For years he had contemplated the inefficiencies of the traditional four-stroke Otto cycle engine (named for its 1876 developer, Nikolaus A. Otto).

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When powered by gasoline, the C-MAX Energi uses the all-new 2.0-liter Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder engine - powerful and fuel efficient and among the most advanced non-turbocharged four-cylinder powertrains Ford has ever offered.

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During the class, we walked through my Desire Engine framework, a four-step cycle that creates preferences and usage habits.

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The vibe in the Fusion Hybrid is one of abiding integration: the subtle slurring of ratios in the continuously variable transmission, the share-the-load cooperation between electric and gas engine (2.0-liter, 141-hp Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder), a sort of light, transparent flickering of power sources.

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