Nissan’s new petrol engine could make advanced diesel engines obsolete.
The new engine – called a Variable Compression-Turbo (VC-T), has 27% better fuel economy than previous models but provides comparable power and torque.
It’s also cheaper than today’s advanced turbo-charged diesel engines and should meet emissions rules in most countries without requiring costly treatment systems.
“We believe this new engine of ours is an ultimate petrol engine that could over time replace the advanced diesel engine of today,” Kinichi Tanuma, a senior Nissan engineer said.
James Chao, Asia-Pacific Managing Director at consultant IHS said: “Increasing the fuel efficiency of internal combustion engines is critical to automakers. Not all consumers will accept a battery electric vehicle solution. But significant challenges remain, such as increased complexity and cost, as well as potential vibration issues.”
The VC-T powertrain is expected to be officially unveiled at next month’s Paris motor show.