A flat engine is an internal combustion engine with multiple pistons that move in a horizontal plane. Typically, the layout has cylinders arranged in two banks on either side of a single crankshaft and is generally known as the boxer, or horizontally-opposed engine—not to be confused with opposed-piston engines, which are mechanically different. The German’s are known to be obsessed with new technology and this fetish for research and development does lead to numerous awe-inspiring products. Take the example of Porsche. The car that has had its engine stuck to its back since its birth more than half a century ago. Porsche’s have always managed...