Cars with Boxer Engines
What is a Boxer Engine?
A boxer engine, also known as a flat engine, is a type of internal combustion engine in which the cylinders are arranged horizontally and opposed to each other. This design gives the engine a low profile and a balanced crankshaft, which reduces vibration and improves smoothness. Boxer engines are often used in sports cars and other high-performance vehicles, as they offer a number of advantages over other engine designs.
Advantages of Boxer Engines
- Low profile: Boxer engines have a low profile, which allows them to be used in vehicles with limited vertical space.
- Balanced crankshaft: The opposed arrangement of the cylinders in a boxer engine results in a balanced crankshaft, which reduces vibration and improves smoothness.
- High power: Boxer engines can produce a lot of power, making them ideal for sports cars and other high-performance vehicles.
- Reliability: Boxer engines are known for their reliability and longevity.
Disadvantages of Boxer Engines
- Complex design: Boxer engines are more complex to design and build than other engine designs, which can make them more expensive.
- Poor fuel economy: Boxer engines typically have worse fuel economy than other engine designs, as the horizontally opposed cylinders create more friction.
- Limited torque: Boxer engines typically have less torque than other engine designs, which can make them less suitable for towing or hauling heavy loads.
Popular Cars with Boxer Engines
- Subaru Impreza WRX STI
- Porsche 911
- Alfa Romeo 4C
- BMW Z4
- Toyota 86
Conclusion
Boxer engines offer a number of advantages over other engine designs, including a low profile, a balanced crankshaft, and high power. However, they are also more complex to design and build, which can make them more expensive. Boxer engines typically have worse fuel economy than other engine designs and may have limited torque. Despite these drawbacks, boxer engines are still used in a number of popular sports cars and other high-performance vehicles.
