Rumours of the two stroke motor’s death are, apparently unfounded. While the Sarich people in WA continue to play, it seems that, on the other side of the world, others have also been looking at the viability of reviving the “smoker” Norton Villiers (not the same company who owns the Norton motorcycle name) have announced that they are working on a two stroke which will not only be powerful (obviously) but also clean and green (not so obviously). Here’s the company’s press release. (rather long, but worth reading)
“For the last 8 years, we at Norton Villiers, along with partners Villiers Engines and DMW, have been developing a completely new, innovative two stroke engine design.
Due to I.P. restrictions (Intellectual Property rights), the engine design is currently in the Patent process and thus I can only briefly give the principles of this exciting engine. Unlike its current 2-stroke engine predecessor that runs on a pre mix fuel (oil & petrol mix) our engine runs on PLAIN fuel with no additives. Diesel and Bio-fuel variants are also in development. This will enable Norton Villiers to re-create its industrial division to cater for the industry, construction, heavy haulage and the shipping industry.
Our engine is designed for the present and the future, so the components we have designed are the very latest in technological design. For instance, ceramic bearings, Teflon and other coated surface treatments not yet on the market. Components will be treated with an advanced formula that never needs lubrication. This advanced formula is currently being tried and tested with a number of leading car manufacturers and within the aircraft design industry.
The engine is super charged by a Norton Villiers system giving controlled, outstanding, advanced power output over any of its rival engines. This advanced system exerts little to no drag when the engine is not driving. The control of the engine is via the latest engine management system including a laser ignition system which is under test. The engine has a Norton Villiers unique variable scavenge system giving reduced emissions.
These reduced emissions will meet the current and the impending lower emission levels being introduced by the E.U. The carbon footprint made by our engines will be the descendants of any impurities within the fuel: The cleaner the fuel the lower the carbon footprint.
The engine is lubricated by a Norton Villiers controlled spray system, designed to give a minuscule level of drag on the engine and surfaces.
One of our advantages over our engine manufacturing rivals is that our engines are wholly adaptable for ubiquitous purposes from a chain saw to multi cylinder engines, to all transportation needs including shipping and F1 engines.
Why a two stroke over a four stroke?
Our “FITS” engine will produce some 30+% more power output than its equivalent 4 stroke rival. This takes into account any engine drag caused by the engine components i.e. bearings, induction system, clutch, gearbox etc. Since the 2 stroke fires on every second stoke while the 4 stroke fires on every fourth stroke, it gives a significantly increased power output.
The production cost of our “FITS” engines would be some 60% less than its equivalent 4 stroke counter part. This of course is after engine plant set up costs. A car with an engine size of say 1000cc could be reduced to approximately 600cc with our FITS engine, resulting in lower fuel costs, lower insurance rates and so on. We have been approached by a company designing low cost vehicles to use our engines to cater for the Mobility market, the under 25’s age group and developing countries.
We have held talks with a number of leading universities, including Queens University Belfast. These talks utilise a wide range of engineering excellence, covering surface treatments, engine management, engine scavenge to engine design.
Our only competitor or rival, if this is appropriate term, is a company in the USA which is developing an engine known as the “OPOC” engine, which can be Googled. This engine is much more cumbersome than ours and thus would have limited applications.
The only advantage that this company have on Norton Villiers is the fact Bill Gates of Microsoft has funded their R&D by some $50 million dollars.
As mentioned we are working with a number of leading Universities and hope to have an animated drawing for you to view in the next few weeks.”
The interesting thing in this document, to me, anyway, is that the engine will not be required to run on a petrol/oil mixture. I’ll be fascinated to see how they achieve this. Thanks to visordown for this little gem.
In MotoGp overnight (yes, overnight, remember that the races take place on the Saturday, not the Sunday) Simo was fastest in a streaming wet FP1 followed by Rossi on the GP11.1 and Stoner. Only the 125cc session was completed as well as a huge engine blow-up half way through the Moto2 session saw racing cancelled for the rest of the day. Apparently double length sessions will take place tonight to compensate. Oh, and Cal Crutchlow DID contest FP1 and finished the session in 6th place, amazing.
I’ve always respected Dennis Noyes as a journalist and this post of his on the SPEED channel webs site makes some interesting reading. As usual, note that I don’t necessarily endorse all of his opinions.