Stop press: who would have ever said that an internal combustion engine could cover the role of engine of the future? Probably a few incorrigible nostalgics, given that hybrid and hydrogen have conquered the imagination of engineers and project planners. And yet, a little by surprise, Advanced Engine Tecnology from Los Angeles has patented an engine with the cryptic name of Ox2 - we’re not sure about the name but the project certainly has potential.

Thanks to its disarming simplicity, (only six components, three of which move), such an engine could render a performance three times that of current examples with reduced weight and an elevated torque that performs even at low engine revs.

In its current state, the Ox2 is compact and light - 17.5cm wide, 32.5 in diameter and at 57kg - and has eight cylinders and four-strokes: however compared to a competitor with the same cylinder power, this is far more advanced. Take the 1.1 Peugeot for example at 44 hp and 5,550 revs. The Ox2 has an output of 39 hp at only 1,065 revs.

This is just a first development, although it could be applied to potential powers of anywhere from zero to a few hundred hp. The developers also reckon that the engine will be able to comply easily with any anti-pollution norms. We’re only waiting for extra developments and interest from the big car manufacturers. Go to the site for more information.

Thanks to minox.

Via | Stampolampo

In America bio-ethanol is much talked about and car manufacturers are providing models capable of utilising this fuel (also called E85) in the place of green petrol. Oil prices don’t look like stopping their climb and is logical that any news related to possible savings escalates quickly.

This has been the case of the the “Micro Fueler”, a petrol station in the home that costs 10,000 dollars and produces 132 litres of fuel a week, using sugar, water and electric energy. The sugar is the waste from the work, and is still easy to find at low prices especially in South America.

Success has still to be seen, as are the savings: it would require 60,000km a year and two years to realise the investment, according to experts. The company producing this machine is called E-Fuel Corporate, you can go to their site for more information.

With thanks to xtom

Via | Repubblica.it

It’s raining prizes for BMW who, keeping to its traditional commitment in excellence, has again in 2008 cleaned up at the 10th International Engine of the Year awards. In an article dedicated to the 2007 edition, BMW won prizes in five of the 11 categories.

The best engine of the year is the 2.0 twin Turbo Diesel at 240 hp for the moment utilised on the BMW 123d. But the Munich company has also won in the 1.4-1.8 litre category with the 1.6 petrol turbo, fruit of collaboration with PSA. Then there was also the best in the 2.5-3.0 litre category with the 3.0 twin turbo petrol. A specific mention also went to BMW Motorsport that came off with awards in for the M3 four-litre V8 in the 3.5-4.0 litre category, and also the M5’s V10 five litre.

For other manufacturers BMW left some crumbs with only the VW Group and Porsche, and Toyota getting mentions. In fact the best high performance engine was the 3.6 litre turbo of the Porsche 911 turbo and the GT2, while VW is leader in the medium cylinder category with the 1.4 TSI turbo and the 2.0 TFSI Turbo.

The Japanese came off with three recognitions: for the best ecological engine with the 1.5 Toyota Prius hybrid, the three cylinder mounted on the Aygo, Citroen C1 and Peugeot 1-7, and finally Subaru’s 2.5 turbo.

Concluding we can note the German dominance with BMW and the VW group that close off at five awards to three, and only the Japanese appearing able to compete. The French PSA group curiously found itself partner in the success of the awards. It appears Peugeot’s joint ventures are chosen with care and look to long-term success.

Via | International Engine of the Year Awards

Audi will collaborate with Japanese giant Sanyo in the planning of hybrid technology for the next generation VAG group cars. Until now the Volkswagon group has invested in streamlining internal combustion engines, first diesel then petrol, reaching levels of excellence while also delaying the release of hybrid models that other competitor companies are already realising.

To make up for this, they’re relying on the experience of Sanyo, especially so as to not limit hybrid models to niche cars such as the SUV Audi Q7 and the Volkswagon Tuareg. It’s possible that the first models to benefit from this new technology will be the Volkswagen Up! and the Audi A1.

With thanks to “GT-R Slave”

Via | MotorAuthority.com

With a rightly proud media release, Porsche demonstrates its victory in the 10th International Engine of the Year competition in the category of Best Performance Engine.

The 3.6 cylinder boxer turbocompressed that equipes the 911 Turbo and the GT2 has been awarded by the English in Engine Technology International, thanks to excellent votes from 65 journalists of the field, from 30 countries. Judging criteria includes performance, consumption and technological innovation.

After a victory in the three and four litre classes in 2007, Porsche is celebrating this new important recognition, “putting in the backgroun rivals such as Ferrari, Nissan, BMW and Audi”. The 911 Turbo engine has been equipped for the first time with a variable geometric turbine (VTG) which, thanks to the control of exhaust gas on the turbine, enables an optimum use of the compressor, improving it especially at lower revs.

Rèmi Deconinck, director general of Renault Sport Technologies, has inadvertently let out some greatly anticipated news: the sports arm of the French company is seriously considering adopting a rear wheel drive system. It hasn’t been decided on which model but a new model for the technology has not been excluded.

In the course of a meeting with the English from evo, in which Deconinck had the opportunity to reinforce his preference for petrol rather than diesel engines and aspirated turbo, he underlined how true sports motors are those that are kept in the “red zone” of revs and revealed some news on Renault’s future technical choices.

According to Deconinch, thanks to the technology levels reached by manufacturers of tyres, we could soon be pushing 350 hp on rear wheel drive, without suffering from the typical understeering. And only ten or 15 years ago some performance levels were considered out of the question, which are now easily surpassed. But RS’s focus for most next generation models will be on reducing weight and improving chassis.

One of the recent efforts of Renault Sport was the Laguna GT, equipped with the interesting four wheel steering. It seems that this technical evolution could anticipate the ultimate step from front to rear wheel drive. “We’re seriously thinking about it,” Deconinck says candidly, “And with Nissan in the group it will be much easier but we haven’t taken any final decisions as yet.”

And what would be the ideal model to debut this novelty? “Good quesiton! Perhaps a two-seater coupè with a 250-300 hp performance and weight inside of 1200 kg.” According to the noted English magazine, the development has probably already been underway and what comes to mind are the mysterious figures that were touring the ‘Ring. We’ll be following all the intrigue.

Some updates on the Audi A4 destined for the US market: with availability in October the Ingolstadt vehicle will have a new 2.0 TFSI engine, increased to 211hp, 11 more than currently in use on many VAG models, with 350 Nm of torque.

The two-litre car will be equipped with the modern Audi Valvelift system controlling distribution and allowing the sedan a 0-60 miles (0-96 km/hr) in just 6.5 seconds. Combined with the engine - presented on the Avant at the American debut - it will be possible to choose as optional extras the double clutch, S tronic shift.

Management is also considering the introduction of a 3.0-litre V6 TDI for the American market. After Mercedes, that with its BlueTEC presented itself in great pomp to American customers, another German manufacturer is betting on diesel to reinforce its presence in the US.

Update: corrected eroneous reference to Steptronic shift

Mazda will reveal a new diesel engine for the new Mazda 6 at the Paris show in September 2008. Contrary to what could be thought, the new 2.2 litre turbo diesel with 175 bhp, has no parentage with the 2.2 Ford-PSA which debuted as the Ford Mondeo Titanium S in Geneva.

It derives from the current 2-litre 140 bhp and will be paired with a manual, six-speed gear box. The recent development has meant the possible Mazda 6 MPS petrol turbo has been temporarily put on standby, though it is hoped the debut has been postponed and not cancelled.

Via | Autocar.co.uk

The new 4-cylinder gasoline engine is going to be called 1.4 TSI despite not being a twin-charger engine: in the 122 ps power-step it’s going to have only a turbo-charger (losing the supercharger). Torque is going to be a healthy 200 Nm. This engine is probably going to be used on most of the low-to-mid end of the Volkswagen model range.

The second novelty is a new version of the DSG gearbox (double clutch robotized transmission). This new gearbox will have seven speeds, can be coupled with engines with torque up to 250 Nm and the double clutch will no longer be immersed in oil as in the current DSG and, according to VW, it’s going to be particularly good for fuel economy: a Golf with the new 1.4 TSI and the new 7-speed DSG will have an average fuel consumption of 5.9 liters/100 km.

Via | Auto Motor und Sport

Audi technicians will be relating on two engines not yet in production: a 4 cylinders, 1.8 liters Turbo-FSI and a 2.8-liters V6 FSI with variable valve lift (called ValveLift). The first is rumoured to be a downsized version of the 2.0 TFSI, which would get its space in the Audi engine line-up thanks to the fact that the 2.0 TFSI si gaining more power (it output between 240 and 270 ps on the hottest of the V-A-G hot hatches, the Leon Cupra and Audi S3).

The second engine should be the first production engine with the variable valve lift system present in the Audi Roadjet Concept. The engine of the Roadjet was a 3.2 V6 FSI with ValveLift, with 300 PS at 7,000 rpm and a maximum torque of 330 Nm at 4.500 rpm.

Via | Autopareri Forum

Yes, we know that april’s fool day is long past. But Repubblica, Italy’s second daily newspaper, is out with the sad scoop that a diesel-engined Porsche is finally coming, and the date on the article is “April 3rd”, not “April 1st”.

It seems that the announcement was made by Porsche CEO Wendelin Wiedeking himself on a German broadcasting station: Audi’s victory in Sebring with the diesel powered R10 is demonstration enough that “diesel has gained motorsports dignity” and that a turbo-diesel engine might soon be worthy of being hosted by the engine compartment of a 911 Carrera.

What can I say ? This announcement isn’t present in Wikipedia’s April’s Fool list, but there is no trace of it in German online media, so we’ll have to wait for independent confirmation.

For what it’s worth, it wouldn’t be the first time that the Porsche name makes its appearance on a diesel-powered vehicle: here you can see pictures of a couple of Porsche Traktor Diesel, the “people’s tractor” designed by Ferdinand Porsche in the thirties: the Diesel Super and the Junior.

A quick comparison between the CLS 350 and the CLS 350 CGI in the following table is the best way to appreciate the benefits of this new engine, that with its piezoelectric injecgtors and spray-guided combustion gains power (+20 bhp) and lowers fuel consumption.

CGI means “Stratified-Charged Gasoline Injection”. In the variant developed by Mercedes it works in lean burn mode over a much wider rotation range. Another advantage is a sensible reduction in emissions. I hope this technology will be quickly deployed over Mercedes’ entire gasoline engine range.

The CLS 350 CGI will take the CLS 350’s place in Mercedes’ european catalogue. It’s still not known whether the price will remain the same.