1998 engine trends - automobile engines

Automotive Industries, March, 1998

Audi continues to build its brand around 5-valve-per-cylinder engines. The costly concept is arguably successful in 12,000 rpm superbikes -- Yamaha's 5-valvers have won the Daytona 200 four times -- but Audi engineers see real advantages for induced turbulence and quicker combustion, which benefit emissions strategies.

Engine supply trends: Modular assembly of complete cylinder heads is a developing trend. Next year TRW will supply Audi's South American operation with completely machined, fully assembled heads, says Bernd Blankenstein, executive vice president of the steering, suspension and engine group. Although pre-assembled heads are not new to low-volume makers (Mahle supplies them to Mercedes' Smart Car plant), the TRW deal is for higher volumes. "We can save OEMs 20% on 200,000-unit volume, mostly capital cost," Blankenstein claims.

Modular supply of "power cells"-- complete sets of cylinder liners including pistons, rings and possibly bearings -- is another emerging trend, says Mahles U.S. marketing manager Jeff Trent. He says his company is already into the first stage, supply of pistons with AE Goertz rings, to GM's upcoming Premium V-6 program.

The "old guard" versus the "new age" describes the dynamism of automotive power plants in 1998 Gasoline versus diesel Pistons and crankshafts versus hydrogen fuel stacks and traction motors. Even those who have their professions staked on the future, like Delphi Energy's Don Runkle, are hedging their bets. "I wouldn't sell my stock in the old just yet," he advises.

After all, who knew in 1938 that the piston engine would be obsolete in combat aircraft within seven years?