What is an H-type engine?

[LaEsther]

H-type engines arrange the cylinders in two rows with a 180° angle between them, meaning the two rows of cylinders are placed parallel to each other. Hence, this type of engine is also known as a horizontally opposed engine. More details are as follows: 1. The overall height of a horizontally opposed engine is significantly reduced, and its length is somewhat shortened, making the engine appear flatter and more compact. The direct benefit is a lower vehicle center of gravity, resulting in smoother driving, improved agility, and reduced risk of rollover. 2. Due to the high manufacturing costs and engineering complexity of horizontally opposed engines, currently, only two manufacturers in the world use them: Porsche from Germany and Subaru from Japan.