’re likely to see the engine fitted to the 911, especially if Porsche achieves success with its four-cylinder (V-4) 919 Hybrid LMP1 race car. Note, Porsche already has a four-cylinder model in its lineup, the Macan, but the engine in this model is a straight-four design borrowed from Audi.

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