If you've ever looked under the bonnet of a car, the engine can seem like a maze of metal parts, pipes and wires. In reality, its job is quite simple: it turns fuel into the power that moves your car.

How does a hybrid car engine work? The modern Atkinson cycle is used by cars such as the Toyota Prius, Ford C-max and Fusion Hybrids, Lexus CT200h, and Mazda SkyActive engines. The basic difference ...