Contents
Cars with a Boxer Engine
What is a Boxer Engine?
A boxer engine is a type of engine in which the pistons are horizontally opposed to each other. This design results in a flat, wide engine that is often found in sports cars and racing cars.
Advantages of Boxer Engines
- Lower center of gravity. The boxer engine’s flat design results in a lower center of gravity, which improves handling and stability.
- Reduced vibration. The horizontally opposed pistons cancel out each other’s vibrations, resulting in a smoother running engine.
- Improved cooling. The boxer engine’s flat design allows for better airflow around the cylinders, which improves cooling.
- Increased power potential. The boxer engine’s efficient design allows for more aggressive camshaft profiles and higher compression ratios, which can result in increased power output.
Disadvantages of Boxer Engines
- Larger size. The boxer engine’s flat design makes it larger than other types of engines, which can limit its use in smaller vehicles.
- More complex design. The boxer engine’s unique design makes it more complex to build and maintain than other types of engines.
- Higher cost. The boxer engine’s complexity and larger size make it more expensive to produce than other types of engines.
Cars with Boxer Engines
Some of the most famous cars to feature boxer engines include:
- Porsche 911. The Porsche 911 has been using a boxer engine since its inception in 1963. The boxer engine has helped the 911 achieve its reputation for being one of the best sports cars in the world.
- Subaru Impreza. The Subaru Impreza is a popular rally car that has been using a boxer engine since 1992. The boxer engine has helped the Impreza achieve success in rally racing, winning multiple world championships.
- Toyota 86. The Toyota 86 is a sports car that was developed совместно with Subaru. The 86 uses a boxer engine that is based on the engine used in the Subaru Impreza.
- Mazda MX-5 Miata. The Mazda MX-5 Miata is a popular sports car that has been using a boxer engine since 1989. The boxer engine has helped the Miata achieve its reputation for being a fun-to-drive car.
Conclusion
Boxer engines offer a number of advantages over other types of engines, including a lower center of gravity, reduced vibration, improved cooling, and increased power potential. However, boxer engines are also larger, more complex, and more expensive to produce than other types of engines. Ultimately, the decision of whether or not to choose a car with a boxer engine depends on the specific needs of the driver.