What does the future hold for the internal combustion engine – and how do you test the technical innovations required to make it happen? These are the questions two brand-new conferences at this year’s Engine Expo + The Powertrain Technology Show will attempt to answer.

The Path towards Euro 7 will examine the technologies and solutions that could pave the way for significantly reduced emissions; while the Powertrain Testing Conference will present the views of leading experts in the field of powertrain assessment and validation testing.

Although Euro 7 regulations haven’t been officially announced, it’s an open secret within the industry that they’re coming. The conference will attempt to define what they will actually look like and how best to meet them. Experts from industry, government and academia will share their views via exclusive presentations and a range of panel discussions designed with audience discussion and participation in mind.

The ‘What should Euro 7 look like?’ panel discussion will see Ricardo, Transport & Environment and Emissions Analytics analyze what is realistic and what’s simply not possible; while ‘The internal combustion engine versus Euro 7’ discussion will bring together scientists from Lund University, Ricardo, and Istituto Motori to debate if electric assistance can save petrol and diesel, and whether they need saving at all.

Future ‘Euro 7-compliant’ powertrains will undergo the most thorough and vigorous testing yet, which is where the Powertrain Testing Conference comes in, covering as it does the latest CAE, simulation and dyno testing tools, as well as next-generation testing tools and techniques.

Highlights include a presentation from AVL List’s Martin Abart on how virtual calibration can speed up development times; and a talk from Dr Byron Mason at Loughborough University about the importance of the transient behavior of engines. Meanwhile, speakers from Horiba MIRA will introduce testing methods for RDE, while on the last day, there will be a joint panel discussion with the Path towards Euro 7 Conference on how more efficient and accurate measurement, testing techniques and technologies can lower emissions.

Entry to both The Path Towards Euro 7 Conference and The Powertrain Testing Conference is free if you work for an OEM or a Tier 1 supplier, so register for you conference pass here.

From starter-generator-based mild-hybrid systems through to true hybrids, to fully electric and fuel cell vehicles, the range of powertrains on offer today encompasses much more than just ‘engines’ – hence next week’s (May 21, 22, 23) Engine Expo has rebranded for 2019 as Engine Expo + The Powertrain Technology Show.

The event features an equally compelling selection of metallurgy companies, novel combustion concepts, effective insulation, and emission-reduction technology. This year, the exhibits are also joined by two brand-new conferences, The Path Towards Euro 7 Conference and The Powertrain Testing Conference.

Further highlights from the Expo include rapid prototyping techniques from Superior Prototypes and HLH Prototypes, various molding services for plastic or metal, as well as high-performance coatings.

To meet ever-stricter emissions regulations, companies need to think out of the box: Aumet and Nostrum will be in Stuttgart to demonstrate a radical engine concept and a sophisticated water injection system, respectively. To speed up the development of electrified powertrains, Obrist will present its ‘HyperHybrid’ complete powertrain solution.

To discover the tools to make future engines as clean and reliable as possible, visitors should head to The Path Towards Euro 7 Conference and The Powertrain Testing Conference. One highlight in particular will see a panel discussion with engineers and scientists from Ricardo, Lund University and the Istituto Motori about if and how internal combustion engines can continue to exist post-Euro 6.

Another highlight is a joint panel discussion at The Powertrain Testing Conference, which brings together experts from MIRA, Bosal, IPG Automotive and Rototest, to discuss how more efficient and accurate measurement, testing techniques and technologies can help lower emissions.

And of course, Engine Expo + The Powertrain Technology Show continues to host the prestigious International Engine + Powertrain of the Year Awards. Will another manufacturer finally snatch the top spot from Ferrari, whose 3.9-liter biturbo V8 has taken the overall win for the last three years? Who will take the crown for the best ‘green’ powertrain? Has Tesla met its match after four years? Make sure to attend the trophy presentation on Wednesday, May 22, in Hall 6, to find out!

It doesn’t end there, as your Engine Expo badge gives you access to four amazing, neighboring shows: Global Automotive Components and Suppliers Expo, Automotive Testing Expo, Automotive Interiors Expo and Autonomous Vehicle Technology Expo.

Given the wealth of technologies on show at Engine Expo + The Powertrain Technology Show, as well as Automotive Interiors Expo, Automotive Testing Expo, Global Automotive Components and Suppliers Expo and Autonomous Vehicle Technology Expo, it’s well worth making the journey to Stuttgart next week to make new business connections, strengthen existing ones and learn about the state of the art in the automotive industry. The Expo is free to enter – get your badge here!

Nostrum Energy develops advanced dilute combustion systems and fuel injection technologies for aftermarket, research and OEM applications. The newest product it will be presenting at this year’s Engine Expo North America is a full water injection system for on-road, off-road, stationary and research engine applications. Nostrum’s water injection systems provide knock mitigation, octane on demand or NOx management for performance, efficiency or commercial engine applications.

The benefits of using water to control end-of-compression temperatures and thereby knock onset are that water is cheap, easily available, has a very high enthalpy of vaporization and has no negative impact on vehicle emissions. Nostrum’s patented colliding jet injectors rely on jet-to-jet collision as opposed to a traditional air shear break-up mechanism. This method improves atomization and significantly reduces liquid lengths, thus avoiding intake port impingement as well as minimizing water consumption. Nostrum will present the CFD design, optimization and test results for an application-specific (Nissan R35 GT-R), spray-targeted water injection system.

Nostrum has developed a new fully featured, Tier 1 level water injection controller. It has been designed to integrate into a wide range of engine configurations and applications. The water injection firing events can be tied to fuel injector firing events or they can be controlled by more conventional crank angle-based injection control strategies, thus allowing water injection to be adapted to virtually any engine application. Prototype controllers are currently being used on Nostrum’s Nissan R35 GT-R water injection system but are available for any kind of application.

The company uses water injection to create its own combustion cycles for better efficiency. The embedded control algorithms in the water injection controller provide a flexible and comprehensive control unit for engine and vehicle integration. Nostrum will also present at the conference on the system integration, calibration and performance of Nostrum’s water injection controller and spray targeted water injectors in a high-performance application like the Nissan GT-R, and how the system can provide knock mitigation and octane increases on demand. Data for field testing, mileage accumulation, altitude testing and vehicle performance will be presented, along with system capabilities and engine durability observations.

At Engine Expo North America Indo-MIM will explain why, for engine component manufacturers, metal injection molding (MIM) is becoming an increasingly popular choice.

The MIM process is very similar to plastic injection molding and high-pressure die-casting, but the advantage of the net-shape process is its ability to produce mechanical properties equivalent to wrought materials while delivering good dimensional tolerance control.

MIM parts offer high production rates through the use of multi-cavity tooling, and Indo is one of the most sought-after companies using this process. Come and discover how the company’s expertise can help improve your business, enabling you to consistently deliver high-quality products for unmatched value.

Thermamax, a maker of insulation and protective products, will demonstrate how it is preparing future-oriented solutions for electrified powertrains at this year’s Engine Expo North America.

The company’s new high-temperature-resistant battery housings are designed to protect against faulty EV batteries. As faulty lithium-ion batteries can reach temperatures of more than 1,000°C, the T-max Battery Housing keeps the temperature under control.

It is just one of a number of insulation and protective products the company has on display at Engine Expo North America 2018.

UK buyers now have the choice of two diesel engines in the VW Touareg. Joining the existing 286ps 3.0-liter V6 diesel is a 231ps version, which is available on all three trim levels and starts at £48,995 (US$38,547).

The entry-level engine produces its peak power between 3,250rpm and 4,750rpm, with peak torque of 500Nm available from 1,750rpm to 3,000rpm. Its CO₂ output of 173g/km is the same as the more powerful engine, as is the car’s towing capacity of 3,500kg.

The rest of the drivetrain, that is to say the ZF 8-speed torque converter transmission and the limited-slip differential, are also shared with the 286ps model.

The 231ps-diesel brings the engine count for the Touareg to two. A gasoline 3.0-liter V6 and the VW group’s familiar V8 diesel will join the range later this year, with a plug-in hybrid V6 to come later.

Mazda is starting a research partnership with Saudi state-owned oil company Saudi Aramco and Japanese research organization the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) to optimize both the oil refinery process and the combustion engine to produce less CO₂.

Saudi Aramco is the state-owned oil company of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It will work on developing a fuel that can be refined with a smaller CO₂ output.

Meanwhile, Mazda and AIST will work together to design a high-efficiency engine that uses the fuel. AIST is one of the largest public research organizations in Japan.

This development partnership to reduce well-to-wheel emissions is part of Mazda’s ‘Sustainable Zoom-Zoom 2030’ vision for technology development, which was announced in August last year and underscores Mazda’s commitment to the internal combustion engine.

Vibration control solutions manufacturer Vibracoustic is investing around €4m (US$4.5m) in its Polish Sroda Slaska I plant, where it produces conventional and hydraulic chassis mounts for the automotive industry.

The expansion will create capacity to produce microcellular polyurethane (MCU) components and will allow the establishment of a local prototyping and testing facility which will shorten the development and industrialization process of new components.

Vibracoustic will create a total of 50 new jobs by the end of 2018 at Sroda Slaska I, mainly in the areas of production, maintenance and engineering. The company has been producing chassis mounts at the facility for 19 years, employing over 360 people.

Thyssenkrupp has announced it will be expanding its Frankfurt Osthafen site, which is a sales and logistics center for carbon steel, stainless steel as well as nonferrous metals. The changes entail the expansion of the the high-bay warehouse and processing equipment at the site.

“The expansion of our Frankfurt site is an important milestone in our company strategy,” said Ilse Henne, CEO of Thyssenkrupp Schulte. “Our core competencies include the development of tailored material and supply chain solutions which we deliver reliably nationwide – always close to our customers, enabling them to concentrate fully on their core business. The Osthafen site offers the ideal conditions for this.”

Thyssenkrupp’s branch in the Frankfurt Osthafen district covers a total area of 28,000m², 15,000m² of which is used as storage space. Around 65 employees currently work for the company in Frankfurt.

The Mahle Shifting Roller System can adapt to engine operating conditions by managing exhaust gas temperature and providing engine braking to reduce operating costs of commercial vehicles.

The system uses an adjustable cam follower which can be brought in contact with either one of the two differently profiled cam lobes. Depending on the lift curve of the second cam lobe, the engine can be operated as a permanent brake, for exhaust gas temperature management, or for use with Miller cycles.

Mahle claims that its system considerably reduces moving masses compared to adjustable cam segments on the camshaft, resulting in lower actuating forces and reduced installation space.

The system is also electrically actuated for additional reliability, since electric systems are not influenced by engine temperature and can facilitate selective cylinder activation, switching between operating states quickly and cleanly.

When used as an engine brake, the Mahle Shifting Roller System achieves a braking effect close to a retarder, thanks to its two-stroke mode. The company also promises a performance advantage in comparison with hydraulically actuated systems.

The braking effect of the system is approximately the same as the engine output. Furthermore, no additional components or systems are required for the engine brake. As the cylinders can be activated individually, the engine brake can be actuated gradually and adapted to the current brake power requirements.

When used to control cylinder temperatures, the system can open the exhaust valves sooner to allow the exhaust gas temperature to be increased while keeping fuel consumption low. Exhaust gas with a higher enthalpy enables earlier SCR catalyst light-off or regeneration of the particulate filter under partial-load operation.

Finally, the Shifting Roller System can close the intake valves earlier or later to reduce the effective compression ratio, lowering combustion temperature and pressure and transferring part of the compression work to the turbocharger.