Infiniti will present its VC-T (Variable Compression-Turbocharged) engine, a production-ready variable compression ratio engine, on September 29 at the 2016 Paris Motor Show (Mondial de l’Automobile).
Following more than 20 years of development, Infiniti’s new four-cylinder turbocharged gasoline VC-T engine represents a major breakthrough in internal-combustion powertrain technology.
“VC-T technology is a step change for Infiniti,” said Roland Krueger, president of Infiniti Motor Company. “It is a revolutionary next-step in optimizing the efficiency of the internal combustion engine. This technological breakthrough delivers the power of a high-performance 2.0-liter turbo gasoline engine with a high level of efficiency at the same time.”
Infiniti’s proposed engine technology works by raising or lowering the height the pistons, via an actuated crankshaft. As a consequence, the displacement of the engine changes and the compression ratio can vary anywhere between 8:1 (for high performance) and 14:1 (for high efficiency). This is controlled by an ECU algorithm that automatically applies the optimum ratio, depending on what the driving situation demands.
Infiniti is claiming several end-user benefits to the VC-T technology, such as significantly reduced fuel consumption and emissions, greatly reduced noise and vibration levels; it is also lighter and more compact than comparable conventional engines.
August 17, 2016