Navistar has entered into a development agreement with a company called Eco-Motors International to support the development of its opposed piston, opposed cylinder engine architecture. The plan is to create a version of the innovative engine using diesel technology. The engine comprises of two opposing cylinders per module with the crankshaft between them, each cylinder has two pistons moving in opposite directions.
The design is intended to remove the need for cylinder head and valve train components creating an efficient, compact and simple core engine structure. A two module engine using this technology is expected to be able to deliver around 480 hp but with 45% better fuel economy compared to conventional current engines.
The new engines are intended to be able to deliver improved combustion efficiency, and electrically controlled variable compression ratio, improved low-end torque, zero turbo lag and waste heat recovery generating electricity.