Downsizing under control

Engine control and precision are crucial as engine designers use an array of new ideas to get more power from smaller, more efficient engines.

Engine designers racing to meet new fuel-economy/efficiency goals and emissions regulations also do plenty of long-term planning. Internal-combustion engines will remain the mainstay of the industry during the foreseeable future, and it's likely that they will come under continuing pressure from regulators and consumers who are fed up with dirty emissions and high oil prices.

These consumers also want more features and more safety, which typically add weight while negatively affecting fuel consumption. Reversing those drains on fuel economy without adding emissions is forcing engineers to be creative in the mix of technologies they use.