Infiniti has unveiled the world’s first variable compression ratio engine which many auto pundits suggest is one of the most advanced internal combustion engines ever conceived.
Dubbed the VC-T engine, the automaker has been developing it since 1998 and when it debuts in the GX80 in 2018, will replace Infiniti’s 3.5-liter V6.
Displacing 2.0-liters and aided by a turbocharger, the VC-T engine produces around 270 hp and 288 lb-ft of torque. More importantly however, it is almost 27 per cent more economical than a normal petrol engine and therefore about as efficient as a 2.0-liter diesel.
At the core of the engine technology is its ability to raise and lower the height which each piston reaches. This means that the engine can essentially adjust its displacement and compression ratio on the fly from between 8:1 for high performance driving and 14:1 for maximum efficiency. The engine also promises to be as smooth as the firm’s larger V6 and is actually lighter and more compact than a comparable four-cylinder.
Further details on this cutting-edge engine will be released at its world debut on September 29 at the Paris Motor Show.
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