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INFINITI’s VC-Turbo S.U.V.: A Revolution in Efficiency
This year, INFINITI paves the way for innovation in the car industry with a new, production-ready engine with a variable compression ratio in its combustion chambers even while the vehicle is in motion.
This is important because the relationship between the largest and smallest volume in a cylinder- ie compressions- during the piston stroke determines both the fuel efficiency and power of internal-combustion engines. Lower compression ratios are desirable for efficiency and more Eco-friendly operation. Higher ratios are what you want when performance is what you crave.
Why is Variable Compression Ratio Important?
Experts are calling INFINITI’s accomplishment in the VC-Turbo a significant advance in the way automobile engines are made, and function. The ability of an engine to render variable compression ratios has long been looked on as a kind of holy grail for engineers for at least the last 50 years in the automobile industry.
The “VC” in its name stands for “variable compression.”
In today’s standard fixed-compression engines the ratios most commonly achieved fall into the range of 8:1 to 14:1. While these ordinary power plants may reach ratios as low as 6:1 in economy vehicles, and as high as 17:1 in power hungry muscle cars, no other type of internal combustion engine has the range that the VC-Turbo has- making it a serious achievement.
Up until now, automobile designers have always had to decide what type of performance they wanted to achieve. They then designed the vehicle around the constraints of that ratio. That’s why some vehicles are merely about-town putters, and some are strictly performance cars.
What Makes Our Variable Compression Engine So Efficient?
VC-Turbo technology is designed with multi-link, articulating parts that facilitate operation at different compression ratios, depending on driver demand. In the INFINITI engine, ratios from 8:1 to 14:1 are all accessible, giving its engine management system the ability to hit optimal range at all times.
Besides its performance range, the VC-Turbo also fits into smaller engine sizes- as small as two liters, but it turns out power equal to INFINITI’s much-larger 3.5-liter V6. Being smaller means it also saves weight. The 2.0 turbo is 55 pounds lighter than the INFINITI V6. That is the kind of improvements that have always been the stuff of auto engineer’s dreams, as advances in a vehicle’s weight are measured in right down to the ounce. According to INFINITI, the little 2.0-liter turbo produces 288 foot-pounds of torque and 268hp and is 27% more fuel efficient than a V-6 of similar output.
That is the equivalent of an engine that gets 40 mpg being upgraded to 62 mpg. That kind of efficiency is equal to a comparable four-cylinder diesel engine, with extremely low emissions, according to the manufacturer- which is surprising, to say the least- particularly when compared to soot-belching diesels.
If you think all this is impressive, consider that this technology is completely scalable, meaning it could be incorporated into other engine design types.
Available Soon at Sawgrass INFINITI
INFINITI hasn’t released the pricing for the QX Sport with VC-Turbo, but the S.U.V. the company sells now, wherein the 3.5-liter V6 comes standard has a base price of $42,600.
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