Driving Force: The Past, Present and Future Development of the Car Engine

This extensively illustrated all-color book traces the evolution of the car engine from the first crude efforts of the late 19th Century pioneers through to the cutting-edge technology of today.

From wick carburetors to common-rail diesel injection, from atmospheric valves to variable valve timing, the clearly written text explores each decade of development, describing the significant milestones and illustrating them with examples of appropriate ground-breaking classic engines. This book will appeal to car owners and enthusiasts keen to learn more about how and why engines have evolved into todays highly sophisticated units.

This Book Includes:
• Comprehensive, illustrated descriptions of engines in laypersons terms
• History of the first pioneering single-cylinder car engines, developed from gas-powered stationary engines
• Development of multi-cylinder engines and carburetors
• How advances in fuels, materials and lubricants, and the advent of mass-production techniques, influenced engine design
• Why differing engine layouts have evolved with different goals in mind
• The influence on road-car engines of technology developed in motorsport
• Commonly used acronyms explained
• The effect of modern emissions regulations on engine design
• The workings of petrol and diesel engines explained, and details of alternative power plants such as electric power, hybrid engines and fuel cell technology