Infiniti has revealed the new 2019 QX50 SUV, the first vehicle in its lineup that will take advantage of new engine technology that will bring up to a 35% boost in fuel economy over the outgoing version.
The unveiling, taking place ahead of the Los Angeles Auto Show, was meant to showcase a new SUV that it says is both a styling and technology statement.
The QX50 was created for roominess and a high seating position, Infiniti says. And it will include Infiniti’s latest driver-assist technologies.
But what makes the new QX50 stand out is its variable-compression engine, a technology that Infiniti says it is first to bring to production.
VC-Turbo, as Infiniti calls it, varies the compression in the cylinders based on driving conditions to save gas. As a result, Infiniti says its new 2-liter gas engine will have the same efficiency of a four-cylinder diesel engine.
Compression ratios will vary from 8:1 for power to 14:1 for economy. It is expected to deliver 27 miles per gallon overall, a 35% improvement over the outgoing V-6 in front-wheel drive. For all-wheel drive, the new VC-Turbo should be about 30% better. The engine is linked to a continuously variable transmission.
Courtesy US Today
