Audi TTS Engine To Feature In 2010 Porsche Boxster?

FOR PORSCHE PURISTS, nothing other than a flat six will do. However, in the interests of keeping costs low and enticing more motorists into the Porsche fold, the German automaker is reportedly consdering fitting the Boxster with the turbocharged inline five from the Audi TTS.

Heresy? Perhaps, but according to the chaps at German car mag Auto Motor und Sport, transplanting an Audi heart into the Boxster's body would slash a considerable amount of Euros off the entry-level Porsche's pricetag. €6500 (AU$11,300), to be exact.

The Boxster has experienced a drop in sales of some 60 percent in recent times, and the company is investigating any avenues which could potentially give the model a much-needed boost in the showroom.

Aside from being cheaper, the Audi TTS is also torquier and more powerful than the current base Boxster's 2.9 litre engine.

With 200kW and 350Nm, the TTS's turbocharged 2.0 FSI mill easily eclipses the Boxster's 188kW and 290Nm output.

Will Porsche fans shun the Audi engine? Will new customers adore it? Will the idea of an Audi-engined Porsche even be given the green light? We'll have to wait and see.