Lotus Engineering and Siemens VDO will be jointly exhibiting a new 1.5 litre 3-cylinder force inducted hybrid engine at the 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show which should be starting any time now. The new engine combines parts from both Lotus and Siemens VDO’s parts bin, including Lotus Engineering’s previously revealed integrated exhaust manifold, a Lotus cam profile switching system, centrally-mounted Siemens VDO gasoline injectors and a new Siemens VDO high pressure fuel pump.
The two companies call the new engine the Low CO2 engine – no prizes for guessing why so. Lotus and Siemens VDO intends to reduce emissions but deliver an engaging driving experience at the same time, all using affordable, modular technologies which can easily be used to deploy a set of powertrains with low mass packages.
“It is very appropriate that some of the key features of this Low CO2 project will be on display at one of the world’s foremost automotive exhibitions. I am delighted that we are working with Siemens VDO on this very special project. Both Lotus Engineering and Siemens VDO are recognised as world experts in cutting-edge powertrain technologies and I look forward in the coming months to sharing with you the results of this incredible combination of complementary skills and technological leadership. This project is a prime example of how Lotus Engineering’s research activities, often in conjunction with globally recognised partners, are contributing to bringing to fruition a number of efficient powertrain and automotive advanced technology solutions for the future,” says Mike Kimberley, CEO of Group Lotus plc.
“The cooperation with our partner, Lotus Engineering, shows once again, that there is still a lot of potential for further innovation and development within the internal combustion engine. The combination of direct injection and turbo charging means noticeably better fuel economy and lower CO2 emissions for the Gasoline engine, without compromising driving fun. With our advanced expertise in low CO2 know-how we see clear benefits for our customers and will further strengthen and improve our role as systems integration experts,” added Dr. Klaus Egger, Siemens VDO Group VP.
More details on this new engine to come soon as details are unveiled at Frankfurt. A demonstrator vehicle with the new 1.5 litre 3-cylinder engine will be shown to the public towards the end of 2007.
Most of you may remember the Lotus NEF engine introduced in early 2006 with the Lotus APX Concept. The Lotus NEF engine is a 3.0 litre V6, so this 1.5 litre inline-3 could just be half of an NEF. The NEF was supercharged, which leads me to believe this new engine’s method of forced induction will most likely be a supercharger as well since the integrated exhaust manifold makes no mention of a turbo manifold.
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Dear Paul,
I have few questions that make me wondering:
1) What will Proton Group benefited from the project?
2) Can it be mass produced?
3) Lotus has produced new tech, but still can not be found in Proton/Lotus cars? 4) If Lotus really a high-tech co, why Proton still looking for partner?
5) Purchase & selling MV Agusta Group is the most stupid decision made by the Proton’s BOD.
6) Proton to follow Perodua’s businesss arrangement (51% owned by Daihatsu/Toyota)? Proton should think it twice.
However, I am happy what have done by the new CEO Datuk Syed Zainal, he has revamped the Co. And personally, he should have more decision power on Proton Group.
3 cylinder for 1.5…3 cylinder usually very responsive and abit rough as my 1.0 kelisa…but this one is 1.5 and i cant wait to see the result…very exciting
There’s Lotus Cars and Lotus Engineering. History would have it that Lotus used many engines from different manufacturers. They used to make their own engines for their own cars; Lotus Twincams. But they used to eat the cams a lot. Much like BMW M30s before they changed to roller cam followers. You could find a BMW, a Rover or a Toyota engine in their Elises. Then you could find a Lotus in a Vauxhall or Caterhams and of course the Tesla.
Lotus still uses Toyota engines. Although much of it is tweaked-up-beyond-any-recognition for their often reknowned power to weight ratio. It is the engineering part of their cars that defines their excellence.
But yes, it is quite often a question on the absence of Lotus engines in their cars. Quite possibly due to the volume that cannot fully satisfy the justification of developing one.
funny why it’s a 3 cylinder, its usually very hard to balance the crank causing more vibration. But proton or lotus can use a new 1.5 engine. imagine a lightweight lotus roadster smaller than an elise
lets guess what car they gonna use .
hmm…
aha… proton savvy , hahaha !
Yep, 1.5 sounds like an engine for the masses. Might go into a Proton.
HMM..SEEMS LIKE LOTUS HAS A NEW DEVELOPTMENT..PROTON SHOULD GRAB THIS CHANCES TO IMPROVE ALL KIND OF THE ENGINE..( I MEAN THE CAMPRO).. 1.5 LITERS SEEMS LIKE INTERESTING..MAYBE WILL INTRODUCE IN PERSONA 1.5..HUHU..SURE KICK THE HONA CITY N VIOS ASS..
Why a 3 cyc?
Its inherently unbalance and necessitates power sapping balance shafts to smoothen it. Now you are talkign about a relatively large 3 cyc, (500cc per cyc) Even Mitsu and Honda uses balance shafts for its 2.0L i4 (4G63 and K20a).
So where the hell did any of this new innovative technology implemented in Proton cars? Now i can only see that louzy DOHC Campro.. Where is the CPS+VIM? Even the supercharge also don’t know what doing on? Direct injection? Huh? New 1.5L, 2020 only implement in Proton ka? Huh… even the eve hybrid have to wait until 2010… haiz… Proton… >.
Hmm 500cc per cyc…just light 2.0 l4. My guess it deliver more power and torque, light weight and less economical than conventional 4 cyc 1.5 = proper 1.5 for sportscar
3 clyinder has been around, with solutions,
probally it is more in the interest of torque, as the number of clyinder getting lesser to 3 for 1500cc,
its short compact, simpler with integrated exhaust manifold (spot on turbo insert), …lighter of course,
might be useful for hybrid application, and a tidier v6 as it is modular,
and not nessesarily 1500cc ,could be varied of course,
“The combination of direct injection and turbo charging means noticeably better fuel economy and lower CO2 emissions for the Gasoline engine” said Klaus Eggar
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its clear that integrated exhaust maifold is really suitable for turbo application because it has a single exhaust outlet from the engine,
for a normally asprated this cannot be as a good performance header, .
therefore this blown light three clyinder engine is powerpacked and clean with direct injection, and with its cps to maximised its power extraction,