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Combination two/four-stroke engine concept claimed to dramatically cut fuel costs by switching between modes nears production stage. Siobhan Wagner
A combined two/four stroke car engine that could deliver major fuel economy and emissions benefits is nearing production readiness after three years of testing, according to its UK-led development team.
The 2/4SIGHT concept engine is designed to automatically switch between two and four-stroke operation by using advanced combustion, boosting and control systems that can deliver high performance from a smaller unit.
Prototype testing showed that a 2ltr V6 2/4SIGHT engine could match the driving characteristics of a conventional 3.5ltr V6 claimed Ricardo, the UK automotive technology group leading the project.
This would translate into 27 per cent fuel savings and a cut in emissions of 70g/km, said the company.
The 2/4SIGHT project - which was first revealed in The Engineer in 2004 - could now enter commercial production in as little as a year if the automotive industry is sufficiently impressed by the concept.
Neville Jackson, Ricardo's technology director, said the...