FIFTY YEARS OF PORSCHE TURBOS
The principle of supercharging, either mechanically or using turbines, goes back to the early years of automobile engineering. Between the wars, forced induction was usually achieved by a mechanical supercharger running off the crankshaft. Dr Porsche had designed Mercedes-sixes with superchargers during his stint at Daimler-Benz in the 1920s, at a time when forced induction through turbocharging (an even older technology) tended to be confined to big, slow-running marine diesels.
Once it became a manufacturer, during its first 25 years Porsche generally obtained more power by increasing capacity: the production flat four had reached two litres by 1962 and competition engines reached 2.2 litres and eight cylinders. When the 2.0-litre flat six of the 911 was designed, it was intended to leave sufficient margin to reach three litres (ultimately it would reach 3,741cc).
Hans Mezger’s fellow designer on that engine was Ferdinand Piëch. When Piëch became technical director in 1966, his quest to make Porsche world sports car champions led to the 3-litre flat eight of the 908, which came so close to winning at Le Mans in 1969.
