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Lotus Engineering and Continental Division Powertrain have just posted the results of a Low CO2 research project, involving an Opel Astra equipped with a new prototype inline-3 1.5 litre pressure-charged engine.
The test engine was an inline-3 1.5 litre engine with a power output of 160 PS at 5,000rpm and torque output of 240Nm between 2,500rpm and 4,000rpm, equipped with the following specifications:
- integrated exhaust manifold
- forced induction (probably supercharging because of the IEM)
- 10.2:1 compression ratio
- centrally-mounted direct injection 200 bar injectors from Continental
- a cam profile switching system for lift and timing also found in Porsche’s Variocam Plus, apparently available off the shelf if any manufacturer wants it
- a 200 bar high pressure fuel pump
- a mild hybrid drive using a 12 kilowatt electric motor powered by energy stored in 60v supercapacitors
The result is a CO2 output of 149 g/km CO2, compared to a stock Opel Astra’s 1.8 litre normally aspirated inline-4′s 175 g/km CO2. The Low CO2 project engine produced less emissions, yet produced more power as the Opel’s engine only produced 140 PS and 175Nm of torque.
The Low CO2 project aimed to reduce CO2 emissions while maintaining an engaging driving experience from a set of off the shelf affordable technologies.
Forced induction combined with direct injection is the usual way to achieve these in modern days, but Lotus Engineering wants to demonstrate these technologies can be added to an engine with relatively economical off the shelf components. A 1.5 litre inline-3 sounds like half of a Project NEF engine, which was a supercharged 3.0 V6, so this could have also been demonstration of the modular design of the NEF.
After dabbling for years in the IT industry, Paul Tan initially began this site as a general blog covering various topics of personal interest. With an increasing number of readers paying rapt attention to the motoring stories, one thing led to another and the rest, as they say, is history. An avid electronic gadget aficionado as well as big-time coffee lover, he's also the executive producer of the Driven motoring TV programme.
160ps…
Amazing…
The question is, what is the manifold integrated with? The head or the pressure unit.
With an integrated exhaust manifold, its more likely to be Turbocharging.
This is not new though, the SRT4 Neons had the same concept…much to the chagrin of aftermarket tuners.
wow that astra look very beu………
yeah that’s alot of power for a 1.5 litre engine.. 160ps?
aiyo cannot wait for transfer technology to CAMPRO
integrated exhaust manifold, seemed end up wiith single outlet, which actually make easy if turbo applied,
but it seemed that it gives a bit extra heat for engine cooling system which id say , more tailored for european climate i guess, with this IEM,
drawback is ,its a non high end header,if its a NA engine, or supercharged,
type of forced induction is depend of lotus philosophy towards power enhancemet , which other factor to be taken into consideration,
good thing save material, no heavy iron exhaust manifold, simplified manufacturing
my assumption is,
-it tailored for european, for cooler climate, (the fast warming engine cooling system)
-turbo, seemed to benefit this kind of setting,
-supercharger another good option, (even high end exhaust header)
-there is a posibility the use of valve throtteling, since its part of lotus development,
anyway proton can be selective to the technology offered by lotus to enhance engine efficiency, ..for next
supercharger another good option, (even high end exhaust header)
—————————correction
supercharger another good option, (even without high end exhaust header)
hmmm nice astra
its impressive but i dis like car has 3 or less cylinders car , it felt so unbalance
next year its called campro co2