FEV Concepts Advance Engine Downsizing, Flexibility
Mike Sutton Ward's AutoWorld, May 1, 2008 12:00 PM

As Satisfying Upcoming Fuel Economy and emissions regulations will require the internal-combustion engine to be fitted with numerous advanced technologies, FEV Inc. offered a glimpse of what light- and heavy-duty powertrains might look like in the near future.

On display at the World Congress were downsized engines such as FEV's 1.8L Spray Guided Turbo 4-cyl.

Based on an existing production block, the rest of the powerplant was designed from the ground up to optimize the benefits of gasoline direct injection (GDI), turbocharging and a raft of complementary systems, says Jochem Wolschendorf, chief technical officer and vice president-vehicle systems.

The SGT engine uses lean-burn stratified combustion vs. conventional stoichiometric operation to achieve diesel-like fuel economy in a compact package aimed at replacing larger gasoline engines, such as a 3.0L V-6. Output is 215 hp and 236 lb.-ft. (320 Nm) of torque, accompanied by a broad powerband characteristic of GDI/turbo engines.

Fuel consumption is 8%-10% less than existing GDI/turbo engines, with a carbon-dioxide output near 130 g/km in the European test cycle, FEV says. It also is flex-fuel compatible, capable of Super-Ultra-Low Emissions Vehicle status in the U.S. and easily can be configured for use with hybrid-electric drivetrains.

Making the SGT unique is its built-in electronic tunability, as well as the flexibility to be scaled either up or down in size. For optimum combustion, piezo-electric fuel injectors are centrally located in the cylinders next to the spark plug vs. a more conventional position in the side of the combustion chamber.

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