Advanced Cylinder Deactivation Could Power the Corvette’s V8 on Only Two Cylinders

If you thought the C7 Corvette was amazing for getting about 30 miles per gallon of gasoline, then you haven’t seen anything yet!

At least that’s the word from Automotive News, which reports that General Motors is working on a new cylinder deactivation system that would shut down as many as six cylinders to increase fuel economy when the extra power isn’t required.

With ever-stricter government guidelines calling for higher and higher MPGs in the coming years, this could be the answer to keep V8 cars like the Corvette and big SUVs like the Suburban on the road.

GM co-developed the new technology with Delphi and Silicon Valley startup Tula Technologies, in which it invested in 2012.

GM says fuel economy could increase by 15 percent in cars with more than four cylinders, but in a recent highway test featuring a GMC Yukon Denali with a 6.2-liter V8, MPGs went up even more, by a whopping 21 percent. As the former owner of a gas-guzzling Denali, I welcome any news to up the fuel economy of these great, but hungry, vehicles.

The good news is that the technology doesn’t decrease power when it’s needed.

“This technology holds the potential to improve fuel economy on select GM vehicles without degrading power capability when it’s required,” Jon Lauckner, GM chief technology officer, vice president of Global R&D and president of GM Ventures, said in a statement.

Known as Dynamic Skip Fire, the system keeps the throttle open during operation and controls cylinder firing with a special valve to keep oil from going to the deactivated cylinders’ valve lifters. To avoid vibration or noise, the engine computer alternates the deactivated cylinders.

The good news, too, is that the technology would quickly pay for itself through decreased fuel consumption since it is expected to add just $300 to $600 to the cost of the vehicle, depending on the engine.

Source:
Automotive News via thetruthaboutcars.com

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