Infiniti Has Built A Variable Displacement Engine And It's Spectacularly Clever

The new 'VC-T' engine from Infiniti is able to alter its own compression ratio by varying the length of the piston stroke
Infiniti Has Built A Variable Displacement Engine And It's Spectacularly Clever

The idea of a variable displacement engine is something that’s been around for years. Through cylinder shutdown technology, engines like Bentley’s W12 and Aston Martin’s new 5.2-litre V12 can turn off a whole cylinder bank under certain situations, temporarily giving a smaller, more efficient engine. However, the sort of variable displacement tech Infiniti has come up is way, way more clever.

What the company’s new ‘VC-T’ engine can do is change the stroke of the pistons automatically depending on the driving situation, in the process varying the displacement and compression ratio. The con rods are made of two parts, with an actuator connected to the lower ‘multi-link’ part. An electric motor moves the actuator, raising and lowering the piston height where required.

Infiniti Has Built A Variable Displacement Engine And It's Spectacularly Clever

Using this jolly clever tech, the VC-T can have a compression ratio anywhere from 8:1 for the best performance, to 14:1 for the highest efficiency.

Power-wise we can expect around 270bhp, all while giving what Infiniti claims is diesel-rivalling efficiency. Oh, and apparently it’ll be as smooth as a V6. Those are some lofty claims, so we’re fascinated to see how this thing works in reality.

Expect the engine to replace the company’s 3.5-litre V6, making an appearance in multiple Infiniti vehicles. It’ll make its public debut at the Paris motor show.

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Comments

Anonymous

The question is, what car will they put this engine in?

08/15/2016 - 15:02 |
12 | 2
TheCopenGuy

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Something like the old G37 would be great, a Q50 coupe perhaps

08/15/2016 - 15:06 |
18 | 0
Andrea Nope

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Well, from the article, we can expect it on every car that now has a 3.5 V6.
Anyway, October is the month we will see this engine.
Another article speaks about 2018 as the date they’ll “release” this engine with their cars.

08/15/2016 - 15:09 |
16 | 0
Anonymous

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Probably start on a more economical car, something that the average person won’t abuse a lot. Use it as a test car to see how the engine holds up I would guess.

08/15/2016 - 19:41 |
6 | 0
Deadpool (Cam's much sexier twin) (Official Demon Fangirl)
08/15/2016 - 15:04 |
552 | 6

I read “multi link connecting rods” and started laughing.

I look forward to seeing the engine endurance test results.

Because science.

08/16/2016 - 05:41 |
40 | 0
Ezra Berg (1994 Buick Roadmaster) (1970 El Camino)
08/15/2016 - 15:07 |
132 | 4
Akashneel

Too. Much. Science.

08/15/2016 - 15:13 |
36 | 2
Noah Bastings

VC-T kicked in YO!

08/15/2016 - 15:22 |
270 | 2

[DELETED]

08/15/2016 - 20:22 |
0 | 12

Comment of the week right here.

08/16/2016 - 04:06 |
4 | 2

exactly! perfectly explained :D

08/16/2016 - 19:12 |
2 | 0
Anonymous

They mentioned it could be a replacement for the 3.5 v6, i think it will more likely replace the current 2.0t on the q50 and will be applied on the hatchback q30 as a sport version

08/15/2016 - 15:46 |
6 | 2
White Comet
08/15/2016 - 16:38 |
142 | 4
Anonymous

Damn, I was trying to work this out, I was getting close to this answer! Ok, maybe not quite that close, but maybe another 2 months and I would’ve worked something similar to this.

08/15/2016 - 17:07 |
6 | 0
Anonymous
08/15/2016 - 17:09 |
4 | 4
that1jzguy

Future Nissan/Infiniti guys be like:

08/15/2016 - 17:35 |
146 | 4

For performance Nissans they should make the transition rough and sudden to give a sudden ‘kick in’ feel

08/16/2016 - 08:35 |
14 | 0