Nissan recently announced a range of new fuel-saving technologies that it plans to launch over the coming year as part of its new ‘Nissan Green Program 2010’ (NGP 2010) mid-term environmental strategy. The new technologies, in addition to its all-electric Leaf, focus around improving engine and transmission efficiencies and include things like hybrid drive and engine stop-start systems as well as brake-energy and heat-energy recovery devices.
One of the most innovative technologies is a dual injector engine, which Nissan is launching in its new Juke crossover in Japan this week. The new engine is a four-cylinder design that displaces just 1.5-liters and is claimed to be the world’s first mass produced engine of its type.
According to Nissan, the addition of dual injectors stabilizes combustion by reducing the size of the particles sprayed in the form of a mist by approximately 60 percent. Improved thermal efficiency and reduced inhalation resistance have been achieved by combining the injectors with Continuously Variable valve Timing Control (CVTC), which continuously changes the opening-closing timing of the inlet and exhaust valves.
As a result, fuel economy has been improved by approximately 4 percent compared to a similar sized engine with a more conventional design. In addition, more efficient burning helps to control the level of harmful emissions in the exhaust.
Sadly, this engine is not destined for U.S. versions of the Juke that will be arriving later this year. Instead, we’ll get a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine with around 180 horsepower and 170 pound-feet of torque on tap.
[Nissan]
