I should know the answer to this and I probably already do but I will ask anyway. If I mash the throttle and quickly let up in my Volvo the motor might rev up 2k rpm and wander back down to idle. If I do the same thing in my 911 the motor will slam right up to red line and drop right back down. Why is that?

Initially I was thinking that it was due to lower friction. I can’t imagine that it is because the 911 motor takes more stress and must maintain tighter specs.

That led me to think that perhaps the 911 is a better balanced system. You know all the rods and pistons are perfectly balanced. Does that sound right?

Or is a matter of weight? Does the Porsche flat 6 have lighter weight rotating components that lead up to a more freely revving motor? This I find a bit tough to believe as it has 50% more cylinders.

Any thoughts?

Andrew