Porsche and Audi unite to save the V8

It’s been revealed that Audi and Porsche will join forces to develop an all-new range of both V6 and V8 engines.

It was feared the V8 petrol engines from both car-makers could have been killed off and replaced by a twin-turbo V6 as part of the general downsizing trend in search of lower emissions, but now thanks to sharing its considerable development costs the well-loved V8 configuration will live on for at least another generation at both Audi and Porsche.

The deal to create the new modular vee engines, codenamed KoVoMo after the German words for ‘group vee gasoline engines’, will see both the Volkswagen Group-owned brands work together to create a new 3.0-litre V6 and 4.0-litre V8. Both will come with turbochargers and have a common 90-degree architecture and 500cc individual cylinder displacement, according to Autocar, which broke the story following an interview with an insider.

Later on, according to the source, the all-new engines will also incorporate electric motor-driven compressors that offer lag-free, full-boost from idle.

The engines have been designed to be scalable and could begin with an entry-level 2.5-litre V6 .

As well as the new more efficient e-turbos the all-new engine could run the Atkinson-cycle combustion for greater efficiency.

In the past a 90-deg V6 was an engineering challenge as it was inherently unbalanced but Audi and Porsche engineers are confident that modern shaft balancer techniques and better engine management -- already used by GM and Mercedes with its 90-degree V6s -- will mean it won’t be the issue it once was.

As well as Audis and Porsches the new family of V6 and V8 engines is expected to be available in Volkswagens and Bentleys as well as, potentially, forthcoming Lamborghini models.

While the the new vee engines will be deployed from A4 and Q5 level upwards at Audi, they're again likely to be reserved for Porsche's Macan and Cayenne SUVs and Panamera sedan, with its sports cars continuing with flat-six boxer engines -- including downsized four-cylinder units.