In recent years, many people must have noticed the trend of electrification in the automotive industry - in order to save energy and reduce emissions, major traditional car companies have launched new energy models. In fact, in addition to the transformation to electrification, in order to achieve "carbon neutrality", many car companies under the guidance of carbon integration policy, are also actively joining the team of optimizing and upgrading the power system, and "engine miniaturization" has become a common choice for traditional fuel vehicles.
VC-Turbo Ultra Variable Engine 300
As the quantification of small displacement of the engine becomes an irreversible trend, the technical competition around the small displacement engine is also quietly proceeding. In the recently released list of the top ten engines of the 2021 "Heart of China", there are 8 1.5T turbocharged engines on the list, which is the best proof. In the list released this time, there is a figure that attracts special attention: that is, the VC-Turbo Super Variable Engine 300 equipped with the new generation of X-Trail, with a compression ratio between 8:1-14:1 intelligent stepless variable, as well as excellent performance in terms of power, smoothness and fuel economy.
VC-TURBO Super-Variable Engine where the bull is
In July this year, a new generation of X-Trail was launched, equipped with the VC-TURBO Super Variable Engine 300. Speaking of this engine, it can actually be said that it comes with its own halo - it is a rare variable compression ratio turbo engine in the world, and the variable compression ratio turbo engine has only been installed on some models of Infiniti and Nissan. With more than 300 patented engine technologies, as well as excellent performance in engine noise reduction, vibration damping and smoothness, it has far exceeded the economy, reliability and quietness of traditional engines, and has won the title of Ward's top ten engines for two consecutive years.
For a long time, the compression ratio of fuel engines has been fixed, which means that there is an irreconcilable contradiction between strong power and fuel economy. Later, some people proposed the concept of variable compression ratio, hoping to change the compression ratio under different working conditions of the engine, taking into account the strong power at acceleration and the ultra-low fuel consumption at a uniform speed. Many internationally renowned car companies have developed it, but they have all failed.
And Nissan persevered. Since 1998, after 20 years of unremitting investment and continuous development, Nissan engineers have completed nearly 100 prototype designs, accumulated more than 300 patented technologies, and after more than 30,000 hours of test bench testing and more than 3 million kilometers of road testing, finally created the world's first mass-produced variable compression ratio turbocharged engine in 2018. This is the VC-TURBO super variable engine 300 engine equipped with the new generation of X-Trail.
Where is this engine cow? First of all, it adopts an original multi-link structure, which can realize the engine compression ratio of 8:1~14:1 intelligent stepless variable; secondly, it also applies 10 new technologies such as high-pressure in-cylinder direct injection, second-generation coated cylinder melting, high-efficiency and low-pressure EGR system, M10 ultra-high-energy ignition coil, vacuum low-pressure casting cylinder head and so on to improve engine performance and extend service life.
The 1.5T engine on the new generation of X-Trail, although only 1.5L displacement, has a maximum power of 150kW and a maximum torque of 300N m, and realizes the unity of super power and ultra-low fuel consumption. Compared with the 2.5-liter naturally aspirated engine of the previous generation of X-Trail, this engine has increased power by 13% and torque by 26%. Fuel consumption is also 24% lower than the previous generation of X-Trail 2.5L self-priming engines and 6% lower than the previous generation of X-Trail 2.0L naturally aspirated engines.
Which "black technology" has made this super-flammable power
The VC-TURBO ultra-variable engine 300 engine equipped with the new generation of X-Trail is a 1.5T three-cylinder engine, and many consumers will think that three cylinders are not as good as four cylinders when they see three-cylinder engines. But in fact, this impression is still stuck in a long time ago.
In general, the advantages of the three-cylinder engine are recognized, such as the advantage of volume space, lower fuel consumption, lower torque and greater torque, etc., and the disadvantage is that the NVH jitter noise, and because the noise mainly comes from the X-axis rotation inertia force and the reciprocating inertia force of the Y axis, it has been difficult to eradicate.
In order to solve the troubles of the traditional three-cylinder engine, the VC-TURBO super variable engine 300 uses a series of "black technology". For example, with the help of the VCT piston linkage principle, the direction of movement of the piston linkage is vertically downward, which eliminates the link of the ordinary three-cylinder engine piston linkage moving to one side to apply pressure to the cylinder wall during workmanship, thereby greatly reducing the problem of engine jitter. In addition, the balance lever is added, through the principle of eccentric wheels, matching the engine movement, adaptively adjusting the overall counterweight ratio, so that the vibration of the engine Y axis is reduced.
The new generation of CVT intelligent stepless transmission
At the same time, the new generation of X-Trail also adopts the "floating" engine suspension system to reduce the connection between the engine and the body, so that the engine and the body are in a soft connection state, which can also effectively reduce the transmission of engine vibration to the body; the matching new generation of CVT intelligent stepless transmission, but also the use of dual oil pump system, centrifugal pendulum shock absorber and other advanced technologies, and the speed ratio range from 7:1 to 8.2:1, with the characteristics of fast speed, rapid acceleration, smooth output, etc. Effectively reduces the speed fluctuation between the engine and the gearbox.
Syndyton also further isolates engine noise and tire noise by adopting front door acoustic glass, thickened front enclosure sound insulation mats, high-performance sealing structures, and an ANC active noise reduction system as standard throughout the series. Under the action of a series of technical solutions, after the launch of the new generation of X-Trail, people who have test-driven this car have found that this car is indeed quiet.
Of course, for all this, Nissan has also spent a lot of money on the new generation of X-Trail. In the past five years, Nissan's cumulative R&D funds have reached 19 billion yuan, almost from the inside out of the comprehensive innovation, from the crew compartment, chassis, as well as the powertrain, electronic / electronic control system are fully redeveloped, the design change rate reached 100%, almost like a newly developed model.
Text/Zhang Jingsong