Just when you thought Porsche was phasing out internal combustion the Stuttgart sports car maker has decided to re-invent the whole process. Porsche has now developed a six-stroke combustion system which adds an additional compression and power stroke to increase efficiency and horsepower.

Porsche may be signaling a shift in automotive engineering with recent patent filings for a six-stroke engine, hinting at the potential move from traditional four-stroke engines. The development could mark a major evolution in combustion engine technology,

Basically, this thing is a mashup of four-stroke and a two-stroke engine designs (here's how an engine works, by the way), that results in two power strokes in three revolutions.

Intake, compression, power, then exhaust. Every 4-stroke engine ever made – about 80% of all engines currently in existence – function on this principle – even rotary engines. But now, Porsche has filed a patent to make a 6-stroke engine.