History of the Horizontally Opposed Engine-AKA the Boxer engine

[>VLN<]

[IMG]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8a/Boxerengineanimation.gif[/IMG]
[B]
What is a Boxer Engine?[/B]

Also known as a [I]Flat engine[/I], it is a an internal combustion engine with multiple pistons that move in a horizontal plane. Typically, layout has its cylinders arranged in two banks on either side of a single crankshaft. This engine was designed and patented by Karl Benz in 1896. Flat engines offer a low center of gravity, and thereby may offer a drive configuration with better stability and control. Flat engines are also used in most light aircraft.

[B]How did the Boxer Engine get its name?[/B]

Boxer engines got their name because each pair of pistons moves simultaneously in and out rather than alternately, like boxers showing they are ready by clashing their gloved fists against each other before a fight. Boxer engines (and flat engines in general) tend to be noisier than other common engines for both intrinsic and other reasons, e.g., in cars, valve clatter from under the hood is not damped by large air filters and other components. Boxers need no balance weights on the crankshaft, which should be lighter and fast-accelerating - but, in practice (e.g. in cars), they need a flywheel to run smoothly at low speeds and this negates the advantage. They have a characteristic smoothness throughout the rev range and offer a low centre of gravity. When combined with a mounting position immediately ahead of the rear axle, they have largely neutral handling. Boxer engines are used in all vehicles made by Subaru, Porsche uses boxer engines in some models, VW used a air cooled boxer engine for the old beatle, and BMW still uses a small flat engine for some of its motorcycles.

So there you have it. A condensed version of the history of the Boxer Engine. (Please don't hate on me, it's my first informative thread.)

Some pictures of boxer engines:

[IMG]http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQxLqgLFpTmzMUfBkuKOEpL7N22f9u2z31pEYpYC4oLTxVsyBXV[/IMG]

[IMG]http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTH4ZGVZPEV8lj7h7LqH1rAkHCtzsMnFUOu_ydw50qoE7cpnoqS[/IMG]

[IMG]http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRermCUwcyQnEyhAs_3Ev4H62t4j8YQ0QX90XSYGJeJ930a00iQ[/IMG]

[IMG]http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTCaAoWLxnEKtjaTjoVBD1095vE4Ll8rmaXG_BK8FdJKuDPISY_kA[/IMG]

[IMG]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/22/ULPower_UL260i.jpg/220px-ULPower_UL260i.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://www.bmwsantacruz.com/motorcycles/current/tech_boxer.gif[/IMG]

[PILLS HERE!]

-snip-

[>VLN<]

[QUOTE=>VLN<;27398720] Boxer engines are used in all vehicles made by Subaru, [/QUOTE]

[editline]13th January 2011[/editline]

[QUOTE=PILLS HERE!;27398766]Don't imprezas have these[/QUOTE]

[PILLS HERE!]

my bad

did not see that

[yakui]

boxer crew reppin

[lemon_lover]

boxers are cool and make good power and all

but damn theyre ugly

[SomeRandomGuy18]

STI engine is one

[teslacoil]

Oh god, the Porsche 917.. A Boxer 12 cylinder.

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3o4C7ERBzGs&feature=related[/media]