Once we discuss highly effective three-cylinder engines, the Toyota G16E-GTS engine is among the first engines that involves thoughts, and for good motive. It solely has 1.6 liters of displacement and a single turbocharger, but it is able to outputting 100 hp for every cylinder, but it surely’s removed from essentially the most highly effective three-cylinder to debut within the final decade or so.
In 2013, Nissan unveiled a brand new powertrain supposed to energy a novel Le Mans race automotive a 12 months later. This new system consisted of two electrical motors sourcing energy from a 12.4 kWh lithium-ion battery and a 1.5-liter three-cylinder known as the DIG-T R engine and had an output of 400 hp.
Can You Dig It
The DIG-T R engine had extra energy per kilo than a Formulation One race automotive utilized in 2013. An astonishing feat contemplating that the Formulation One automobiles of that period relied on 2.4-liter V8 engines able to outputting over 750 hp. Because the expression goes, dynamite is available in small packages and the DIG-T R is a testomony to that. Apart from solely having three cylinders and a complete displacement of 1.5 liters, the engine is just 500 mm tall, 400 mm lengthy, and 200 mm extensive, which is nineteen.68 inches x 15.74 inches x 7.78 inches. When it debuted, Nissan made the purpose that whereas it was too heavy, if 88 lbs may even be thought-about heavy for a 400 hp engine, to be introduced on an airplane as carry-on baggage, it did abide by the baggage dimension guides adopted by main airports world wide. Enjoyable reality, there’s a picture of NISMO president, Shoichi Niyatani, holding the DIG-T R engine in his arms.
The entire output of the tiny however mighty turbocharged three-pot may muster was 400 hp and 280 lb-ft earlier than its 7,500 rpm redline, and it was paired with a five-speed transmission. Nissan additionally partnered with TotalEnergies, the French multinational petroleum and power firm, to develop new lubricants and gas that have been purposed to assist extract the utmost potential of the engine. Friction, as Nissan’s International Motorsport Director, Darren Cox, mentioned on the time, was “the enemy of horsepower” and as such, Nissan determined to companion with Complete to cut back the friction within the engine. On the time, Nissan was totally invested within the pursuit of being an business chief within the discipline of downsizing and the DIG-T R engine was one in every of its steps towards that objective. Moreover, Nissan hoped to be the primary main producer to make the most of a three-cylinder engine in worldwide motorsport, and it was designed to energy the Nissan ZEOD RC Le Mans race automotive.
The ZEOD RC
ZEOD RC, brief for zero emissions on demand race automotive, was entered within the Storage 56 entry within the 2014 24 Hours of Le Mans. Being entered because the “Storage 56′ entry meant that it was an experimental challenge that was virtually exempt from the usual laws utilized to precise entries within the Le Mans 24 Hours race. The experimental hybrid race automotive was designed by Ben Bowbly, who we will attribute to the eyebrow-raising design of the ZEOD RC. Bowbly had beforehand labored on the DeltaWing race automotive used for the 2012 24 Hours of Le Mans, and easily “tailored” that design for Nissan’s Le Mans challenge automotive.
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In accordance with Bowlby, the ZEOD RC was constructed on the identical know-how utilized within the DeltaWing automotive. The 2014 24 Hours of Le Mans race can be the one outing for Nissan’s experimental race automotive. Throughout its solely real-world run, the hope was for the ZEOD RC to succeed in speeds above 186 mph and lap the Le Mans circuit powered solely by energy sourced from electrical motors. It might obtain each of those objectives however would retire early because of a gearbox failure. Whereas its run was short-lived, the teachings realized from the event of the ZEOD RC can be used for the event of Nissan’s LM P1 class entry within the 2015 FIA World Endurance Championship.
“We knew the electrical part of the Nissan ZEOD RC was definitely going to show heads at Le Mans, however our mixed zero emission on demand electrical/petrol powerplant is kind of a shocking piece of engineering. Nissan will change into the primary main producer to make use of a three-cylinder engine in main worldwide motorsport. We’re aiming to take care of our place as business leaders in specializing in downsizing. Classes realized from the event of the engine will likely be seen in Nissan highway automobiles of the longer term.” – Nissan International Motorsport Director, Darren Cox
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Lifeless On Arrival… Variety Of
Due to the similarities between the ZEOD RC and DeltaWing, DeltaWING LLC filed a lawsuit on the tail finish of 2013 towards Ben Bowlby and Nissan. The events concerned reached an settlement out of courtroom in 2016 and the phrases have been confidential. No matter authorized issues, the ZEOD RC and the DIG-T R engine by no means noticed motion after the 2014 Le Mans race. Nonetheless, though the DIG-T R engine would by no means be reborn or revived in Nissan’s fleet since then, the Japanese automaker, like a handful of different automakers, has employed a unique kind of three-cylinder engine with decrease output in its fashionable fleet.
Trendy Descendants
Whereas the DIG-T R engine hasn’t been introduced again to its full glory, the Nissan Rogue is powered by an engine with related options to the Le Mans race automotive engine. As a substitute of 400 hp and 280 lb-ft of torque, the Rogue’s three-cylinder nonetheless options 1.5 liters of displacement however is just rated for, in its strongest model, 201 hp and 225 lb-ft. The Variable Compression Turbo engine, clearly, because of the extra docile nature of the Rogue, is nowhere close to the identical efficiency customary because the DIG-T R engine.
Apart from efficiency, the DIG-T R engine was a showcase of Nissan’s pursuit of downsizing and gas effectivity that may supply perception for the LM P1 automotive that may debut in 2015 and for future highway automobiles. Based mostly purely on design, the VC engine within the Nissan Rogue is much like the DIG-T R engine, however it’s not a direct descendant of the DIG-T R engine. This engine could make the most of among the information gained from the event of the Le Mans race automotive engine.