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LiquidPiston’s “Inside-Out Wankel” XTS-210: What the 5× Diesel Claim Really Means

LiquidPiston’s XTS-210 reverses the familiar Wankel layout, but its “5×” comparison is limited to one named Kohler diesel—and reported output figures remain company targets, not independent test results.
Entry076 Date Time3 min MechanicCarCody Team
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LiquidPiston’s XTS-210 is an experimental rotary engine built around an inverted version of the familiar Wankel layout. The “5×” claim is not a comparison with diesel engines in general: New Atlas reported that LiquidPiston compared the engine’s targeted output with one specific Kohler diesel, the KDW1003 E536A. The figures are company targets and descriptions, not independent test results.

What makes the XTS-210 “inside out”?

In a conventional Wankel, a roughly triangular rotor turns inside an oval-like housing. LiquidPiston reverses that arrangement: its X-Engine puts a peanut-shaped rotor inside a trilobed housing. The company says this geometry leaves the apex seals and combustion chamber stationary. LiquidPiston sums up the concept as: “We turned the traditional Wankel inside out.” LiquidPiston’s company material describes the layout and its claimed advantages.

That description explains the nickname; it does not by itself establish how the engine performs in service. The XTS-210 is the named engine associated with the claim, and it uses LiquidPiston’s X-Engine architecture.

What does “5× the power of a diesel” refer to?

In 2023, New Atlas reported LiquidPiston’s comparison of the XTS-210’s targeted output with a particular diesel, the Kohler KDW1003 E536A. The article characterized that Kohler engine as roughly five times the XTS-210’s size and more than four times its weight. This is a comparison between two named engines, not evidence that the XTS-210 outpowers diesel engines generally or that the ratio holds across different operating conditions.

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New Atlas reported the XTS-210 as a 210 cc engine with company targets of about 20 kW (26.8 hp) and 29.4 Nm at 6,500 rpm. Those are reported targets, not independently verified measurements. The comparison should therefore be read as LiquidPiston’s claim about a compact engine relative to one larger diesel, rather than a demonstrated, like-for-like performance result. New Atlas’s April 4, 2023 report gives the named comparison and target figures.

Which output figures has LiquidPiston published?

Figure What it represents
210 cc Displacement reported by New Atlas in 2023.
About 20 kW (26.8 hp) and 29.4 Nm at 6,500 rpm Company targets reported by New Atlas in 2023; not independent test results.
25 horsepower LiquidPiston’s 2024 company product description of the XTS-210; not independent performance data.

The 20 kW target is approximately 26.8 hp, while the separate 2024 company description calls the engine a 25-horsepower model. The available material does not explain the difference between those published figures. Neither figure should be treated as a measured, independently confirmed output.

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What is the engine intended to power?

LiquidPiston identifies generators, hybrid-electric VTOL aircraft and small unmanned aircraft systems as intended XTS-210 applications. New Atlas described the target areas as military, commercial and aerospace. These are stated application areas, not confirmation that the engine is in production or deployed in those roles.

LiquidPiston’s company material lists a 2024 milestone, “25-HORSEPOWER HEAVY-FUEL ROTARY ENGINE BEGINS TESTING.” That establishes a company-reported testing milestone, but not the results of testing, production status or customer availability.

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What can’t the published figures tell you?

A useful comparison with another compact powerplant needs measurements taken at equivalent operating points and in a relevant application. The material available here does not establish independent performance, fuel-efficiency, emissions or durability results, nor does it establish current production or availability to customers.

For an engineering comparison, readers would need figures for rated power and torque at stated engine speeds, dry and installed mass, packaged dimensions, fuel consumption or thermal efficiency at a defined load, emissions, noise and vibration, service life and maintenance. They would also need to know whether each figure came from independent testing or a company target. Without those details, the headline ratio cannot settle which engine is the better choice for a specific job.

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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

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