Between Performance and Sustainability

These New Patents Saving the Internal Combustion Engine

In a world where electrification seems inevitable, some automakers are not ready to turn the page on the internal combustion engine. While the future looks bright for electric vehicles, industry giants like Porsche, Mazda, and BMW still believe in the magic of internal combustion. For tuners like WOT, this represents a glimmer of hope. Not only do these engines continue to offer incomparable sensations, but the latest innovations show that it is possible to combine performance, efficiency, and environmental compliance. Today, let's take a look at these innovations extending the life of the internal combustion engine, with a focus on recent patents that prove the combustion engine hasn’t said its last word.

Porsche and Its Six-Stroke Engine: A Reinvention of the Classic

Porsche has recently filed a patent for a six-stroke engine, an innovation that could redefine the performance of combustion engines. While the four-stroke cycle has been used for over a century, Porsche dared to reinvent it by adding two additional phases. Specifically, after the initial combustion, a second air intake allows for a second combustion before the exhaust gases are expelled. This process maximizes the energy extracted from the gases, thereby improving power and efficiency without increasing fuel consumption. This advancement promises better combustion, reduced emissions, and above all, increased power. For a tuner like WOT, this opens up exciting possibilities. More efficient combustion and reduced emissions, while preserving sound and power? That’s exactly what thrill-seekers are looking for. The challenge, however, lies in the mechanical complexity, with higher production costs and potentially more complex maintenance. But when it comes to pushing boundaries, Porsche has never shied away from a challenge. And at WOT, we can only applaud these efforts to keep the internal combustion engine’s flame alive.

Mazda and Its “Two/Four-Stroke” Engine: Flexibility and Power

Mazda, on the other hand, continues to innovate with an engine capable of operating in both two-stroke and four-stroke modes. This flexibility allows for optimizing performance while maintaining remarkable efficiency. The idea here is to take advantage of the lightness and simplicity of two-stroke engines for lightweight hybrid solutions. It’s an attractive alternative for those who want the best of both worlds: the power of a lightweight combustion engine, but paired with the efficiency of an electric generator. This type of engine is also designed to run on synthetic or renewable fuels, aligning Mazda with current industry trends. This kind of technology could very well become a standard for tuners looking to homologate increasingly high-performance engines while staying within environmental standards.

BMW and the Pre-Chamber Combustion: Precision and Controlled Power

BMW, another pillar of the industry, is working on a pre-chamber combustion system, an innovation inspired by Formula 1 and already tested on sports cars like the Maserati MC20. This technology reduces emissions and improves energy efficiency through more controlled combustion. By using a leaner fuel mixture and optimizing the explosion in the engine, BMW offers a solution that promises to extend the life of internal combustion engines. For a tuner like WOT, the pre-chamber could offer new opportunities to enhance engines while maintaining strict emission standards. This provides the chance to continue working on vehicles that don’t compromise on performance or emotion.

WOT’s DNA: Extending the Life of Internal Combustion Engines, No Matter the Cost

At WOT, the mission is clear: prolong the homologation of internal combustion engines as long as possible. These new technologies bring a glimmer of hope. Though the road to the future seems paved with electrons, internal combustion engines haven’t said their last word. Their sound, raw power, and the emotions they generate in enthusiasts are irreplaceable. That’s something automakers like Porsche, Mazda, and BMW understand. It’s also what we stand for at WOT. For performance enthusiasts and lovers of fine engineering, it’s reassuring to see that the automotive industry continues to seek ways to keep the internal combustion engine alive, making it cleaner and more efficient. It’s a fight, no doubt. But at WOT, we are ready to fight it, allowing our customers to enjoy the magic of internal combustion engines for as long as possible. In the end, it’s clear that as long as innovation exists, the internal combustion engine will always have a place, even in the age of electrification. This belief guides our work, day after day. As long as there are solutions, we will do everything we can to keep combustion engines on the road—performing, homologated, and as exhilarating as ever.