Though perhaps a small note in the story, the engine is over 2.4 inches shorter front to back than Subarus 2.0-liter four cylinder gasoline EJ20. That's impressive considering the new block is stronger and up to 10 kg lighter than it's inline competitors.

Subie's also shifted to a fracture split bearing for the crank end of the connecting rods. What does that mean? Well, the connecting rod is forged as one unit, complete with holes at the crank bore and wrist pin ends. Machining operations clean up the surfaces and create the threaded holes for the bearing cap bolts, then the rod is scored along the split plane of the crank end bearing with a high powered laser. An expanding mandrel is then inserted and breaks the end of the rod in a controlled manner inline with that laser etching. The rough surface remains and acts to positively locate the connecting rod cap in space without any fancy machining.

Fuel is delivered through a positively massive high pressure fuel rail operating at around 26,000 PSI. The actual injection is handled by Denso developed units and are based on solenoid technology. Subaru has indicated the next generation may utilize Piezo injectors, and thus operate at even higher pressures for the next level of emissions regulations. For a little fresh air to go with that fuel, the turbo is a variable nozzle geometry unit mounted close to the manifold to reduce turbo lag and can spin all the way up to 190,000 RPM. There was a bunch of other stuff having to do with emissions and all that good stuff, but thats boring, so go read that yourself if you like.

Interestingly, the engine is only currently planned with a 5 speed manual — with taller gears due to the high torque available. Speaking of power, lets remember this thing is planned currently to put out 147 HP at 3600 RPM and 258 lb.ft. at 1800 RPM. We're not what you'd call experts, but thats a pretty healthy bite of grunt down low. With the inherently smooth operation of the boxer design, and the apparently compact and relatively lightweight design, this seems like a winner without consequence. Though it's widely anticipated this engine will eventually make from Europe to the US, nothing has been confirmed yet, but we can only hope. [TechOn]

It's not often a design comes along and truly thinks outside of the box. What would you say to a GM developed, 4.5L V8 turbo diesel putting down 310 horsepower and 520 lb.ft. of torque in the footprint of a small block 350? What if we told you that same engine has common rail injection, a variable geometry turbo, no intake manifolds, and the exhaust ports on the valley side? Crazy! Yes - crazy good.

How can you not be utterly blown away with the brilliance of pushing charged air directly into the valve covers and skipping the lower intake manifold baloney? And come on, piping the exhaust gas directly to the center to meet up with the turbo makes us question other engine designers. To top it off, this is just the stuff we know about, GM is sitting on other details until the patents are through. We're taking this standout engine design as a sign of awesome diesely goodness to come. Say it together now - 2010 Pontiac G8 Ute turbo diesel. [via SAE.org]

"Ford is leading the diesel revolution with the 2008 Super Duty, offering the segment's first clean diesel engine."

EARTH DAY 'TOP TEN' - A SAMPLE OF FORD'S 'GREEN' INITIATIVES

In recognition of Earth Day, April 22, this week's 'Top Ten' list focuses on some of Ford's latest 'green' initiatives. Ford's comprehensive global sustainability strategy includes a focus on the development of environmentally friendly vehicle technologies, including hybrids, diesels, bio-diesels, advanced engines and transmissions, E85 ethanol, plug-in hybrids, hydrogen internal combustion engines and fuel cells. In addition, Ford is introducing sustainable efforts throughout the company in manufacturing, materials and facilities management.

Ford's commitment to 'green' vehicle technologies will result in improved fuel economy for our customers and reduced CO 2 emissions. Other 'green' efforts will help us minimize our environmental impact through the conservation of energy and a reduction in pollution, while saving the company and customers money.

1. Use of Sustainable Fabric - The 2008 Ford Escape is believed to be the first U.S. automotive application of 100 percent recycled fabric seating surfaces. The new fabric, supplied by Interface Fabrics, Inc., is produced from 100 percent post-industrial waste. Post-industrial waste is something originally intended for retail use that never makes it to the consumer. It can include anything from plastic intended for pop bottles to un-dyed polyester fibers that don't make the cut for consumer use.

This plastic and polyester is processed, spun into yarn, dyed and woven into seat fabric. Recycling waste otherwise destined for landfills has obvious environmental benefits. Interface Fabrics estimates that Ford's use of post-industrial recycled materials, rather than virgin fibers, will conserve up to:

o 600,000 gallons of water
o 1.8 million pounds of carbon dioxide (CO 2) equivalents
o The equivalent of more than 7 million kilowatt hours of electricity

2. Leader in Fuel-Efficient 6-speed transmissions - Ford, Lincoln and Mercury offer 15 models that are available with fuel-saving 6-speed transmissions. Ford plans to produce about 1.3 million 6-speed transmissions annually by 2008. Two out of every three vehicles will be offered with 6-speed transmissions by the end of next year. Fuel efficiency is improved up to 7 percent in highway driving over typical 4-speed transmissions while offering better performance and smoother, more precise shifts.

3. Ford Introduces First Clean Diesel in Heavy-Duty Pickup Segment - Ford is leading the diesel revolution with the 2008 Super Duty, offering the segment's first clean diesel engine. The new 6.4-liter diesel utilizes Ford Clean Diesel Technology and meets the most stringent emissions standards in the world while increasing power and torque in an engine that is smooth and quiet. The 6.4-liter PowerStroke clean-diesel makes an impressive 350 horsepower at 3,000 rpm and 650 foot-pounds of torque starting at 2,000 rpm while reducing particulate output by up to 97 percent to a level on par with gasoline engines.

4. Sustainable Landscaping Preserves Environment and Looks Good - In an effort to conserve natural resources, improve habitat and lower costs, Ford has installed nearly 200 acres of sustainable landscaping around its corporate properties in Dearborn and Allen Park, Mich. The comprehensive grounds maintenance plan incorporates fields of wildflowers, natural prairies and fallow fields. Several prairie fields are designated 'Grow Zones,' meaning they contribute to a sustainable environment by preserving natural resources, providing wildlife habitat, absorbing rainwater, reducing erosion and saving maintenance costs.

5. First Two-Time Winner of EPA's ENERGY STAR Award - Ford's actions to increase energy efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions from its facilities have earned it the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's coveted ENERGY STAR 2007 Partner of the Year Award in Energy Management. Ford is the first automaker to receive the award two years in a row. In 2006, Ford improved energy efficiency in the U.S. by 5 percent, resulting in savings of approximately $25 million. Since 2000, Ford's U.S. facilities have improved energy efficiency by 25 percent, equivalent to the amount of energy consumed by 220,000 homes.

6. Ford Escape and Focus Are Over 80 Percent Recyclable - Dismantlers and shredders process more than 94 percent of all salvaged vehicles. They collect parts and materials for reuse, remanufacturing and recycling. Usually, 75 percent of an automobile's content is recycled - including steel, iron, aluminum, copper and other non-ferrous metals. The Ford Escape and Focus exceed the norm, being over 80 percent recyclable.

7. Paint Fumes Become Fuel at Michigan Truck Plant - Ford's innovative Fumes-to-Fuel system burns paint fumes in a process that produces electricity at the Michigan Truck Plant in Wayne, Mich., home of the Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator. The patent-pending Ford system uses a Stirling cycle Engine to burn the fumes from solvent-based paint used to paint cars and trucks. Not only does the process virtually destroy the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the fumes, it also produces electricity for the plant. The program burns one-third of the fumes in one paint booth, yet 45-50 kilowatts of electricity are produced - enough to meet the typical demand of an average suburban block of houses. Currently, Ford's North American assembly plants incinerate the VOCs in solvent-based paint fumes, but the process requires a significant amount of energy, substantial floor space and produces some carbon dioxide (CO 2). The only by-products of Ford's Fumes-to-Fuel system are small amounts of water vapor, CO 2 and nitrogen oxides.

8. Keeping Cool With Geothermal Cooling System - The Lima (Ohio) Engine Plant, home of production for Ford's award-winning Duratec 35 engine, uses cold water from two abandoned limestone quarries on the property to cool a portion of the plant and its equipment. The geothermal system saved Ford $300,000 in installation costs - compared with the cost of installing a traditional cooling tower - and saved more than $300,000 in annual operating costs. Although actual cost savings are difficult to determine at this point, the system is capable of providing chilled water using 0.1 kw/ton of cooling versus traditional chiller systems with cooling towers, which consume around 0.7 kw/ton or more. In addition, several hundred thousand gallons of domestic water have already been saved due to the elimination of some existing cooling towers.

9. Police Go Green with the 2008 Crown Victoria Interceptor - The 2008 Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor will be the first and only police fleet vehicle offered with flexible fuel capability, allowing it to operate on E85 ethanol or gasoline. Ford is the largest producer and seller of police vehicles, with more than 80 percent of the market. As police and government agencies move toward becoming more environmentally conscious and seek alternative fuel vehicles for their fleets, Ford is in the position to fill this need for its police customers. Ford's current lineup of flexible fuel vehicles (FFVs) includes the Ford F-150, Crown Victoria and Mercury Grand Marquis models.

Ford has placed more than two million flexible fuel vehicles on the road and has pledged to make half of its production capable of running on alternative fuels by 2012, provided the necessary fuel and infrastructure are in place. The company recently announced it has achieved 50-state certification for all of the Ford and Mercury 2008 flexible fuel passenger car models. In an effort to differentiate its FFVs from standard gasoline vehicles, Ford will begin equipping the E85-capable vehicles with yellow gas caps by the end of this year.

10. World's Largest Green Roof - Ford's Dearborn Truck Plant has the World's Largest Living Roof, according to Guinness World Records TM. The 10.4-acre living roof is part of Ford's redevelopment of the Ford Rouge Center, which includes a number of progressive environmental initiatives. The roof is composed of a drought-resistant perennial groundcover called sedum which is planted into a specially layered bed. Virtually maintenance-free, it can absorb up to 4 million gallons of rainwater annually and is part of a broader storm-water management system installed at the Rouge. In addition to absorbing rainwater and carbon dioxide, the sedum roof produces oxygen and provides natural overhead insulation for the final assembly building, thereby reducing energy costs. It also is expected to last twice as long as a traditionally constructed roof.