There's no doubt that there are a lot of advances in powertrain technology that will improve the efficiency of vehicles over the next few years. There are near-term features like direct fuel injection, turbocharging and dual clutch transmissions. Other features like start stop systems and electrification of accessory drives will help too. The problem is these features all add cost to the vehicle. If consumers don't buy vehicles equipped with this kind of technology, there is no net benefit. Ernie DeVincent VP of Getrag spoke at the SAE World Congress this week and said that automakers have to do more than just put the new features on vehicles, they have to market it as well. New technology has always been something that has helped sell vehicles and it's more important than ever now. While some of changes may not provide as much improvement as a diesel or full hybrid system, their lower cost means that far more buyers can afford it. The aggregate improvement from 7-8 million vehicles a year with a 15 percent improvement in efficiency is far greater than 300,000 cars that get a 30 percent boost.

[Source: Ward's Auto World]

Until electric cars and their associated technologies (motors, batteries, controllers etc.) become mainstream, the internal combustion engine will need to be further refined in order to meet upcoming fuel economy requirements and current emissions regulations -- while still producing the power that consumers have come to expect. HCCI is one technology currently being developed to make these goals possible, while direct injection and turbocharging are simply becoming quite common.

Ricardo has developed a new prototype engine called 2/4SIGHT which could give HCCI a run for its money. An engine equipped with this new system is capable of running on either the 2 or 4 stroke engine cycle, allowing their V6 test-bed to be downsized from 3.5 liters to 2.0 liters while making the same power output. This downsizing leads to a 27 percent reduction in fuel consumption and correspondingly lowered emissions.

Ricardo believes that their 2/4SIGHT technology will be cost effective and easy to package for vehicle use. A video of the test engine switching from 2 to 4 stroke can be seen here.


[Source: Ricardo]

From time to time, technology has the ability to both improve the specific power output of an engine while also reducing its emissions. Such is the case with direct injection, so we are not surprised to hear that the high-performance tuning arm of Mercedes Benz, AMG, has decided to implement it on their line of engines. Another possible performance-generating and emissions-reducing technology lies with the electric motor, which makes up half of a hybrid drivetrain. While the idea of an AMG hybrid may sound odd at first, remember that electric motors can offer up large quantities of torque just off idle, allowing engineers to make a free-breathing, high-RPM engine without sacrificing around-town drivability.

While stop/start technology does not improve performance, it is an easy-to-implement technology which will further reduce the emissions while increasing the fuel efficiency of whatever car it is applied to. So, AMG is also considering fitment of this hybrid-staple as well. These types of inclusions will likely saturate the performance market soon enough as these automakers will be forced to comply with the same regulations as their lesser-performing counterparts. If AMG does decide to go green, expect to see the fruits of their labor around the year 2012 or so.

Related:

• Mercedes could be jumping into the high-performance diesel race with AMG

[Source: Inside Line]

Click the 9-4X for a high-res gallery

Several months ago word started circulating that Saab was working on a new crossover that would share a platform with a similar vehicle from Cadillac. We still haven't seen the Cadillac but spy photos of a mule with a Chevy Trailblazer body shell and Saab 9-7x front clip combined with a shortened wheelbase have been seen on several occasions. Now just in time for the North American International Auto Show we have the Saab 9-4x BioPower concept.

As the name implies, this new crossover is propelled by one of Saab's BioPower flex-fuel engines. Ethanol has been gaining in popularity as a motor fuel in Saab's home country of Sweden and the GM division has been pushing it hard. Both the 9-3 and 9-5 are available in BioPower editions which is Saab's way of saying flex-fuel power-trains. The 9-4X concept is an all-wheel-drive CUV that gets motivation from a 2.0L turbocharged four cylinder and we've got the full story after the jump.

[Source: Saab]

Along with seemingly every other automaker in the European market, Volvo is set to expand the special branding that indicates the most efficient models in each of their lines. While Volkswagen has chosen to go with the more abstract BlueMotion label and Ford is mashing up words to create ecoNetic, Volvo is keeping it simple with Efficiency. The C30 Efficiency drops into the UK market in 2008 with a CO2 emissions rating of 119 g/km and 52.2 mpg (US) from its 1.6L diesel engine. Helping the new C30 achieve these numbers will be the the usual aerodynamic tweaks and a new dual clutch transmission that will also see duty in other Ford models soon. Other Efficiency models will be getting a new 2.0L diesel along with direct-injected gas engines when they hit the streets in the near future.

[Source: Motor Authority]

We've featured Orbital Corporation and their unique engine technologies before. It turns out that one of those technologies allows a four-stroke engine to run on multiple different fuels. Polaris, the manufacturer of snowmobiles, ATV's and Victory motorcycles is using this technology in their Patriot engine. This engine is designed to use military-grade JP8 fuel, but is also capable of running on regular diesel or even gasoline. The technology in use is reportedly similar to HCCI, but is apparently somewhat different. The fuel is directly injected into the combustion chamber along with a low-pressure stream of air. Orbital is calling the system air assisted direct injection. Orbital claims that an engine using their technology can reduce fuel consumption by 20 percent while still achieving Euro III emissions standards.

The Patriot engine is available in Polaris' MV800 ATV, which was developed for the military. The engine is 760ccs and produces 40 horsepower. Take a look at the press release after the break.

Related:

• Adding E100 to the turbo-direct-injection mix could greatly improve efficiency
• Bajaj auto-rickshaws to get fuel injectors for LGP, CNG models

[Source: Polaris via The Kneeslider]

There are many who question whether or not small-volume or high-performance manufacturers should be held to the same emissions and fuel economy regulations as the larger automakers. Ferrari qualifies as both a small-volume (though getting larger) and a (very) high performance company. Indeed, the Italian maker of sports and racing cars is quite concerned with legislation which could make it impossible to sell their current line of vehicles, and they are looking at direct injection as a means to improve fuel economy and reduce emissions. We have covered some of the other more radical concepts they are looking at in their Millechili concept car.

Audi could be considered the current market leader when it comes to direct injection, which is why Ferrari is benchmarking them when it comes to the design of their new fuel system. Ferrari is working with Bosch as well, as they have experience working with Audi on their FSI direct-fuel injection system. You might recall that direct injection was one of the methods that we highlighted as a potential fuel-saving and emissions-reducing technology last month, and Ferrari apparently agrees. As a bonus, direct injection will add a 'cavallino rampante' or two to Ferrari's engines, which is something that they are always looking to do anyway.

Related:

• What's next for the Ferrari Millechili eco-friendly concept?
• The Ferrari Mille Chili eco-concept - picture and details inside!

[Source: Autocar via Autoblog]