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    28 March 2018

    5 cars with boxer engines that AREN'T a Subaru, VW, or Porsche

    By James LisleJames Lisle
    You won't find the annoying Subaru 'warble' here. (image credit: Commons.Wikimedia)

    You may know the three brands as being synonymous with boxer or 'flat' engines, but there's actually plenty of other fish in that sea.

    It's not just Germany and Japan either, with Italy, France, and the US all having a crack in the past.

    Alfa Romeo Alfasud

    As sweet as its flat-four sounds, the Alfasud is almost extinct these days. (image credit: Commons.Wikimedia) As sweet as its flat-four sounds, the Alfasud is almost extinct these days. (image credit: Commons.Wikimedia)

    While this little Alfa had no chance of topping reliability charts - thanks to the appalling electrics and rust-prone body - it's got a reputation for being one of the best-handling small cars ever made, largely due to its low-mounted flat-four engine.

    Lancia Flavia

    Power ranged from 57kW in the 1.5-litre, up to a muscle-rippling 93kW in the fuel-injected 2.0-litre. (image credit: Commons.Wikimedia) Power ranged from 57kW in the 1.5-litre, up to a muscle-rippling 93kW in the fuel-injected 2.0-litre. (image credit: Commons.Wikimedia)

    Despite looking like a fleet car for the KGB, the Lancia Flavia was pretty bang-on in terms of modern tech in the late-‘60s. It had four-wheel disc brakes, a nifty front-suspension design, and a 1.5-litre aluminum flat-four engine. If you spent some extra dosh in the day, you could've gotten the boxer engine with fuel injection. Pretty good for 1965.

    P10 & P20 Toyota Publica

    Check out the size of the steering wheel in relation to the wheels! (image credit: Commons.Wikimedia) Check out the size of the steering wheel in relation to the wheels! (image credit: Commons.Wikimedia)

    While Australia is familiar with the P30 that came out in 1969 and featured the K-series engine from the Corolla, the original P10 Publica (1961) featured a 697cc flat-twin. Maximum power was about 21kW. Meaty!

    Citroen 2CV

    It might look like something Noddy would drive, but the 2CV has become legendary for its everyday practicality. (image credit: Commons.Wikimedia) It might look like something Noddy would drive, but the 2CV has become legendary for its everyday practicality. (image credit: Commons.Wikimedia)

    Born out of the need for a simplistic and durable family car that could drive down rugged farm tracks with ease, the 1948 Citroen 2CV used several features that helped pave its way to success. By combining super-long suspension travel, a goofy lightweight body, and a fantastically reliable 6.6kW, “sealed for life” air-cooled flat-two engine, Citroen inadvertently created a legend.

    Chevrolet Corvair

    You could even opt for a 'Turbo' version in '66, should you want your Covair to be even more terrifying. (image credit: Commons.Wikimedia) You could even opt for a 'Turbo' version in '66, should you want your Covair to be even more terrifying. (image credit: Commons.Wikimedia)

    Known as one of the most dangerous cars to drive, the 60kW, rear-mounted, 2.3-litre air-cooled flat-six ‘sports car’ is not to be toyed with. Ferocious lift-off oversteer, thanks to all the weight in the back (and owners often ignoring the recommended front-and-rear tyre pressure differentials), meant that while the Corvair was great to look at, there aren’t as many around today as you might think.

    What do you think is the best car with a boxer engine? Tell us in the comments.

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