Could new emissions rules bring back bigger engines?

Tuesday, 19 May 2020

Porsche's Macan GTS hits the sweet spot in its mid-size SUV range.

Porsche says forthcoming Euro7 emissions standards will bring back big engines but kill natural aspiration.

Speaking to Australia's Wheels, Porsche 911 and 718 model line chief, Frank-Steffen Walliser, confirmed Euro7 will put a limit on relative power-per-litre. That means small turbocharged engines making big power will likely go the way of the dodo. Unfortunately for the likes of Mercedes-AMG, that sounds like its latest M139 turbo four might be a one-hit wonder.

“In 2026, the next wave of regulations will come with EU7. This will be the worldwide toughest regulations considering emissions, especially in the spread between real driving emissions and what we see on the test benches,” said Walliser.

The 911 went fully turbo only a few years ago and now it needs to do it all over again.

“We will see a big change because it means – for everybody – new engines and we will see bigger displacements coming back again.”

We already know the next-gen Macan will be electric but the current one will carry on alongside it. But with what engines?

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“I expect 20 per cent more displacement on average for these EU7-capable engines. A lot of manufacturers will jump from four to six, from six to eight [cylinders],” he added.

However, Walliser told Wheels the new standards are 'completely counter-productive to CO2 emissions.'

'You cannot fulfil all the standards without spending fuel. It sounds crazy but it’s a technical fact at the moment.

“This new regulation is really difficult to fulfil because we will have different cold-start emissions and bigger catalytic converters. When I’m talking bigger, I’m talking a factor of three to four times more, so there will be a small chemical industrial factory in the car to really control this.'

“This means all-new engines and especially for the 911 this gets really, really difficult. But we will never give up. Whatever it takes, we will do it. We want to keep six-cylinders, for sure, but we will have to overwork it.

“We will have to make a new engine. That’s the fact. Again.”

Sounds like the new emissions rules will be a proper nightmare for carmakers, especially those in the performance area, like Porsche.

Walliser went on to say that, for Porsche at least, the only option is turbocharging. However, for markets unaffected by Euro emissions regulations (like Australia, New Zealand and the United States), there is a chance cars like the 911 GT3 could continue.

'Now maybe you are in the right part of the world, in Australia. This is a European solution. It [natural aspiration] could work in other parts of the world, as Australia is close to the US regulations that could work in the future.'

However, the naturally aspirated engine is nearing the end of its life. We've known it for a while but Euro7 puts it into clearer perspective. 'There will come a day, within the next 10 years, when we have to say 'Now this is the last of its kind.'