Gasoline-fueled engines aren’t dead yet. Nissan, a leader in the all-electric movement, hasn’t lost their faith in the virtues of the classic motor configuration. Instead, the Japanese automaker is poised to introduce new internal combustion technologies expressly designed to prolong its shelf life.
Head of Nissan’s gasoline engine project group, Shinichi Kiga, says that one of their forthcoming internal combustion engine technologies is scheduled for debut in Los Angeles on Nov. 28th at a media event. The variable compression ratio system will first see its introduction via a new Infinity QX50 sport utility vehicle, although it’s likely other machines, including the Pathfinder, will benefit in the future.
The variable compression ratio system will be integrated as part of the VC-Turbo engine included under the hood of the refreshed QX50. This motor stands apart from current setups thanks to its heightened thermal efficiency, which refers to how much “oomph†a power plant produces from a single unit of fuel. Instead of the 20- to 30-percent efficiency average commonly seen today, the technology is set to deliver a maximum of approximately 40-percent.