Porsche has filed a patent for a new W-shaped, “space-optimized” combustion engine with 18 cylinders, arranged in six per bank. This design allows for flexibility, potentially accommodating 9 or 15 cylinders with a short engine block. Unlike Bugatti’s Chiron, which used two narrow V-banks, Porsche’s design features straight engines angled to share a common crank, optimizing exhaust routing and intake cooling.
The patent highlights the engine’s advantage in minimizing air flow friction losses and maintaining a clear separation between intake and exhaust, ensuring cooler air intake and enhanced performance. The design could support a turbocharger per bank, resulting in a triple-turbocharged W-18 engine comparable in length to a straight-six.
Despite the intriguing patent, Porsche may not intend to produce this engine, as automakers often file patents to protect intellectual property rather than indicate future products. The patent lacks specific details on displacement or output, but the potential for up to 18 cylinders and three turbochargers suggests significant power. While combustion engines remain relevant, Porsche’s focus on electric vehicles continues, with upcoming hybrids and new gas 718s indicating a possible future for the W-18 engine.