[WRC] News & Rumours (part V) 2017

[Mirek]

"Evo X engine taken down to 1600cc - a process that will help make it even stronger than it is"

And heavier, didn't know you can use an engine from a different manufacturer. They already have a 1.6l from what i can see.

Proton has this engine in their stock portfolio (Proton Jebat is basically Lancer Evo X). IMHO Evo X engine is very good basis mainly because it's performance engine already in stock variant unlike most of others.

Actually it's better to use larger engine and shorten the stroke. Both M-Sport and Škoda did it (2.0 resp. 1.8 base engines). PSA used stock 1.6 engines and had gazillion problems with it. Prodrive did the same mistake with Mini WRC.

The issue with stock 1,6 litres are many. Just to name some which come to my mind...

1) non-ideal bore/stroke ratio for competitive engine because stock engines are built with different priorities (Fabia R5 engine which is 1,8 with shortened stroke has actually very same bore/stroke ratio as taylor-made engine of Polo WRC while PSA R5 engines have hugely long stroke)

2) engine block possibly not strong enough

3) possibly problematic cooling of the smaller block which isn't designed for racing use