Porsche’s six-stroke engine

Who loves a good internal combustion engine (ICE)?  Confession time would have me say that I still love the special characteristics of an ICE and the awesome soundtracks that they can make – none being more special than a sonorous and legendary V8 or even a fully vocal high-pitched straight six. 

Now there is news in the hood that Porsche has patented some new technology whereby the introduction of a six-stroke cycle for an ICE of theirs will be made.  The common four-stroke cycle that is already used by almost every auto manufacturer, including Porsche, has four strokes: intake, compression, ignition, and exhaust.  Porsche states that the six-stroke cycle will make considerable gains in power output while also lowering its levels of emissions.  This is great news for ICE fans.

How does it work and what’s the difference?  As the numbers suggest, the conventional four-stroke cycle makes a power stroke one in every four times that the piston moves on its vertical axis.  Thus, in a conventional four-stroke engine, each piston helps to drive the car about 25% of the time.  Porsche’s new six-stroke engine will provide a power stroke twice in its six-stroke cycle – that’s two power strokes out of every six that the piston moves on its vertical axis (or one in three).  This means that each piston is helping to power/drive the vehicle about 33% of the time it’s moving.  The six-stroke cycle works as follows: intake fuel and air, compress the fuel and air mix, ignition (power), intake more fuel and air, ignition (power), and exhaust. 

By allowing the piston to have a variation in its travel length inside its chamber via clever internal gearing and a special vent design, the six-stroke engine can produce more power strokes within its cycle.  For the first three strokes, the piston works like a normal four-stroke.  Then, on the fourth stroke, the special gearing allows the piston to drop lower in its chamber, presenting some more scavenging ports that allow more fuel and fresh air to enter the cylinder while the exhaust gases escape out the exhaust ports.  The fifth stroke ignites the fresh fuel mix, and then the sixth cycle gets rid of all burnt/spent gases.

Who wouldn’t want a great sounding faster and more efficient new Porsche sports car? However, this is not all that the clever team at Porsche have been up to.  Porsche has already worked towards creating a fuel that is considered to be a carbon-neutral synthetic fuel made from carbon dioxide (CO₂) that has been captured from the atmosphere.  That’s right, it is essentially using or recycling atmospheric carbon as fuel for their ICE vehicle.  

While still leading the charge for ICE fans, Porsche has not abandoned EVs.  It is also worth noting that Porsche is also going in all guns blazing with EV technology as well.  Most new models of Porsche have an EV in their line-up already, and the Taycan is a pure EV.

All the same, I’m fascinated by this new six-stroke technology and am looking forward to seeing it in whatever new offerings Porsche decides to serve up.

Tips For Your NZ Road Trip Holiday: the South Island

Having just last week raved about some great road trips to take in the North Island of New Zealand, we can’t forget the South Island, can we?  For many, the South Island has some of the best spectacular scenery that this small country has to offer in a country that is situated in the Pacific Ocean, a little more isolated than you might first have thought (yes, even more than Australia – Australia doesn’t often get left off world maps).  The South Island is situated at just about the bottom of the world and is full of mountains, rivers, and lakes, and home to some of the best sea creatures, sea views, and birdlife you’ll see anywhere on the planet – well, that’s my opinion. 

One of the best ways to see the South Island, if you want to do a one-off hit, is to fly directly into Queenstown.  Despite barely qualifying as a city, Queenstown is an international airport and so takes a lot of direct flights to and from the main Australian centres.  If you want to add a South Island trip to a North Island trip as well, then the Cook Strait is an easy sea connection between the two main islands.  Ferries run the route between Picton and Wellington daily, so these are an easy way to bridge the gap between the islands (book first).  Simply drive onto the boat at one end and drive off at the other. 

The South Island was known as “Te Waipounamu” by the early Māori, which means “the waters of greenstone”.  That’s a more creative name than the boring colonial one, and it gives a nod to just how much beautiful greenstone can be found around this expansive land, full of remote and wild areas.  Greenstone is mainly found throughout Westland’s alluvial glacial moraines.  The main historical Māori gathering places for greenstone are between Greymouth and Hokitika.  Now that’s super convenient because you can start your South Island adventure from either Queenstown or Picton, and drive the length of the West Coast of the South Island, taking your time to thoroughly immerse yourself in the fun laid-back town of Hokitika, capture the glorious Alpine views with Mt Cook and Mt Tasman topping the height charts, and settle yourself down on the beach at Greymouth eating fish and chips as you watch the sun sink down below the horizon, westward across the sea.  Don’t forget to have a look at Punakaiki!

Townships on the West Coast are rather spread out, so if you notice your fuel tank or EV battery charge getting on the low side, top up when you can to avoid getting caught out. 

If there is any case for choosing an SUV-style vehicle to rent in New Zealand, then the South Island probably merits renting a vehicle like a Mitsubishi Outlander or Toyota RAV4 more than the North Island does.  This is because the South Island has some stunning roads that you can explore – remote roads like the ski pass roads to Otago Central’s best ski fields, and other roads with gravel surfaces, like the corrugated route up the Matukituki Valley near Wanaka, where you can be astounded by Mt Aspiring’s immense size and steep slopes.  Spend a night or two in Mount Cook National Park and be wowed by the McKenzie Basin’s star-gazing potential and beautiful blue glacial lakes.  Soak in a hot tub at Omarama and go mountain biking or ice skating at Tekapo.  There is so much to do! 

New Zealand might be a lot smaller than Australia, but the mountains certainly aren’t.  So be prepared for some hill driving, especially if you plan on crossing some of the passes on your road trip.  The Lewis Pass is the gentlest of the three.

Do take a trip south of Queenstown.  Te Anau is a great place to encounter some of New Zealand’s rarest native birds.  You can also cruise across Lake Te Anau and go into the mysterious glow worm caves.  This is a real treat!  Of course, if you get this far, take the time to head over to Milford Sound and view the iconic Mitre Peak.  A boat will take you out into Milford Sound, where you’ll be stunned by the sheer steepness and bigness of the mountains that rise up out of the sea.  There are waterfalls cascading down into the sea all year round. 

The drive from Te Anau to Milford is longer than you may expect, and you’ll encounter a lot of tour buses.  Also check the road conditions before you set out, as the road can be closed because of the avalanche risk, and the Powers That Be can be jumpy in their efforts to avoid nasty accidents.

Now for another amazing trip that is less talked about!  Southland is home to some of the best views of the Takitimu Mountains, green pastures, rolling hills, sea, and lakes.  Drive from Te Anau to Manapouri, where you’ll find pretty lake views and stunning lakeside walks.  From Manapouri, take the road to Tuatapere, which will take you around the southern end of the Takitimu range.  On route you’ll enjoy splendid vistas and views as the road climbs up over Blackmount.  Google Maps and the like may send you over a gravel road; if this happens to you and you’ve never driven gravel before, the big thing is to keep your speeds down lower than you think around corners and stay in the ruts.

Keep an eye open for agricultural machinery and trucks in this part of the country, as you’re likely to encounter tractors using the roads a lot, and just about every small dot on the map town has a trucking company and a contractor or three, and they all use the main roads, as do the dairy tankers.  At certain times of the year, farmers move cows along public roads.

Do take the coastal route from Tuatapere to Invercargill because the sea views are breathtaking.  You can stop at McCracken’s Rest and be wowed – and the bent trees give you an indication of how strong the winds are (take note if you plan on towing a caravan or a campervan with high sides).  Take a walk along Riverton’s peaceful beachfront and dip your toes in the cool sea water (but it’s not icy – it was warmer than I expected).  Swim if its in the middle of summer (February)!  Find out more about Burt Munroe’s stamping ground at the motorcycle museum in Invercargill and take a walk around Queens Park – Invercargill’s gorgeous botanical gardens.  Invercargill is a popular spot for petrolheads, with a motorbike museum and a truck museum on offer, and lots of classic car lovers who are happy to talk about their machines.

Lastly, I wanted to share what is a treasure trove of scenic views, surfing, and waterfall walks you’ll enjoy as you take the coastal route around the Catlins, a route that takes you from Invercargill to Fortrose, then up through Owaka to Balclutha.  Say hi to some sea lions at Pounawea, and make sure you do the walk out to the Nugget Point Lighthouse (amazing!). 

Welcome to the South Island of New Zealand – and that’s just the beginning!

Planning A Kiwi Road Trip?  Some of the Best Bits of the North Island

We need to admit that our mates across the ditch have a nice back yard in which they can play, and New Zealand (pronounced “Nuzilin”) isn’t that far away.  And it’s a good place for a road trip.  There are not too many things which can bite you, or, if they do, you’re unlikely to die from them.  So, what does New Zealand have to offer?

Having spent a bit of time in both the North and the South Islands, I’ve come across some spectacular places to go see and experience.  The warmer of the two islands is the North, but that doesn’t mean that there won’t be a cool breeze or a bit of rain scampering up from the south every now and then. 

An airfare from any major Australian centre doesn’t cost a lot flying into Auckland.  Obviously, Sydney to Auckland is usually the cheapest.  From here, one of the coolest bits (figuratively – it’s reasonably warm) of the North Island is the narrow expanse of land to the north of New Zealand’s largest city.  You will take in some breathtaking coastal views as you journey up through Whangarei up to Kaitaia, and then experience the fun of the white sands along ninety-mile beach, which runs right up to Cape Reinga at the top.  Poor Knights Islands are worth a look, and there are plenty of boats that can take you offshore to experience some amazing sights and fishing excursions if you don’t want to stick to the road.  Another hidden away gem is the Whangarei Falls, which is easier to drive to. 

Tongariro National Park

Take in the sights around Lake Taupo as well the magnificent central mountains: Mt Ruapehu, Mt Ngauruhoe, and Mt Tongariro.  Tongariro National Park is one of the stunning scenic places to drive in the North Island.  You can ski in winter or mountain bike in the summer.  There’s always plenty of water sports, fishing, and boat excursions in this area as well.  If you’re driving there in winter, be prepared and check the road report, as snow can sometimes close the road. 

East Coast

Gisborne is home to some of the best surfing waves and citrus fruit you’ll find anywhere – at least on that side of the Tasman.  You can also be the first person in the world to experience the rising of the sun as the new day dawns.  Take your time and travel from north to south, coming toward Gisborne either around the East Cape or more directly through Waioeka Gorge.  Both options are stunningly gorgeous.  If you have a self-contained camper/caravan, there are many lovely places to stop for the night to take in the culture and the scenic beauty. 

The roads here can be very winding and steep, and keep an eye out for logging trucks, as there are lots of them buzzing about these roads.  Although larger wildlife getting on the road isn’t as common as it is over here (they don’t have kangaroos), the roads around the East Coast can be prone to goats.

West Coast

Less known about but equally as amazing are the secluded beaches along the west coast of the North Island.  One amazing trip would be heading from Auckland down through the King Country to Tihiroa, then turn westward and go out to the coast, where you’ll enjoy some amazing scenery, stunning land formations, and Kawhia Hot Water Beach.  Yes, you can make a pool on the beach and soak in some geothermally heated water.  Head further south and experience the amazing Waitomo Caves, then go and grab yourself some fish and chips in New Plymouth.  Mount Taranaki (Mt Egmont) is the stunning backdrop to the east, and the beautiful blue ocean is to the west, so you can eat your fish and chips as you watch the sun sink low into the ocean.  Taranaki also boasts some of the best surfing beaches. 

I haven’t even mentioned the Taihape to Napier, route with its red tussock slopes and steep rugged hills.  This will really put your hill driving skills to the test.  Yes, there’s lots to see.  Next time I’ll have to mention some of the great South Island road trips. 

ANCAP Updates

There have been recent changes to the tests at the Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP).  The new vehicles making their way to our showroom floors are more complicated and go beyond merely being a tool for getting you from one point on the map to another.  There are many technologies that we are familiar with now that weren’t available on many cars even a couple of decades ago.  Most of us will know what a seatbelt is, and what ABS and ESC do, and that our cars have airbags.  Seatbelts have been common in cars since the seventies, while the other two features have been common since the early 2000s.  Even as far back as the nineties, you’d slip yourself into a Saab 9000, any BMW, or Honda Legend and there would be a logo on a dash panel or steering wheel saying that behind this was an airbag at the ready.  Anti-lock braking technology, commonly known anti-brake skid (ABS), continued to become more sophisticated and reliable throughout the 1980s.  By the early 1990s, ABS was a standard feature in many new vehicles and was considered pretty cool and a lifesaver in the wet.  Electronic stability control (ESC) was also a pretty big game-changer in terms of the way a vehicle could be kept in line and pointing in the right direction when any hint of wheel skid was detected.  ESC and ABS were linked into the same system.

Today, ESC and ABS have all sorts of extra electronic wizardry around them that can tell these features to engage into action quickly.  You think of all the camera technology, and laser and sonar technology that can detect how far the back end of a bus is away from the nose of your vehicle, which just happens to be catapulting towards the bus far too fast.  These onboard systems have been designed to detect the situation and engage the braking systems (ABS and ESC) in a timely fashion in order to stop an accident from occurring.  This wizardry is now looking out for other road users’ safety as well as your own as you guide the vehicle from the driver’s seat.  New vehicles can now keep themselves inside their own lane, should you happen to become distracted.  The systems will even detect an incoming pedestrian that has decided it’s a great idea to drink far too much alcohol at the pub and then stagger home across a busy street without using the traffic light crossing at night. (On a more serious note, this sort of drunken decision can be fatal – when I was in high school, a friend of mine hit a drunk in black clothes who ran in front of her car on a wet night when she was on her P-plates.  Witnesses were there to tell the cops that there was no way she could have seen him coming or braked in time, so she didn’t face consequences for manslaughter, but she was traumatized, as you can imagine.)

New levels of safety technology are being incorporated into the newest vehicles we can buy.  This has meant that our mates at ANCAP have had to bring in new tests and rating criteria for these vehicles.  The latest criteria were updated last year (2023).  A maximum of five stars can be given out to a vehicle that has undergone crash testing and other safety tests.  Vehicles are required to meet minimum score thresholds for each star rating level, and these rating requirements and testing criteria are updated every 3 years to keep up with all of the new models that seem to be pouring in from all parts of the globe. 

A side effect of these updates means that older cars that had a five-star rating when they first entered the market wouldn’t get the same rating now.  This is something to be aware of if you are considering buying a second-hand car or an older model.

The 2024 Mitsubishi’s Triton Dual Cab ute was the first Dual Cab ute tested under the latest ANCAP rating criteria.  The sixth-generation Triton earned itself a five-star safety rating.  Regularly tweaking the changes to the safety rating criteria at ANCAP is important because it keeps pace with all the new safety features and technologies that make their way into new vehicles entering the Australian and New Zealand automotive markets.