We introduce a thermal engine consisting of N interacting Brownian particle
s moving in a periodic potential, featuring an alternation of hot and cold
symmetric peaks. A discretized Ising-like version is solved analytically. I
n response to an external force, absolute negative mobility is observed for
N greater than or equal to 4. For N --> infinity nonequilibrium phase tran
sition takes place with a spontaneous symmetry breaking en ailing he appear
ance of a current in the absence of an external force.