The common rail turbo diesel engine makes a lot of sense to a lot of people who do many miles every year, and since it has gained acceptance around the world (in most countries, anyway), it is being constantly and actively developed, because demand is very high, and rising.
In Europe, diesels are hugely popular, and all manufacturers are trying to come out with units that are more powerful as well as more economical and cleaner, so as to outdo the competition. Volvo has now announced a new technology, which takes the concept further and promises improved economy.
Called i-ART, the system will be featured on Volvo’s new VEA (Volvo Engine Architecture) line of engines, which is set to be launched in the autumn of this year. It is a development of regular common rail diesels, and the innovation comes in the form of a pressure feedback system, which gets a sensor on each of the cylinders. In contrast, on current diesels, only one single such sensor is used, and it measures the pressure of the entire rail, thereby not being as efficient as it could.
Now, with i-ART, the Swedes say that they’ve managed to increase the rail pressure to 2,500 Bar, and thus improve the precision of each injection of diesel. This, of course, translates into the improved fuel efficiency they are talking about.
The engines will be offered in various states of tune, with different turbocharging systems, while “certain engines will also gain added performance via electrification or other spearhead technology” – hybrids. Also, with the VEA engines, Volvo will be introducing a new eight-speed automatic gearbox, which they say is “agile, yet smooth.” Expect to see these new engines and transmission debut in their updated range of cars, possibly in 2014.
By Andrei Nedelea
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