Infiniti's Variable Compression Engine is the Chameleon the World Wants

by Steph Willems

Published: August 15th, 2016

infiniti s variable compression engine is the chameleon the world wants

Infiniti has a revolutionary new engine in the works that’s both a high-compression mileage-maker and a low-compression pavement burner, giving drivers the option of being lean or mean at any given time.

The world’s first variable compression engine, dubbed the VC-T, ate up 20 years of design work before Infiniti went public with its achievement. The automaker plans to unveil the revolutionary engine next month, at the Paris Auto Show.

VC-T (Variable Compression-Turbocharged) is two engines in one. The 2.0-liter turbocharged mill is able to change both its compression and its displacement at will, depending on the type of driving required.

The VC-T’s Jekyll and Hyde personality is the latest leap forward in gasoline engine efficiency and powerplant versatility. By raising and lowering the height of the pistons’ reach, the engine allows for low-compression (8:1) cruising under light loads, and high-compression (14:1) performance.

“It is a revolutionary next-step in optimizing the efficiency of the internal combustion engine,” said Infiniti president Roland Krueger in a statement. “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.”

Infinity claims the technology improves fuel economy, lowers noise and vibration levels, and allows for a smaller, lighter engine.

Performance specifications and mileage estimates should drop at the engine’s September 29 unveiling, but rumors about the mill’s output already abound. Several media sources put the VC-T’s power between 265 and 270 horsepower. Expect to see the new engine offered in the 2018 QX50.

#2018InfinitiQX50 #Engines #FuelEconomy #Infiniti #Technology #VariableCompression #VariableDisplacement #VC-T

Steph Willems

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4 of 54 comments

Sportyaccordy on Aug 16, 2016

My inner geek is screaming with glee My inner pragmatist is likening this to the toilet machine from the Simpsons Australia episode. People dump on the Prius, but you scale that thing's powertrain up and you get the RX350h, which makes more power/torque than this thing and by Nissan's own estimates still gets significantly better gas mileage for what I imagine is much less cost. Someone needs to answer the question of why manufacturers are rushing to turbos when hybrids are the clearly superior solution.

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- Snail Kite on Aug 16, 2016
  
  This is still way cheaper than adding a battery, motor, all of the electronic hardware to control them. Plus there are no design compromises from having a big battery. This may be new, but 4 cylinder engines have added valve control, balance shafts, direct injection, and turbocharging and still remained economical. I don't see why this would be any different.
  
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- Ajla on Aug 16, 2016
  
  @Snail Kite Is this thing going to be faster or more efficient than the current Infiniti hybrid offerings (which use an older system in the first place)? Infiniti is still ostensibly a "luxury" brand so it would be nice if they didn't just settle for "it's way cheaper". I don't think the best solution for an Altima SL should be the same for the Q50.
  
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Lost on Aug 16, 2016

I wince at the picture thinking the mechanism will break. And turbo chargers offer variable compression as needed.

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