Daryo Oct 6, 2022:

the variable "number of strokes" can have AFAIK only 2 values: "2 strokes" or "4 strokes" per full cycle.

The fact that 2-stroke car engines are becoming a rarity doesn't change that, and I can't see how anyone "native" in basic automotive terminology could confuse that with the "number of cylinders".

Again, same point of method apply: what are the values given for the variable "number of strokes"? THAT would be a pretty strong hint at the meaning of the variable.

Frank Szmulowicz, Ph. D. (asker) Oct 6, 2022:

There is always this fear that we are dealing with a non-native translation. The term "number of strokes" is very strange. It probably means the number of cylinders since cars no longer have two-stroke engines.

Daryo Oct 6, 2022:

Engine Alignment : Longitudinal Lo and behold!

This one little insignificant omitted word "Longitudinal" was all that was needed to make sense for sure of "Engine Alignment : ...".

If you want to figure out the meaning of a variable, giving few variable's values usually helps!

Frank Szmulowicz, Ph. D. (asker) Oct 6, 2022:

This question was posed in the English-Polish pair with just as much context as I have provided here. However, one can find on the web the following specifications:
Engine type - Number of cylinders : V 6
Engine Code : -
Fuel type : Petrol
Fuel System : Bosch K-Jetronic fuel inj.
Engine Cooling :
Engine Alignment : Longitudinal
Engine size - Displacement - Engine capacity : 173.9 cu-in / 2849 cm3
Bore x Stroke : 3.58 x 2.87 inches
91.00 x 73.00 mm
Number of valves : 12 Valves
Aspiration : N/A
Compression Ratio : 8.80
Maximum power - Output - Horsepower : 130 HP / 132 PS / 97 kW
@ 5500 rpm
Maximum torque : 152 lb-ft / 207.0 Nm
@ 5500 rpm
Drive wheels - Traction - Drivetrain : RWD
Transmission Gearbox - Number of speeds :
5 speed Manual Transmission Gearbox - Number of speeds
https://www.ultimatespecs.com/car-specs/Delorean/17644/Delor...

ccc
The engine mounting can be altered within the engine bay although engine alignment (transverse/longitudinal) must be retained.

https://us.motorsport.com/btcc/news/btcc-btcc-rules-faq/1315...

ccc

Engine Alignment : Longitudinal. Engine size - Displacement - Engine capacity : 2996 cm3 or 182.8 cu-in. Bore x Stroke : 85.00 x 88.00 mm

Daryo Oct 6, 2022:

This is all the context there is??? I very much doubt that - absolutely not convinced.

With what you have given so far, pointless guessing is the only option. Maybe an interesting game, but it's not going to yield anything reliable.

In what kind of document are these "Specification of a vehicle besides its weight, number of strokes, etc." to be found?

There must a full sentence including an occurrence of this "engine alignment"?

Your ST is surely a bit more than "Specification of a vehicle besides its weight, number of strokes, etc." floating on its own in some dimensionless nowhere land?

Tomasso Oct 6, 2022:

engine configuration, vee 4, w 4 ? https://studentlesson.com/engine-configuration/ V-engine:
The pistons are ***aligned*** with the cylinders in two banks. It shows a V shape when viewed from the top. The purpose of the V shape is to prevent vibration and balancing issues.

W type engine:
The W engine configuration is made for 16 and 12-cylinder engines. The cylinders are arranged in 3 rows, forming a W shape. (German use of English?) http://www.volkspage.net/technik/ssp/ssp/SSP_248.pdf . In the W8 and W12
engines, these banks of cylinders are aligned at
a V-angle of 72° in relation to one another. As in
the VR engine, the cylinders within each bank
maintain an angle of 15°.

Frank Szmulowicz, Ph. D. (asker) Oct 5, 2022:

@Guilherme: Since we are talking about a basic engine characteristic, "alignment" - which vaguely conjures up angular positioning - might refer to its orientation wrt to the axis of the vehicle - transverse or longitudinal. However, perhaps outside the US - my neck of the woods - engine alignment means something else.

Guilherme Zeitune Oct 5, 2022:

Are you sure? All I could think of is what you said, if it's transversal or longitudinal.