Originally Posted by
sandwich
I don't, and here's why:
the costs of gearing up for production of such an engine would be immense when compared to current products. Think of how many cars use the same engine....So you'll need a full on assembly line from the ground up. Not only that, but the engine does not YET offer a significant improvement in the efficiency department, and this is where ALL manufacturers are going to be looking in the new future. Engines are powerful enough, but they need to get more mileage out of them. An experimental engine will likely not be the answer for most companies.
However, the engine does offer a GREAT advancement in the performance department. There's a good possibility of a manufacturer picking it up as a sports car engine (a la mazda's rotary) or a racing team using it or a similar design. The problem will be the designers themselves....will they kill their own child looking to get rich? They will hold the liscensing, and anybody who wants to use it will have to pay royalties.....why pay royalties when you've got something that works, and works NOW? I doubt these guys have the capability to produce in mass quantities (may be wrong) so they will need somebody who can.
My guess? It ain't gonna happen. You'll probably see a few Radicals or other trackday cars with them as an experiment, but I doubt the project will ever leave the ground.
I really hope I'm wrong.
I agree with you. There have been countless different engine designs and they never make it because of the reasons you just stated. However, this is a very innovative and interesting design. Never seen anything like this. It would be cool to see one of these engines in a race car at some point.
VIVA FERRARI!!!!!!
"Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy!" ~ Benjamin Franklin
If everything's under control, you're going too slow ~ Mario Andretti
"We can't stop here! This is bat country!" ~ [U]Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas: A Savage Journey into the Heart of the American Dream[/U]