The VC-Turbo, the world’s first variable compression ratio engine, has been recognized with high scoring results at The International Engine + Powertrain of the Year Awards.
The 272PS VC-Turbo was recognized in two key categories: 250PS to 350PS, and Best New Engine, competing with the best the automotive industry has launched this year.
The groundbreaking engine is able to intelligently switch between compression ratios of 8:1 (for power) and 14:1 (for efficiency) in just over a second. It can also operate at any ratio between the two, to suit the demands of the driver and road conditions.
“Aside from gaining a big advantage over rival brands with this technology, INFINITI and Nissan might just have saved the internal combustion engine as we know it,” said Dean Slavnich, co-chairman of the awards. “And in doing so, it has secured their own future too, because innovation brings success.”
The awards jury is made up of 70 automotive journalists representing 31 countries and many more publications, highlighting the global impact VC-Turbo has made.
The VC-Turbo engine is a world-first technology described by media as the “Holy Grail” of automotive engineering. The technology is seen as a bridge to electrification for INFINITI, as the company moves to revealing an electrified product portfolio within the next few years.
The engine was brought to market in the INFINITI QX50, a premium midsize SUV with standout design and unrivaled interior space, on an entirely new platform.
“Variable compression ratio technology represents a breakthrough in powertrain development,” said Michael Colleran, deputy chairman of INFINITI Motor Company. “The QX50, powered by the VC-Turbo, is the first production vehicle ever to give drivers an engine that transforms on demand, setting a new benchmark for powertrain capability and refinement, so customers can have the best combination of power and efficiency.” The QX50 is a stunning midsize SUV with technology and utility that customers around the world appreciate.” A 2.0-liter turbocharged and intercooled engine, the VC-Turbo is the result of more than 20 years of ingenuity and passion within Nissan Motor Co. More than 100 development engines were created in the development process and, at one point, the highly advanced work came to a halt as the computer power needed to finalize the design was not available. When computers caught up with the engineering dream, VC-Turbo became a reality.