“Mad Mike” unveils world’s first 5-rotor Wankel in wild drift car

Internal combustion engines have still got a few punches left in them. Case in point: Kiwi drifter “Mad Mike” Whiddett has unveiled “the wildest drift car I could think of,” built around the world’s first 5-rotor Wankel rotary engine.Continue ReadingCa… Continue reading “Mad Mike” unveils world’s first 5-rotor Wankel in wild drift car

T500 kit turns any Honda CRF450 into a 500cc, two-stroke widowmaker

According to the UN, there are about 258 million widows in the world. Tomasin Racing feels these are rookie numbers, so it’s making a kit that turns a standard Honda CRF 450 into a certified widow production facility with a 500cc 2-stroke engine.Contin… Continue reading T500 kit turns any Honda CRF450 into a 500cc, two-stroke widowmaker

Soft micro-combustion actuators unlock explosive robot motion

Most robots use electric actuators, but this little fella packs a lot more punch. Researchers have created a new type of minuscule combustion engine that gives this tiny frog robot explosive leaping abilities, as well as fine movement control.Continue … Continue reading Soft micro-combustion actuators unlock explosive robot motion

Morphing hypersonic engine project is underway at UCF

The US Naval Research Laboratory has funded a groundbreaking project to develop a new hypersonic engine capable of morphing its shape during flight to optimize power, thrust and efficiency. It’s now entering experimental testing in Florida.Continue Rea… Continue reading Morphing hypersonic engine project is underway at UCF

GE resurrects the propfan aircraft engine, cutting fuel burn by 20%

GE once thought super-efficient propfans were the future of air travel, until low fuel prices in the late 1980s moved fuel consumption down the list of priorities. Now, it’s bringing them back with the CFM Rise, promising 20% fuel savings.Continue Read… Continue reading GE resurrects the propfan aircraft engine, cutting fuel burn by 20%

World’s largest and most efficient aircraft engine aces first tests

Rolls-Royce workers assembling the giant UltraFan technology demonstrator

Rolls-Royce has completed the first ground tests on its massive UltraFan engine, claiming it’s at least 10% more efficient than any other large aero engine in service today. This carbon/titanium beauty will roll out on airliners in the 2030s.

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“Inside-out Wankel” rotary engine delivers 5X the power of a diesel

Targeted at military, commercial and aerospace applications, the XTS-210 is about the size of a basketball, weighs in at 19 kg (42 lb), and displaces 210 cc. It’ll run on multiple fuels, including diesel and kerosene/jet fuel. The company is shooting f… Continue reading “Inside-out Wankel” rotary engine delivers 5X the power of a diesel

Meet the new space brick, now with added potato and a pinch of salt

There’s a different kind of space race under way, one that has engineers trying to crack the code on the best way to build on other celestial bodies. Concepts to build on the Moon have included using lunar dust and materials that could generate electri… Continue reading Meet the new space brick, now with added potato and a pinch of salt

World’s largest aircraft engine is fully operational and ready to test

Rolls-Royce says it’s finished building the first demonstrator for its massive UltraFan engine, which will eventually hit the skies in airliners to be developed in the 2030s. Testing begins soon, with expectations of a 25% leap in efficiency.Continue R… Continue reading World’s largest aircraft engine is fully operational and ready to test

Toyota takes its hydrogen-burning race engine to the street

Toyota is keeping its bases covered moving into the zero-emissions era, and alongside battery EVs, hybrids, plug-in hybrids and hydrogen fuel cell electrics, it’s now announced a road-going hydrogen combustion concept for folk that want to go green wit… Continue reading Toyota takes its hydrogen-burning race engine to the street