INFINITI Breaks Ground With Turbocharged Engine Technology

INFINITI Grill

After almost two decades of development, INFINITI recently announced its groundbreaking new engine at the Paris auto show.

Boasting the power of a six-cylinder engine with the body and fuel economy of a four-cylinder, INFINITI is launching the world’s first production variable compression ratio engine. Called the VC Turbo, the engine is designed to offer a turbocharge of power to enhance performance and powertrain.

The 2.0-liter gasoline engine offers the fuel capabilities of a diesel motor, without the messy diesel emissions quantity.

The VC engine turbo technology is designed as a multiple linked system which changes the length of the piston stroke and amends the compression ratio. This is adjusted according to the driver’s throttle load, adjusting between optimal compression rates on a persistent basis to meet power demands. This alters the volume of the combustion chamber when a piston is at the top in comparison to when it’s at the bottom. The engine permits compression ratios from 8 to 1 for higher performance and 14:1 for greater fuel efficiency.

The engine functions so efficiently with help from an electric motor-controlled rotation unit named Harmonic Drive. This unit can change the relation between the crank shift and piston, controlling the ultimate height the piston can extend to within the cylinder. INFINITI currently holds more than 300 patents for this innovative design.

INFINITI Dashboard

With a 268 horsepower output and 288 pound-feet of torque, the VC Turbo exceeds INFINITI’s standard output of 208 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque in its current 2.0-liter, four cylinder engine models. The new engine matches some six-cylinder engines in power at a much lower fuel rate. Drivers get more bang for their buck on a more environmentally friendly engine with better gas mileage.

INFINITI claims the VC Turbo will a new benchmark for emissions, capability and power. The physical design of the engine also lays the groundwork for a smoother and quieter ride with less vibrations, similar to a V-6 engine, thanks to the formation of the engine’s internal components. The arrangement was prompted after research with the Renault Formula One team to pinpoint and then reduce vibrations in the engine and bearing design. The engine doesn’t call for any balance shafts, like the two required by a traditional four-cylinder, which creates more space for the multi-link system, enhancing its more gentle ride.

INFINITI Frontend

The VC Turbo engine was rolled out along with new INFINITI models of the QX Sport Inspiration, elegant new mid-sized SUV, and the 2017 Q50 sports sedan. The engine and new models are part of the car maker’s active strategy of innovation in the last few years. Standing at the forefront of motor vehicle development, the car manufacturing leads the field of performance and luxury at an economical price.

The VC Turbo engine will roll out in all new model INFINITI automobiles from 2018, onwards. The full range of INFINITI vehicles are available for a test drive at Louisville INFINITI.