It's like an A/C Compressor with spark plugs. I think John DeLorean patented that in the 70s.

All they did was put fuel injectors and spark plugs in a radial piston style hydraulic pump design. Hydrostat transmissions work in this exact same fashion.

The mechanical tech has been around for ages and is really reliable but not sure on this one. Looks like another wenkel to me. Sure itll work but how long will it last?

there's an old saying, 'if it works, don't fix it.'
Pistons work. Why 'fix' it?
These engines look great on paper and in a laboratory, but how will they react in the real world with people who think Maintenance is that part of the owners manual that is optional?

thats nice and all but i prefer this

If this increases fuel economy, I bet we'll see this within the next decade.

Posted by thetrainguru thats nice and all but i prefer this

that's pretty interesting. Was it Honda that had a similar idea back in the 80's or 90's on an Integra mule?

Posted by Samurai that's pretty interesting. Was it Honda that had a similar idea back in the 80's or 90's on an Integra mule?

very possible

Posted by Samurai there's an old saying, 'if it works, don't fix it.' Pistons work. Why 'fix' it?

Following that logic, we would still be writing by carving stuff on stones.

Posted by Mickael Following that logic, we would still be writing by carving stuff on stones.

we're talking in an automotive sense... consider this: what is the only other engine to make it into a production automobile that did not have pistons? The wankel/rotary. Is it in use any more? No. It was inefficient and suffered from reliability issues at higher mileages.

Posted by Samurai we're talking in an automotive sense... consider this: what is the only other engine to make it into a production automobile that did not have pistons? The wankel/rotary. Is it in use any more? No. It was inefficient and suffered from reliability issues at higher mileages.

OK, then we'd be still driving Benz Patent Motor Wagons. Change just for change's sake or novelty is foolish. It has to be a real improvement. I, for one, welcome our new Duke Engine overlords, but seriously, keep the new stuff coming; that's the way real innovations are made.

Posted by splumer OK, then we'd be still driving Benz Patent Motor Wagons. Change just for change's sake or novelty is foolish. It has to be a real improvement. I, for one, welcome our new Duke Engine overlords, but seriously, keep the new stuff coming; that's the way real innovations are made.

i don't disagree, but engineering has to be made for the masses. If you can build this engine cheaper than a piston engine, more power to you. But, if it's not and cannot be serviced cheaply, then it's merely an engineering exercise, albeit a very interesting exercise.