Discover Macchine Motori 97.
The latest developments in the engine industry, from automotive to aerospace, are featured in Macchine Motori 97.
From industrial engine “rightsizing” to new research frontiers, including six-stroke engine solutions and “V-Twin” single-cylinder engines. The automotive industry continues to explore new interpretations of the automobile, while the world of two-wheelers seeks a balance between passion and technology. Meanwhile, detonation engines are opening up new possibilities in the skies, while gensets are helping bring irrigation and agriculture to the desert.
Cover – Macchine Motori 97
The Pajero name returns to the spotlight with a fifth generation that revives the off-road vocation of Mitsubishi’s iconic 4×4, now reinterpreted as the brand’s new flagship model. A ladder-frame chassis, Super Select 4WD-II all-wheel drive and S-AWC technology are combined with a refined, high-tech interior. Under the bonnet, a new 2.4-litre turbodiesel engine is paired with a new eight-speed automatic transmission, while the design draws on some of the most iconic elements of Pajero heritage.
Automotive
Audi explores futuristic solutions with Nuvolari, combining technology with advanced design research. A project that brings together elegance and innovation, offering a glimpse into the styling and technical solutions that could anticipate the next evolution of the German brand.
Practicality, robustness and an essential approach to mobility. Dacia Striker continues the evolution of the brand with a modern interpretation of the automobile. A model to discover, combining functionality, versatility and a focus on running costs.
Electrified four-wheel drive meets the compact dimensions of the Jeep Avenger. With 145 hp, two electric motors and dedicated off-road solutions, the Avenger 4xe combines urban versatility with genuine off-road capability.
Space, design and electric power. Volkswagen ID. Cross interprets zero-emission mobility through the SUV concept, with a focus on versatility and everyday usability. A preview of the solutions shaping the evolution of the ID. family and the future of Volkswagen crossovers.
Two-wheels
The V3R 900 E-Compressor represents one of Honda’s most original approaches to the future of high-performance motorcycles. Compact dimensions, strong low-end response and performance comparable to that of a 1,200 cc engine are among the goals of a project still under development.
A 997 cc V4, more than 210 hp, active aerodynamics and a claimed weight below 200 kg: the V4 SR-RR takes CFMOTO into the world of extreme supersport motorcycles. The prototype has already reached 315.82 km/h during development testing and continues its aerodynamic refinement programme, including testing in the Pininfarina wind tunnel.
Two new interpretations of the racing two-stroke, both powered by Kawasaki’s new 327 cc single-cylinder engine with electronic fuel injection and electric start. The KX327 is designed for motocross, while the KX327X adopts a configuration specifically developed for cross-country riding, combining linear power delivery, strong low-end traction and chassis technology derived from Kawasaki’s racing experience.
A motorcycle’s sound is not simply a matter of the exhaust system. For Honda, it begins with combustion and is defined from the earliest stages of development through valve timing, intake design and engine characteristics. NVH specialists work on frequencies, vibrations and acoustic response, combining digital simulations and real-world testing with the irreplaceable judgement of the human ear.
Aerospace
From conventional combustion to detonation waves, rotating detonation engines (RDEs) represent one of the most promising frontiers in aerospace and space propulsion. Combustion takes place through pressure waves propagating inside the chamber, with the potential to increase efficiency while reducing the size and weight of the propulsion system. A technology still under development, but already the subject of significant experimental testing.
Jetson ONE brings the eVTOL concept into the realm of personal flight. The aircraft has a limited top speed of 102 km/h and offers around 20 minutes of flight time, with redundant safety systems and automatic landing. In 2026, the project also obtained Italy’s first official identification for an ultralight eVTOL, marking a new stage in the development of personal air mobility.
Industry and Marine
Greater efficiency does not necessarily require a smaller engine. Rightsizing aims to identify the displacement and architecture best suited to a machine’s actual operating profile, avoiding engine oversizing while keeping the power unit as close as possible to its most efficient operating range. A strategy that, particularly in industrial applications, places fuel consumption, performance, emissions and operating costs at the centre of engine development.
When water has to be brought to the desert, energy becomes a fundamental resource. In Algeria, a major agricultural project uses 50 Green Power generator sets equipped with FPT Industrial Cursor 13 engines to continuously power irrigation systems covering 117,000 hectares of land dedicated to agricultural production. A concrete example of how an industrial engine can become a key element in an agricultural project on an extraordinary scale.
The collaboration between Yanmar and Bucher brings together industrial engine technology and hydraulic systems, with the aim of developing more efficient and easily integrated machine solutions. The project combines powertrain, hydraulics and electronics to match available power to actual operating requirements, reducing losses and opening up new possibilities for mobile machinery.
Macchine Motori 97
