Next-generation, clean diesel Mazda SKY-D engine

Mazda's new SKY-D clean diesel engine boasts high fuel economy and output performance as well as low emissions. The newly designed engine block reduces mechanical friction to the level of a petrol engine. By optimising the pressure and temperature in the cylinders, the shape of combustion chambers, and the fuel injection rate, combustion begins at the best timing in terms of thermal efficiency. Specifically, by employing piezo injectors, a two-stage turbocharger and other technologies, fuel economy becomes approximately 20 percent better than the current 2.2-litre diesel engine. With this engine, Mazda has achieved fuel economy equivalent to the current Mazda2 (Demio in Japan) in a larger vehicle the size of a Mazda6 (Atenza in Japan).

Next-generation, direct-injection Mazda SKY-G petrol engine

Mazda SKY-G is a next-generation, direct-injection petrol engine with significantly improved fuel economy and output performance due to enhanced thermal efficiency. The engine block is newly designed to reduce mechanical friction and achieve an optimal air-fuel mix, and a direct fuel-injection system is employed for the wide variety of spray profiles that are possible, enabling the maximum expansion ratio to be achieved. Specifically, fuel economy and torque are improved by approximately 15 percent compared to Mazda's current 2.0-litre engine. This was achieved by adopting next-generation fuel injectors and a highly functional variable-valve timing mechanism. The engine enables fuel economy equivalent to the current Mazda2 (Demio in Japan) to be achieved in a larger vehicle the size of a Mazda3 (Axela in Japan).

Next-generation Mazda SKY-Drive automatic transmission

Mazda's next-generation SKY-Drive automatic transmission is highly efficient, contributes to substantially improved fuel economy and delivers a more direct feel compared with the current unit. It improves fuel economy by approximately five percent, due to a complete redesign that significantly reduces mechanical friction, a revised torque converter and clutch with minimised slip, and an optimised lock-up mechanism. A rapid clutch action was achieved by identifying the minimum amount of fluid necessary. This also helped to realise a direct feel similar to a dual clutch transmission.

Despite reports to the contrary, and despite construction contracts being canceled by GM, spokesperson Sharon Basel told us via e-mail the General's committed to building their new 1.4-liter engine for the Chevy Volt and the turbo version for the Chevy Cruze (above) in Flint:

"Our plans to build the 1.4L Family 0 engine for the Volt and Cruze in Flint have not changed. In December we announced we would delay construction of a new plant. At that time we made decisions necessary to conserve capital. We continue to hold our timing, but yesterday it was necessary to make decisions on related construction contracts so we wouldn't incur any additional costs."

Additionally, Basel told the Flint News GM was examining all options — including using existing buildings on site.

Our take is GM's looking to cut every short-term cost possible as they try to buy time until a federal solution arises to the Carpocalypse. For the moment, the most pressing vehicle to bring to market is the Chevy Volt. Given the initial low volume, GM will import 1.4-liter engines...err..range extenders from their European plant. The Chevy Cruze has been pushed off a year, so the need for the Flint engine plant to be built right now doesn't make a whole lot of sense. Thus the delay announced late last year.

However, Flint should expect without further federal funds — or a pre-packaged bankruptcy of some sort — they won't be seeing that plant anytime soon.

This oil supposedly uses nanotechnology and dehydrogenation, whatever the hell those do, to be all green-like. It contains amino acid, plant exacts, plant-based fatty acids and non-ionic surfacants. Sounds like it would make a nice shampoo!

One appealing feature is that when it comes time for an oil change you can combine the G-Oil with Green Earth Technology's G-DISPOSOIL to ensure the oil is 100 percent biodegradable.

G-Oil also comes in a variety of weighs including 5w-20, 5w-30, 10w-30, 10w-40, 15w-40, 20w-50 and SAE-30. Man, going green is freaking awesome! [Toolmonger]

Let's just get it out of the way: Peak power occurs at 9,000 rpm, to the tune of 2,139 hp; peak torque of 1,926 ft.lbs. comes in at 7,500 rpm. Okay, breathe. With that done, we can move on. We mentioned some tricks, didn't we? How about the engine not having a single gasket? That's pretty tricky right? Moran says he doesn't really like gaskets and has had issues with them in the past, so he decided to go all o-ring for this car. That doesn't just mean little rubber bands all over the place. The craziest one lives on the fire deck and is a silver-plated, nitrogen-filled, aluminum tube ring. The nitrogen heats and expands the ring and the seal gets better and better. Wow. Custom made, auto-centering piston rings, force focusing pistons, an intake system based on exhaust flow concepts.... too much, way too much. Oh, did we mention this runs in the street legal class? No? Cause it does. [via Popular Hot Rodding]

Even though your standard Briggs and Stratton single will make more go power than this little bugger, you'd be the envy of all the other cul de sac racers with this strapped to your go-kart. Go-Kart? Who am I kidding, screw junior, slap this on your string trimmer! [wawu.edu]

We used to be avid F1 fans, attending the Silverstone Grand Prix nearly every year during our childhood. Recently, that passion has disappeared, largely because of incredibly boring races, a dearth of personality within the sport and mind-boggling rule changes. We can't help but feel that this latest policy change has completely removed the sport's last remaining point of appeal: technological development. How did we get to this point? [Via Motor Authority]
Photo credit: StuSeeger

That's, uh, me, holding the rubber engine cover. Notice the big "F" badge. Also, Packers: 7-1!

Crazy detail. Just crazy. Kids, don't try to work on this at home. That sound you hear? Danio's head popping.

And oh hell yes, Murilee and I rolled up in a Lexus Prototype at the Altamont Pumpkin Smash. That's just how we roll.

What about the Rolls-Royce/Bentley V8 as a workhorse engine of the day? It's hardly a plebian motor, but considering it can be made to pass 2009 emissions regs still pump out more power than most vehicles on the road, all while celebrating its 50th birthday, I think it's pulled its fair share of the weight...

Well put comrade, well put. The Jalopnik Politburo might have some use for you yet. As for the mighty Boxer-like 6.75-liter V8 (think Animal Farm, not Porsche/Subaru), with its "adequate" power in either normally aspirated or turbocharged form and ultra smooth operation, we award it the "50th Anniversary of Victory Medal in the Great Patriotic [Horsepower] War." Dasvedanya.

Stuttgart - The performance of a gasoline engine, the high torque and fuel economy of a state-of-the-art diesel together with extremely clean emissions: Mercedes-Benz has combined all the advantages of both engine types in its DiesOtto powertrain. The new technology package, which stands for the future of the gasoline engine, includes features such as direct gasoline injection, turbocharging and a variable compression. At the core of this innovation lies the controlled auto ignition, a highly efficient combustion process similar to that of a diesel. By way of another advantage, and in contrast to comparable developments, the Mercedes system requires no synthetic fuels but can be operated using conventional gasoline. Optimising the internal combustion engine is one of the milestones on the Mercedes-Benz roadmap for sustainable mobility. BLUETEC has already made it possible for Mercedes engineers to make the powerful and economical diesel as clean as the gasoline engine. In the US this technology has already been available in the E-Class since 2006, and it will also become available in Europe from the end of this year. The E 300 BLUETEC will be by far the cleanest diesel in its class, and will meet the requirements of the EU5 exhaust emission standards in full. "Our next goal will now be to make the gasoline engine as economical as a diesel. All the preconditions for this are provided by our DiesOtto concept, which incorporates the foremost strengths of both the gasoline engine and diesel engine," says Prof. Dr. Herbert Kohler, Head of Group Research & Advanced Engineering Vehicle and Powertrain; Chief Environmental Officer of DaimlerChrysler. The result of this " marriage " is a four-cylinder unit with a displacement of just 1.8 litres, which combines the strengths of the low-emission gasoline engine with the fuel economy of a diesel. Despite its considerably reduced displacement - downsizing is one of the major factors for achieving a lower fuel consumption - this compact power unit delivers superior performance together with refinement at the level of the luxury class. An output of 175 kW/238 hp and a maximum torque of 400 newton metres are achieved together with the hybridisation a fuel consumption of less than six litres of gasoline per 100 kilometres. This figure by no means relates to a small or compact car, but to a vehicle the size of the current S-Class, with the level of comfort and safety that is typical of a Mercedes. Mercedes-Benz DiesOtto - a further development of the spark-ignition engine " In line with the worldwide success of today's diesel engine, vehicles equipped with gasoline engines will continue to have a long-term attraction for many customers and in many markets. Accordingly we are giving our attention to both engine types - including a full hybrid option for diesel and gasoline vehicles, " says Prof. Kohler. Mercedes-Benz is working on its DiesOtto concept with corresponding emphasis. Its key technological features are as follows:

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Downsizing with fewer cylinders and a smaller displacement
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Turbocharging for superior performance
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Direct gasoline injection as a further fuel economy measure
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Controlled auto ignition, a combustion process similar to that of a diesel
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Variable valve control
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A variable compression ratio leading to even better fuel economy and, depending on customer needs and the type of operation,
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A hybrid module with an integrated starter/generator, which makes the drive unit even more economical.

When starting and under full load, the fuel/air mixture is ignited by a spark plug, as in a conventional spark-ignition engine (homogeneous combustion). The controlled auto ignition to which the DiesOtto automatically reverts within its working cycle occurs under partial load conditions, i.e. at low and medium engine speeds.
The result is the very low nitrogen oxide emissions of homogeneous combustion at reduced reaction temperatures. All further emissions control in the DiesOtto engine is by means of a standard three-way catalytic converter. A highly efficient engine management and control system has also been realised to combine the individual sub-systems into a drive concept.
The current prospects for the future of the internal combustion engine reveal its great potential, and show that the new drive concept is a feasible proposition in the mid-term. Some of the intermediate solutions incorporated, e.g. direct gasoline injection, are already in series production at Mercedes-Benz. Others will be gradually integrated into series-production engines until the overall solution has been realised.

Efficiency and Performance: New 1.4 TFSI Engine in the Audi A3

A new, ultra-modern four-cylinder TFSI engine with a displacement of 1.4 litres and turbocharger can now be ordered for the Audi A3 and A3 Sportback. The 1.4 TFSI engine delivers 92 kW (125 bhp) at 5,000 rpm. Its maximum torque of 200 Nm is available across an unusually wide speed range of 1,500 to 4,000 rpm.

Audi's engineers have long been demonstrating the effectiveness of FSI technology in combination with turbocharging both on the world's racetracks and on the road. The prime example of this is the "Engine of the Year" award with which a jury of experts crowned the 2.0 TFSI in 2007 for the third time in succession.

This concept is being consistently used once again for the new 1.4 TFSI in order to combine optimal levels of efficiency and performance. Six-hole injectors guarantee highly homogeneous mixture preparation and extremely efficient combustion. The reduction of pollutants is also aided effectively in this way.

The integrated turbocharger and modified exhaust valve timing ensure optimised responsiveness and help torque to build up even more smoothly. 80 percent of the maximum torque of 200 Nm is available from 1,250 rpm, just above idle speed. The 1.4 TFSI at the same time sets new standards in its class in terms of acoustics. The new high-tech unit from Audi can be ordered for the A3 and A3 Sportback in combination with a six-speed manual gearbox.

With a top speed of 203 km/h and acceleration from a standstill to 100 km/h in 9.6 seconds for the three-door A3, the 1.4 TFSI ensures supreme performance. Its average fuel consumption is just 6.5 litres of premium-grade fuel per 100 km.

The basic price of the A3 1.4 TFSI Attraction is 21,350 euros. The first vehicles will be available in September 2007.

When a cranial portion of the Cerberus-esque poodle we call Jalopnik was wee, he had a friend named Robert. Robert had a stupid-hot older sister named Chablis. Robert's family had a "Forget The Dog, Beware of Owner" sticker in their front window. They also had a Pomeranian named Hop Sing. And an RX-4 wagon in the backyard, along with a '53 Panhead and Robert's '70 Mini Trail. They had a Hatfield-and-McCoy relationship with the family across the street. Robert's grandparents lived down the street and had an immaculate C-Body Fury and its antithesis, a perfect pale-blue Datsun 510. And lots and lots of soda. We'd sit in the trunk of the Plymouth and drink soda. Robert's dad memorably told him that he had "starting fluid on the brain." Robert also had a Cox-powered tether-plane that nearly cut his finger off while he was trying to start it. Robert was either the unluckiest or the luckiest guy we've ever known. We miss that guy. We like to believe he grew up to be the Cooter Davenport of Klamath Falls, Oregon. And we like to think he owns every one of the wonderous one-lunged miniature miracles on the linked page. And that he still has all of his fingers. – Davey G. Johnson

Cox Engines [MH Aerofoils]

Related:
World's Smallest Supercharged V8 Engine — Now With Details! [Internal]

Direct Injection Connection [The Flint Journal]

Related:
Sportomatic! Next Porsche 911 to get DSG, Direct-Injection

Honda's CEO, Takeo "The First Person to Call Me Dr. F Loses an Eye" Fukui says the company is working up a clean diesel V6 that will likely power the Honda Pilot and Acura MDX, AutoWeek reports. The prospective V6 is the second of Honda's new diesel engines to come to light, the first being a 2.2-liter four set to arrive in 2009, potentially in the Civic and CRV. In the same interview Fukui also said the company's recent move to turbocharge its new RDX may trickle down to Honda brand products, which may finally vindicate the kids with boost gauges sprouting from their Civics' A-pillars like weird, analog fruit. – Mike Spinelli

Honda developing diesel V6 [AutoWeek]

Related:
Honda's Oil Burner Is Nigh: Clean Diesel Coming by 2009 [internal]