Ferrari Tipo F134: the rare three-cylinder two-stroke engine

When we think of engines developed by Ferrari, we picture legendary, large V12s and V8s, rather than compact three-cylinder units: the Tipo F134 is the exception.

Developed during the 1990s, the Tipo F134 was almost certainly not intended to herald a Ferrari three-cylinder production engine - decades before such engines became widespread. Instead, it emerged from the need to test and validate new technological solutions.

This did not require building a complete engine, only part of one. That explains the Tipo F134: it represented half of the V6 ultimately envisaged.

Ferrari Tipo F134: a two-stroke test engine

The innovative character of this three-cylinder engine, with a capacity of just 1.3 litres, came from its two-stroke layout and supercharger.

We tend to associate two-stroke engines with motorcycles rather than cars, although they have also been used in automobiles. They offer several benefits: they are more compact, lighter and simpler, while potentially delivering greater thermal efficiency than the four-stroke engines fitted to our cars.

However, one of the key reasons they have “disappeared”, even from motorcycles, concerns the pollution they produce. This is largely caused by the fuel-oil mixture they use, as well as fuel wasted when the engine operates outside its optimum range.

During the 1990s, though, the automotive industry showed renewed interest in the two-stroke engine, with several manufacturers investing in its development. As the Tipo F134 demonstrates, Ferrari also investigated this possible evolution of the internal-combustion engine.

A concentration of sophistication

We can now explore Ferrari's Tipo F134 in greater depth through the Drivetribe video below.

Well-known presenter Mike Fernie introduces this rare engine and reveals how far ahead Ferrari was in reducing or eliminating the drawbacks traditionally linked to two-stroke engines.

For instance, the small three-cylinder unit already used multipoint injection instead of a carburettor. And, despite two-stroke engines not requiring them, it was fitted with exhaust valves operated by a camshaft.

Supercharging and the intended V6

One crucial element in allowing this “reinvented” two-stroke to meet its power and emissions targets was the addition of a supercharger. Besides increasing the volume of intake air, it was also essential for clearing exhaust gases, improving combustion efficiency.

The Tipo F134 produced 130 hp. With its 1.3-litre capacity, that equated to 100 hp/litre, which would have meant 260 hp for the intended V6 - a 2.6-litre unit comprising two 1.3-litre banks arranged in a “V”.

Even at the time, these were not exceptional figures, at least for a supercar. The Ferrari F40, fitted with a 2.9-litre twin-turbo V8, achieved 162.8 hp/litre.

That lends credibility to rumours that Ferrari examined a turbocharged Tipo F134 variant, which would have raised output to 216 hp - equivalent to 166 hp/litre, or 432 hp when once again considering the V6.

History shows that the Tipo F134 never became a production engine. Yet, at a time when even Formula 1's technical director has raised the possibility of the championship using two-stroke engines with solutions similar to those seen in this three-cylinder unit, could Ferrari revisit the lessons learned during its development?