World's first production-ready variable compression ratio engine

Infiniti is giving attendees of the 2016 Paris Motor Show a glimpse into automotive future, with the reveal of groundbreaking new engine technology.

Infiniti's new Variable Compression Turbo (VC-Turbo) is the world's first production-ready variable compression ratio engine. VC-Turbo technology combines the power of a high-performance 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine with the torque and efficiency of an advanced diesel powertrain - without the equivalent emissions.

Transforming on demand, Infiniti's VC-Turbo technology uses an advanced multi-link system to seamlessly raise or lower the reach of the pistons, detecting the car's driving condition and driver inputs; and instantly selecting the most suitable compression ratio.

With a development target power output of approximately 268bhp and 390Nm torque, the VC-Turbo engine will be comparable to certain six-cylinder petrol powertrains in terms of performance, while significantly outperforming them in efficiency.

The four-cylinder VC-Turbo engine achieves lower levels of noise and vibration than conventional internal combustion engines, particularly diesel, and is lighter and more compact than V6 units with comparable power outputs.

Infiniti's VC-Turbo technology marks a significant leap forward for the internal combustion engine, joining other renowned powertrain innovations such as liquid-cooling, fuel injection, catalytic convertors, and turbocharging. The arrival of the variable compression ratio engine will establish new benchmarks - for power, efficiency, and emissions - against which future powertrains will be measured.