Could the FIAT group revive the classic straight 8 engine for ALFA?
This is unlikely to be successful in practice. There are a number of issues: The engine would require a new block to be developed and produced – simply joining two i4 blocks would cause problems with torsional rigidity, packaging and cooling. Attaching a transmission to each end would cause huge packaging problems, leading to either a very long bonnet, or the engine mounted in the centre of the car, between the driver and front passenger. Further packaging problems would occur with the ancillaries normally located at the opposite end of the engine from the transmission (with the camshaft drive). Also one of the i4 units would need significant modification to enable it to rotate in the opposite direction to normal. Add the cost of two transmissions, and the problems of synchronising them, and coping with the differential speeds of the two axles during cornering, and it becomes better to use a single transmission and transfer box, like most current 4wd cars. The crankshaft would be very
