Nissan Motor’s luxury brand Infiniti said it would show its new VC-T (Variable Compression-Turbocharged) powerplant at the Paris show next month. It’s claimed to be the world’s first production-ready variable compression ratio engine and one of the most advanced internal combustion engines ever developed.
The automaker said it had spent over 20 years developing the engine.
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Infiniti president Roland Krueger said: “VC-T technology is a step change. It is a revolutionary next step in optimising the efficiency of the internal combustion engine. This technological breakthrough delivers the power of a high-performance two-litre turbo gasoline engine with a high level of efficiency at the same time.”
VC-T technology means engines are no longer limited by a fixed compression ratio. The VC-T engine van seamlessly raise or lower the height the pistons reach. 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). The engine control logic automatically applies the optimum ratio, depending on the driving situation.
Infinit claims VC-T technology delivers multiple benefits including “significantly” reduced fuel consumption and emissions, “greatly” reduced noise and vibration levels and is also lighter and more compact than comparable conventional engines.
