Though the lightweight, mid-engined Porsche 914 of the late 1960s and early 1970s was far from a perfect machine, it has developed a cult following that keeps it active in the streets and on tracks around the world to this day. Now the Volkswagen-Porsche joint effort looks primed for a revival as economic and business conditions line up just right for the rebirth of a four-cylinder Porsche. Porsches impending takeover of Volkswagen through a planned share buyout may have the larger and more pedestrian vehicle maker sweating, but if news of the collaboration on a new 914 holds true the Porsche-VW tie-up could prove to be the best of both worlds. Earlier this week reports broke that Porsche is considering adding a four-cylinder engine to its 911 and Boxster lineups. Now Motor Trend is talking of a Porsche-branded version of the previously announced VW sports car to be revealed in Los Angeles two months from now. If it is built, 914 would once again be a joint effort between the two makers, though the basic mechanicals would likely be drawn primarily from VWs massive corporate parts bin. The two engines with the most potential are the 1.4L turbocharged/supercharged TSI unit thats good for 170hp (126kW) and the 125hp (93kW) diesel four-cylinder. Though the diesel would likely be more fitting of an economy-version of the car than a Porsche-badged entry-level coupe/roadster, the VW car might feature both. Of course the new seven-speed dual-clutch DSG would find its way into the car, though entry level models might still feature a standard manual transmission. Expect it to come sans-LSD, however, in order to keep the car from vying too closely with the lower end of the Boxster range. At 2,200lbs (1,000kg) and 170hp (126kw), the 914 could be expected to give the standard Elise a run for its money, especially considering it is likely to benefit from Porsches legendary suspension tuning and steering design. There is no official confirmation of any such joint project as yet - its still purely in the realm of speculation, and optimistic at that - but it does make sense. Tight fuel economy requirements make production of a quick, nimble and miserly car an appealing maneuver, and tying the car into established enthusiast history could help Porsche side-step issues that such a car might create for its image. Not that the Panamera, soon to be available in diesel and hybrid forms, or the Cayenne in its many guises do much to keep with the companys tradition of sports car-focused performance. The original 914 came from a need at Porsche to replace its 912 entry-level sports car and at Volkswagen to replace the aging Karmann-Ghia, which was essentially a re-bodied Beetle turned out by legendary German coach-builder Karmann. In Europe, the four-cylinder variant of the 914 was sold as a Volkswagen, while the six-cylinder was sold as a Porsche. Fearful of the effects such a move might have on the brands image in North America, Porsche secured a deal with VW that allowed both cars to be sold under the Porsche badge in the New World.