DailyDirt: Internal Combustion Ain't Dead Yet

Recently, we've been talking about whether or not tools ever die out. One tool that seems to be evolving a bit faster these days is the good ol' horseless carriage -- and specifically the internal combustion engines that power them. While hybrids and pure electric vehicles seem to be growing, gas/diesel engines aren't down for the count just yet.

• The air-hybrid engine is a split cycle engine, using compressed air to reduce fuel consumption by 25-36% compared to conventional engines. This design *could* be in production in a very optimistic 3 years -- if the prototypes pan out in real world testing. [url]
• Mazda has its direct injection Skyactiv-G engine (and a diesel version, Skyactiv-D) that aims for significant fuel efficiency improvement -- and is scheduled to be on the roads in 2012. Zoom-zoom? [url]
• LiquidPiston is developing another kind of direct injection engine design that could use either gas or diesel fuel. At least two more years of building prototypes with VC money is on the roadmap for this technology, though. [url]
• To discover more interesting car-related content, check out what's driving around StumbleUpon. [url]  

By the way, StumbleUpon can recommend some good Techdirt articles, too.

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