This is a new technology that Mercedes Benz and GM developing. The HCCI (Homogenous Charge Compression Ignition) runs like a diesel engine concept but uses normal gasoline. It does not rattle or hum like a diesel engine, it does not exhaust black soot but inherits the gas mileage. Too good to be true. Well MB has already put it into one of their amazing concept vehicle. It is called the Mercedes Benz F 700. It was first shown in the 2007 Frankfurt Auto Show.

This MB has a HCCI engine called DiesOtto. "Dies" for Rudolf Diesel and "Otto" for Nikolaus Otto. Rudolf is the inventor of the diesel engine and Nikolaus is the inventor of the 4 stroke engine cycle. Not to confuse with a 4 cyclinder engine. The way HCCI works is to use the spark ignition of a gasoline engine to start up and then as it progresses, it will switch to the diesel concept of auto ignition under partial load. Auto ignition under partial load is a way diesel engine ignite the gas air mixture under a tremendous pressure until this mixture combust. This does not requires spark plug to ignite the mixture. But auto ignition under partial load causes vibration and this is why diesel engine rattle and hums differently than a conventional gasoline engine.

The MB F 700 uses a 2 stage turbo charge HCCI 1.8 liter inline 4 engine. The F 700 is also equip with a 20 hp electric motor to propel the car from dead stop. This combination of HCCI and the electric motor give the F 700 a total of 258 hp and 295 lb-ft. It will propel this 3748 lb of machine from 0-60 mph in 7.5 seconds with top speed 120 mph (electronically limiter). The gas mileage of this awesome drive system returns a whopping 44 mpg. It also emits very little CO2 and was able to pass the Euro testing.

I hope this new development will soon trickle down to cheaper models of vehicles. Amazing engine .....everything that we dreamt of. I will keep track of this engine development.



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This is the new power plant that is in the latest Honda Civic. Although it was introduce in 2005, but it has a significant design win to improve an already great platform. The manufacturer code name for it is called R18A1. Older model of Civic has smaller engines like 1.7L or less. Well we are not counting the bigger K-series which mostly planted into the Si or Type R models. It is not exceptionally powerful but its fuel efficiency is excellent. This 1.8L has power like a 2.0L but fuel efficiency of a 1.7L and when it is cruising on the highway, the fuel consumption is like a 1.5L.

R18A1—1.8-liter SOHC 16-valve I4 engine
140 hp @ 6,300 rpm
128 lb-ft @ 4,300 rpm
Redline: 6,800 rpm
Aluminum cylinder block and cylinder head
Drive by wire


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This is a really important development especially in the US market. Diesel is not the choice of fuel for the US market because it is more expensive than gasoline/petrol. Diesel engine usually shy from the US market. The most popular Diesel engine in the US for the car market is probably the VW 2.0 TDI engine.

In 2010, Honda is going to introduce its latest clean diesel engine to the market. According to the Automobile magazine, the new 2.2 I4 turbo-charged clean diesel engine will be introduce in the Acura TSX vehicle. There is nothing amazing about a diesel engine, but this new 2.2 liter turbo-charged diesel engine is super quiet and super stable when it is idling. So in essence it functions like a normal gasoline engine but give you the amazing gas mileage of a diesel.

This 2.2 liter is currently being fitted into the Euro CRV. Its outputs 140 hp and 251 lb-ft of torque with redline at 5000 rpm. The fuel efficiency is rated at 49 miles per gallon. This is just amazing. Plus all diesel engine could also use biofuel in replacement of diesel. As we all know...well maybe just some of us...Rudolf Diesel designed the diesel engine in 1897 to run on peanut oil. Read more!

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This is my favorite car in the world. It was introduced to the world in 1990. Its design is still relevant until today. It was designed with the help of Ayrton Senna, arguable one of the best F1 driver ever. What I want to emphasize is the engine. It is mid engine. Why do most of the supercar manufacturers place an engine in the middle of the car instead of in the front? Answer is balance and center of gravity. By placing it in the mid area, the car is balance and the control is more predictable.

The NSX initial powerplant is a V6 3.0 L engine generating max 270 hp (@ 7100 rpm) and 210 lbs-ft (@ 5300 rpm). Its manufacturer's code C30A. The engine redline at 8000 rpm.

After 1995, the competition is getting faster and more power. So Honda decided to up its power plant with a V6 3.2 L that generates max 290 hp (@ 7100 rpm) and 224 lbs-ft (@ 5500 rpm). Engine redline is also at 8000 rpm. Manufacturer code is called C32B. It seems like it is not a lot of power, but with the NSX lightweight aluminium monocoque design, it helps being the car to another level.

It is really sad to see this car being discontinued in 2005. The new NSX is rumored to have a bigger engine. It will have a V10 500hp with Honda's SH-AWD system as the main drive train platform. The V10 will be placed in the front of the car. This does not really translate to the heritage of the original NSX. I am really sad they made this decision. The Everyday Super Car will always live in the heart of drivers that have driven one before. I vowed that one day I will own the NSX.

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As this website is devoted to the engines that powers all cars, it is good to see there is still some focus on performance cars. This is a classic heritage car that Nissan has reintroduced into the world since Nissan discontinued the Fairlady series in the 1990s with its beautifully designed 300ZX. Since then, the car and engine has changes a lot. The latest engine 350Z engine has this characteristics. While the 370Z has 330 hp.

350Z:
VQ35HR—3.5-liter DOHC 24-valve V6 engine
306 hp @ 6,800 rpm
268 lb-ft @ 4,800 rpm
Continuously Variable Valve Timing Control System (CVTCS)
Hydraulic on intake cam
Electromagnetic on exhaust cam

370Z:
3.7-liter V6
330 hp Read more!

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This is my first Italian Stallion. I believe it was a 1981-82 model. My dad bought it to replace a Alfa Romeo. It was then pass to my mom for her daily used. In 1989, it was then pass on to me. I was a proud owner of a Italian 2.0 liter 4 door car. It was really a good car except for the electrical components of the car. I have to changed the radiator because it was too small. The alternator was underpowered. So my dad changed it to a Japanese one. After that, it was a perfect car for a college student. Read more!

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Motor Engine is alive! I will bring you the auto news that I think it matters to you. Also I will feature the heart of all of the best cars around.....the engine. Read more!

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