PureTech engine's third class win

An engine built by the PSA Peugeot-Citroen Group has won its class in the Engine of the Year Awards for the third year in a row, writes Brian Byrne.

The PureTech 1.2 turbo petrol engine is used in a wide range of models in the group and is produced at the Peugeot manufacturing site in Douvrin, France. It won the 1.0 litre-1.4 litre category at the 18th International Engine of the Year Awards in Stuttgart.

Further enhancements to the performance and economy of the engine, first used in 2014, are promised before the end of this year.

Official/Real fuel gap widens

A new system of officially rating automotive fuel consumption due in Europe in 2017 should reduce the gap between carmaker published economy figures and those of real world driving, writes Brian Byrne.

This move is against a background where independent tests suggest that there can be a ... MORE

New diesels from Opel

Opel has introduced a new 2.0 170hp diesel to its Insignia range at a starting price of €30,595, writes Brian Byrne.

In addition, the latest 136hp 1.6 diesel which has already been introduced in the Astra, Meriva and Zafira Tourer is now available in the Mokka small crossover.

The new Corsa also gets the 95hp 1.3 diesel in the brand's diesel range.

The new diesel in the Insignia offers 14 percent more torque and a reduction in fuel consumption to a level which rates CO2 emissions to 114g/km. Additionally, exhaust gas treatment using AdBlue cuts the emissions of nitrogen oxides.

New 3-pot coming from Volvo

Volvo is well into development of a new 3-cylinder petrol engine which will be used in its compact cars — the next V40 as well as a forthcoming XC40 crossover — and will also see service in V60 and XC60 models, writes Brian Byrne.

Though no details are available, the configuration works best at 1.2 litres and below, so it's likely to emulate in size current offerings from Ford, VW and Mercedes-Benz in this configuration.

It is reported though that power outputs of up to 180hp will be available from the unit, which will be lightweight and very efficient.

Big increase in 'fuel stretching' victims

At least 500 motorists are now believed to have had the engines of their care ruined through the 'fuel stretching' scam, writes Brian Byrne.

And, according to the journalist who brought the scam to the notice of the public, 'there's little visible activity' on the part of the authorities in trying to eliminate it.

The matter involves rogue traders adding up to 10 percent of cheaper home heating kerosene to petrol, which causes a build up of carbon in the engines, inflicting irreparable damage.

Padraic Deane, publisher of Autotrade.ie — and the Irish juror on the World Engine of the Year Awards, who highlighted the issue some weeks ago, has now increased five-fold the estimate of damaged engines, which is mainly happening to smaller engined cars because they mostly are petrol engines.

"The Revenue Commissioners, Customs and Excise and gardai have all been investigating petrol stretching," Padraic Deane says. "There is a significant fuel contamination issue, but there is little visible activity taking place to stop activity that's costing hundreds of motorists thousands of euro each in damage to their cars. If the price of petrol looks too good to be true then, in this case, it probably is."

The scam is worse in the west, border counties, and parts of the midlands, and mostly involves operators new to the petrol business who take short term leases on independent forecourts. The message is, buy from outlets run by large and established retail chains.

New diesel from Opel

Opel will showcase a new 2.0 diesel at the Paris Motor Show which provides more power, better fuel efficiency, and is quieter than the current motor, writes Brian Byrne.

The engine will debut next year in the Insignia and the Zafira Tourer, and offers a maximum 170hp compared to the 163hp of the current 2.0 CDTI.

It was developed with input from engineers in Turin, Russelsheim, and North America. The unit is the latest in a range of new diesel and petrol engines being rolled out by the GM-owned company. The Vauxhall version is pictured above.

New small diesel for next Mazda2

A new 1.5 diesel shown by Mazda at the last Geneva Motor Show will be available in the next generation Mazda2 when it gets here, writes Brian Byrne.

The brand new unit has a very low compression ratio and a very high redline for a diesel, but will comply with Euro 6 emissions requirements without exhaust after-treatment.

The 4-cylinder engine will output 105hp, and full 250Nm torque will be available from 1500rpm.

There's no word yet as to whether it will be made available in the Mazda3, which currently uses the company's 2.2 diesel.

New engines previewed by Toyota

A new generation of engines from Toyota is expected to offer fuel economy gains of up to 15 percent over the brand's current motors, writes Brian Byrne.

Using ultra-high compression ratios, improved intake systems, and incorporating the Atkinson Cycle system currently used in Toyota hybrid engines, the Japanese maker hopes to get 'a half step' ahead of its competitors in non-hybrids.

The new generation of technologies will spawn 14 new engines across the company's models by 2015. The first ones detailed are a 3-cylinder 1.0 and a 4-cylinder 1.3.

The Atkinson Cycle operates the intake valves differently, offering improved efficiency but with a reduction in power. In a hybrid that doesn't matter because the electric side of the engine package makes up for it, but Toyota say they have now successfully addressed the issue in the new petrol engines.

International Engine of the Year — the winners

Ford’s 1.0 turbocharged 3-cylinder EcoBoost petrol engine has been named the International Engine of the Year 2013, its second year win in a row, writes Brian Byrne.

Fiat’s 875cc TwinAir in Natural Power (CNG) form won the Green Engine sub-category and VW Golf Mk7’s new single-turbo 1.4 TSI ACT won the Best New Engine category. VW also won the 1.0-1.4 litre class award with its 1.4 dual-charged variant.

The BMW-PSA 1.6 litre turbo, as used most recently in the Peugeot 208 GTI, won the 1.4-1.8 litre class for the seventh year running. BMW's 2.0 TwinPowerTurbo engine took the 1.8-2.0 litre class, and Porsche’s new 2.7 was awarded the intermediate 2.0-2.5 litre spot. Audi’s 2.5 5-cylinder turbo won the 2.5-3.0 category.

Ferrari’s new 6.3 litre V12 in the F12 berlinetta won the Performance Engine of the year and Above 4.0 litre awards, while McLaren took the 3.0-4.0 litre category with its MP4-12C’s 3.8 twin-turbo V8.

More efficient engines from Volvo

V40 sips less fuelVolvo has introduced more efficient petrol and diesel engines to its V40 range, writes Brian Byrne. There are also more transmission options.

The V40 and V40 R-Design versions can now be offered in D2 engine with automatice gearbox, providing 105g/km CO2 emissions, and the V40 Cross Country has the same configuration offer with 108g/km emissions.

There's also a new 177hp 2.0 D4 diesel providing 114g/km CO2 emissions in manual and 136g/km with the automatic gearbox.

There's also a new 180hp T4 petrol engine version available on the R-Design V40, of 1.6 litres capacity and 129g/km emissions rating. Another petrol engine, the T2 with 120hp output, has CO2 emissions of 124g/km with a manual gearbox.

Cascada debuts new engines range

A 1.6 direct injection turbocharged petrol engine in the upcoming Opel Cascada convertible is the first of 13 new engines planned by the company between now and 2016, writes Brian Byrne.

The 170hp unit is the forerunner of a range between 1.0 and 2.5 litres aimed at bringing the brand's powertrains back into contention against VW and Ford engines technology.

It's hoped by Opel that the new engines will cut the average emissions from its cars by 27 percent, equating to a million tonnes less of CO2 over the next seven years.

New CVT and dual clutch automatic transmissions are also in development.

The Cascada, a medium-sized soft-top, goes on sale in some European markets this month.

Opel renewing engines range

A new 1.6 gasoline direct injection from Opel will kick off the renewal of the brand's engines range which will see three completely new engine ranges replace Opel's current power units, writes Brian Byrne.

The turbocharged engine will have a range of outputs up to 280hp which will debut in the next Astra OPC.

The compamny claims fuel consumption improvements of 13 percent compared to the outgoing 1.6 turbo, with consequent lower emissions.

Within 12 months, three petrol and diesel engine families will have been introduced.

New engine design saves fuel

A US-based engine development company has come up with improvements to the standard 4-stroke gasoline engine which provide improvements of up to 36 percent in fuel savings.

SHowing that there's a lot of life and much improvement left yet in the internal combustion engine, Scuderi Group of Massachussets applies a new thermodynamic process to the engine which is showing substantial promise in the simulations so far.

In what it calls a 'split cycle' engine system, the design involves firing after top dead centre, in the process providing more power with less consumption.

Interestingly, the engine is normally aspirated, which makes it less expensive and complicated than the current turbocharged small sized engines which many carmakers have developed.

In more detail, the Scuderi engine divides the four strokes of a combustion cycle among two paired cylinders -- the left cylinder functions as an air compressor, handling intake and compression, while the right cylinder handles combustion and exhaust.

Key to Scuderi’s split-cycle design is that it fires after top dead center. By optimizing the split-cycle concept, the engine when fully developed will reduce NOx emissions up to 80 percent and improve fuel efficiency by 50 percent, compared to a conventional gasoline engine.

The engine requires one crankshaft revolution to complete a single combustion cycle and with is projected to have higher torque, thermodynamic efficiency, and lower emissions than possible with today’s engines.

'TwinAir' 500 launched

Fiat has launched a 'TwinAir' version of its 500 in Ireland, at a starting price of €14,295.

The 2-cylinder petrol engine has an output of 85hp, and CO2 emissions of just 92g/km with the Dualogic transmission, or 95g/km with the 5-speed manual transmission.

The 875cc TwinAir engine offers 25 percent more power than the 500's entry level 1.2 petrol engine.

Mazda reveals new efficiencies

A new range of efficiency technologies developed by Mazda will underpin all the brand's models, bringing hybrid-level emissions without the need for any electric systems, writes Brian Byrne.

Under the banner of Skyactiv, the technologies include new petrol and diesel engines, more efficient gearboxes, and even lighter car construction.

The first model to benefit from these will be the next generation Mazda2, due for launch in Japan in 2011.

The Skyactiv engines include a direct-injection petrol unit with a 14:1 compression ratio, the highest ever in a production petrol engine. A similar ratio in the Skyactiv diesel engine is the lowest ever used in a production diesel.

In both cases, substantial drops in consumption and increases in power output result. In the diesel's case, a 20 percent cut in consumption and a NOx emissions performance that will allow the engine to achieve Euro 6 specifications without any expensive after-treatment.

The more efficient gearboxes will be both automatic and manual, the former putting together the best attributes of CVT and double-clutch technologies.

Peugeot, Toyota engines win categories

Peugeot's 1.6 petrol engine has taken top honours for the third consecutive year in the 1.4 to 1.8 category at the 2009 International Engine of the Year Awards, ahead of the Toyota Prius powertrain.

The 1.0 petrol engine, built by Toyota and fitted to the Peugeot 107 as well as Citroen's C1 and Toyota's Aygo, also won its category, 100 points ahead of the second placed Smart diesel engine.

Introduced in 2007 on the Peugeot 207, the 1.6 petrol engine was designed by PSA Peugeot in co-operation with the BMW Group.

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New V6 diesel from Citroen

Citroën has released first details of a 3.0HDi V6 240hp engine to be introduced to the C5 and C6 ranges.

The new engine offers more power and improved performance, alongside better fuel economy and lower CO2 emissions. Fuel economy is better by 13-17 percent and reduces CO2 by 12-15 percent, compared to the current 2.7HDi V6 208hp unit.

Fuel saving features in the new engine include a piloted alternator, which recovers energy during deceleration and braking. The engine also fully complies with future Euro V standards, ahead of the compulsory introduction to production vehicles in January 2011.

Mated to a six-speed automatic gearbox, the new engines comes with a Diesel Particulate Filter System (DPFS).

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NYC cabbies Escape fuel costs

Even at the current lower cost of fuel in New York, taxi owners who use hybrid vehicles are saving as much as $200 a week in petrol costs.

And no, they're not driving Toyota Prius or Lexus RX400h cars, mostly more humble Fords.

Yep, the big Crown Victoria sedans are still the ubiquitous mainstay cars of the Big Apple's yellow cab fleets ... but the most visible other car is the Ford Escape hybrid.

The Escape is an SUV about the size of a Toyota RAV4. Sure, it gets just a tad cramped with three in the back (a fourth passenger is allowed up front), but the cars have another advantage in that they can nimbly slip across traffic to a hailing customer more easily than the flabby Crown Vics.

NYC taxis are much better equipped than their Dublin counterparts too. The Escapes have touch-screen maps in the back linked to GPS, so passengers can both see where they're being taken and where they've been. Also you can pay simply by putting your credit or debit card in a slot. They prefer their tips in cash, though.

They still don't have electronic translators, though. A bit of a pain when so many of the drivers are men whose primary, and sometimes only, language is other than English.

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Switchable stroke engine cuts consumption

An innovative engine being developed by automotive components manufacturer Ricardo is said to offer fuel savings of up to 27 percent after initial prototype testing.



The 2/4SIGHT engine concept uses novel combustion, boosting, control and valve actuation technologies to enable automatic and seamless switching between two- and four-stroke operation.


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An advanced control system coupled with flexible valve actuation enables smooth transitions between two- and four-stroke operation without torque interruption.

The research prototype engine is based on a single bank of a 2.1 V6, intended to deliver levels of performance and driveability more usually associated with a 3.5 V8 petrol engine.


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