It’s as if Porsche has sensed the slight air of disappointment around its latest road cars. Perhaps not, but it’s a little too convenient that just as grumblings about turbocharged Carreras and four-cylinder Boxsters arise, the company chooses to remind us just what its engineers are capable of.

And so for the first time, Porsche has revealed images of the tiny, jewel-like engine that resides behind the rear bulkhead of its 919 Hybrid LMP1 car and utilises both forced induction and down-sizing.

Subscribe to evo magazine Subscribe today to have every issue of evo delivered straight to you. You'll SAVE 39% on the shop price, and get evo for its original cover price for a whole year! Subscribe now

Sign up for our newsletter Get regular updates, news and top reviews. Sign Up

That this engine - a 2-litre turbocharged V4 - has won in the top class of endurance racing is some achievement. That it has done so when the 919 Hybrid’s closest rivals have rolled out the heavy artillery in the form of a 4-litre V6 turbodiesel (Audi) and a 3.7-litre V8 (Toyota) is even more impressive.

In fact last season Porsche collected the WEC drivers’ and manufacturers’ titles, securing a one-two finish at the Le Mans 24 Hours along the way. So this is a hugely successful engine, and the message from Porsche to everybody who loves sports cars is clear: stop worrying about the future, and buy our cars.