whiterabit998

I mean with all this Ti VCT witchcraft has got to be modern technology at its finest? What can it do that previous models could not?

jdmcbride

Let me put it this way... the new 5.0 has more in common with a Ferrari V8 than Chevy's LSx.

hawkeye18

It is actually pretty remarkable. Most variable cam systems modify either the intake or the exhaust timings, but not both. This gives you a pretty good degree of variation in overlap which can help a bit, but the other side is still stationary (relative to timing). This system can modify the rotational angles of both the intake AND exhaust cams, allowing you to really change the whole character of the engine.

For example, during low-power cruising the system can close the exhaust valve late and open the intake valve early, causing exhaust gases to mingle with the fresh air and creating an EGR effect (raising temperatures to lower NoX emmissions) without any EGR gear, resulting in production and engineering savings, and not to mention a cleaner engine bay.

Another feature of this system is that it is cam-torque activated. This means that the system takes advantage of the natural fluctuations of the cams (more resistance as it's opening a valve, more torque when the valve is closing and shoving the cam lobe along) to move oil around in the actuation system. Not only does this buffer the cam, resulting in a smoother rotation and less pulsing, but it means that you don't have to have a separate oil charging/pumping system in the heads. this also saves time, cost, complexity... and it makes it easier to work on as well.

It really is a remarkable technology, and that is what allows it to have a friggin' unbelievable 83hp/l, a specific output that is far higher than both the Dodge (70hp/l) and Chevy (68hp/l) offerings. Oh and you know that Lexus LF-A? You know, the one with the incredibly advanced Yamaha V8 that is ridiculously powerful for its size?

Its specific output is 84hp/l. Chew on that for a bit.

WeinerDog

Don't Ferrari's break a lot? J/K...

hawkeye18

Hah! Yes, they did! They used to, anyway. Reliability is always an issue on a vehicle as tightly wound as a Ferrari, but believe me, their notorious reliability issues stemmed far more from Italian manufacturing principles than it did engineering values.

CliffyDeuce

Similar technology to BMW engines (Dual-VANOS) that also varies both intake and exhaust. And BMW regularly wins awards for their engines. I'm really excited to see the reviews and test drives once these hit the streets!

Cliffy

Derf00

Well, the technology itself (intake/exhaust timing, direct inject etc) has actually been around for DECADES. Only recently has there been a significant enough push in the auto industry to make many of these technologies available to the average car.

Direct Injection = circa 1925
Variable Valve timing = Airplanes circa 1920's automotive circa 1960's (honda has been using it for what...15 years now?)
Multi-valve = more than two valves per cyclinder, bugatti was using that back in the 20's
Overhead cams = Euro cars since the 20's and 30's

If you want to look at "cutting edge" technology, look at aircraft motors and in some cases f1, other than that..most of this stuff is decades old.

Rollin Thunder

That engine is amazing, Its revs change so quickly that they had to use digital gauges since analog ones couldn't keep up.

chronos

It's all Voo Doo and Witchcraft I tell you!!! Keep that Demon machine away from me!!!!



In actuality Derf00 is quite right. The auto industry is really as slow as molasses in making changes and improvements. They fight every change that comes along until it is absolutely necessary to put it to use to meet some criteria. Most modern vehicles are more evolutionary than revolutionary.