I have spent the vast majority of my life reading about, researching, and working on cars. Every once in a while though, I am smacked in the face with something that I have never seen before. Most recently, it was the “triflux” engine. I don’t know a whole heck of a lot about it, except that it was experimental and designed by Lancia in 1986. The way I’m understanding it, it has 4 cylinders, 2 turbochargers, 2 intercoolers, fuel injection, a dry sump oil system, and ~600 hp @ 8000 rpm. There is confusion all over the place though. We’ll start with mechanical timing? Ummm, isn’t the crankshaft supposed to be connected to the camshafts? If not, how is mechanical timing controlled? Secondly, how is 600 horsepower being made from less than 1.8L? It must be running super efficient turbos at high pressure, and revving to the moon. I guess this is why I am not an engineer. Enjoy the wackiness that is the turboflux.
Images borrowed from:
http://avs.spot-mate.com
Have you noticed how many are out there….
Interesting; appears to have a chain drive system also. I would guess the bolted cover going from the crank shaft to the intermediate shaft that drives the cams houses a chain.
You’re right, it kinda does look like a dancing machine – or one of the original Transformers. Maybe you were being tongue-in-cheek about why you aren’t an engineer but just in case you weren’t, I don’t think even an engineer could figure this engine out. That’s the thing with experimental stuff, it sounds like a great idea while one is dreaming or smoking socks but in the cold light of day it just doesn’t have legs.
Annette, webmaster for http://www.tatasa.co.za