Development of a New Generation V8 Engine with Variable Valve Event and Lift

This paper describes a new 5.0-Liter V8 engine, VK50VE, which was developed for the use in the Infiniti FX50. The VK50VE engine is a new generation V8 engine that achieves both higher WOT performance and better fuel economy than the previous VK45DE for FX45 with the mechanism that can continuously control both lift and event angle of the intake valve (VVEL) and hydraulic variable valve timing control system equipped to both intake and exhaust camshaft (dual VTC).

Furthermore, by optimization of valve timing with VVEL and dual VTC, this engine achieves improved emission performance over the previous VK45DE.

This paper provides technical details of the VK50VE engine and the newly developed strategies to improve engine behavior with VVEL and dual VTC system.