And... It's a two stroke
 

Who would have figured that!

http://digg.com/d31BYPa

interesting how each cylindar has 2 pistons facing eachother.

When I started reading this I thought it would be an engine like the one in a torpedo but no...interesting design.

I would like to see if they can make production car with it, maybe a two passenger mid-engine design. I thought I saw something like it or read about it a long time ago, some type of four stroke engine that the pistons created the combustion area between them. But it only had four pistons total and was similar to a box engine.

It looks very mechanical. The more moving parts you have, the more likely to have vibration, friction, heat, all the nasty things that kill engines. And I don't see how they say a two stroke will be more fuel efficient... I don't believe that part.

Those connecting rods look dangerously long. I really don't understand the purpose of the extra piston. Also how do you seal the outside piston? Where does the outside con rod go? Is the outside piston wrist pin connected on the outside of the piston rather than the center? If so how could it handle the stress? This looks like a hoax to me.

Seems feasible. The outside piston would seal just like any other, the combustion "chamber" is between the 2 pistons. Wrist pin strength would be fine because there's a rod on either side of the piston, instead of inside, so no cantilevered load. The second piston is needed to uncover the exhaust (intake?) port, and help pump the gasses. I assume the outside rods would be enclosed in the crankcase.

quote: OPOC engine was designed by Peter Hofbauer, who spent 20 years at Volkswagen designing diesel engines and the VR6

Doesn't sound like a guy who designs hoaxes, however, it does look very unconventional.

I just want the electric supercharger. :D

That is fascinating indeed. One can easily see that engine design in a hybrid, bringing down the cost and weight of charging the battery.

The company has quite an impressive list of names.

Very interesting. Won't ever have to worry about valves impacting pistons and the opposing pistons should cancel out most of the vibration. Also, the opposing pistons effectively gives the engine a longer stroke while reducing the central rotating mass. I'd like to see the dyno graph on this thing. Would be interesting how much torque it produces in both diesel and gas form. You can even see the piston cooling oil jet. I bet this thing is loud.

I like that the top piston's power stroke is pulling on the connecting rod and the bottom is pushing. With that, the opposing set of pistons are coming together with the force of the opposites power-stroke.

I wonder if it will be like a rotary where you can add sets of cylinders...twin cylinder=four stokes...four cylinder=eight stokes...or the killer six cylinder=twelve strokes!

I would absolutely love to see and hear this thing run.