Engine briefs

Elsewhere in this issue, we featured, in detail, some of the new or significantly revised automotive engines for 2000. What follows are brief summaries of other interesting production units from the world's automakers covered recently in Automotive Engineering International.

Volkswagen's Lupo 3L achieves an EU combined figure of 2.99 L/100 km (79 mpg) with the help of a direct-injection, 1.2-L, three-cylinder diesel producing 45 kW (61 hp). The engine incorporates unit injector technology, regarded by VW as the most efficient injection system for this type of power unit, to increase the car's thermal efficiency by 5%. The emissions of the little diesel are 75% less than those of a conventional 1.6-L engine in terms of HC, while CO is up to 85% lower. VW claims that, for the first time on a production passenger car, the Lupo 3L undercuts the 90-g/km carbon dioxide emissions level. Efforts to cut friction losses within the engine include roller rocker arms operated by the camshaft, special alloys for the crankshaft bearings, and the introduction of a low-resistance oil. The engine's thermal efficiency is quoted as being 45%. Other VW models are expected to receive derivatives of the three-cylinder unit injector engine.