When the next-generation Infiniti QX50 crossover arrives next year as a 2019 model, it will be powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder unit introducing a technology never seen before in a regular production vehicle: a variable compression engine.

Under development at Nissan for 20 years, the – Variable Compression -Turbo engine – or VC-T – has a device that changes the distance the pistons travel in their cylinders by as much as 6 mm, or about a quarter of an inch.

It’s an idea that automakers, such as Saab, and engine developers, including AVL, have tried to perfect over the years. The reason: Varying the compression ratio has the potential to offer dramatic improvements in power and efficiency.

Read the full article from Automotive News here.