While there’s not much going on in the product front for Mitsubishi, the Japanese automaker continues the development of new powertrains and their related technologies.
Today, Mitsubishi released the first details on its next generation 1.8-liter gasoline engine codenamed “4J10” that incorporates a new version of the company’s MIVEC variable valve timing system as well as the introductions of a new Auto Stop & Go (AS&G) idle-stop technology.
The new 4J10 four-cylinder petrol with AS&G tech will make its debut in Japan this month on the domestic market RVR, Galant Fortis, Galant Fortis Sportback, followed later on by the international variants of the aforementioned models, the ASX/Outlander Sport, Lancer sedan and Lancer Sportback.
Mitsubishi says that with this combination, the three models show a 12 percent improvement in fuel efficiency in the Japanese 10-15 mode driving cycle.
One of the most important features of the new 1.8-liter engine is the latest iteration of the company’s MIVEC system that continuously regulates intake valve lift, opening duration and timing.
Up until now, Mitsubishi employed two types of MIVEC systems – one that switches between different valve lifts and valve opening durations according to engine speed, and another (i.e. on the 4B10 engine) that varies the valve opening timing on a continuous basis. The new MIVEC does what the previous two systems could do separately, together and all the time.
In JDM specification, the 1.8-liter unit is rated at 139-horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 172Nm (126.9 lb-ft) at 4,200 rpm.
As for Mitsubishi’s new Auto Stop & Go system, while the current version can only be used in combination of a manual gearbox, the latest variant has been developed for use on continuously variable transmissions (CVT) as well.
