(Posted on Apr 22, 2018 at 10:00PM by Reanne Derkson)
The secret is out. By now, we have all heard about the 2019 INFINITI QX50 and its world’s-first production ready variable compression ratio engine. However, while that mouthful of words certainly does sound fancy, it’s nice to understand what it means.
For starters, this advanced powertrain utilizes what the luxury brand’s automakers call the “Harmonic Drive†— a reduction gear that rotates in order to adjust the height of the piston’s stroke according to the CR required.
Meanwhile, Electronic Valve Timing enables the machine to switch back and forth amid Atkinson and regular combustion cycles. Where the former mode is designed to provide greater efficiency, the latter is focused on power density. The ability to seamlessly transition between the two is part of what makes the VC-Turbo so special.
With two types of fuel injection — multi-point and direct — the continuously transforming motor instantaneously adapts and delivers based on driver inputs to balance both economy and performance. Thanks to this innovative mechanism, the QX50 can easily produce up to 268 HP with 288 lb-ft of torque, while still earning 24 MPG in the city and an impressive 31 mpg on the highway.