More than 20 years in development, Infiniti's new four-cylinder turbocharged gasoline VC-T engine represents a breakthrough in internal-combustion powertrain technology, according to the company.
"VC-T technology is a step change for Infiniti," said Roland Krueger, president of Infiniti Motor Company. "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."
VC-T technology means that engines are no longer limited by a fixed compression ratio. The ingenuity of VC-T engine technology lies in its ability to transform itself and raise or lower the height the pistons reach.
As a result, 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 is designed to automatically apply the optimum ratio, depending on what the driving situation demands.
VC-T technology is designed to significantly reduce fuel consumption and emissions, noise and vibration levels and it is also lighter and more compact than comparable conventional engines.
More information on the world-first VC-T engine will be presented by Infiniti at this year’s Paris Motor Show (Mondial de l'Automobile) on September 29.
For more on internal combustion engine technologies, read about Nissan’s 40kg 400HP engine.