Our Taizhou manufacturing plant has switched to biogas, making it our first plant in China toobtain climate-neutral standing.The plant’s swap from pure fuel will end inadiscount of greater than 7,000 tonnesof2per yr.
Despite being a small share of our wholeScope 1-3 emissions ofmillion tonnes, securing climate-neutral vitality for our Taizhouplantisan necessary stepin direction of our aim ofhavinglocal weather–impartial manufacturing operations by 2025 and lowering emissions throughout our international operations.This ambition isadditionallya part of our broader purpose to succeed in web zero greenhouse fuel emissions by 2040.
Just like all our manufacturing crops worldwide, the Taizhou plant already used climate-neutral electrical energy, and this newest transfer makes positive that it additionally has climate-neutral heating.It’sour secondautomotiveplant globally to turn into local weather–impartial afterourTorslandafacility inGothenburg, Sweden.
“We’re acting fast when viable climate-neutral energy alternatives become available,” says Javier Varela, Chief Operating Officer and Deputy CEO at Volvo Cars. “The switch to biogas at our Taizhou plant demonstrates how each of our manufacturing locations acrossthe globeis developing its own climate-neutral energymix, based on what’s available in the region.”
Our Taizhou plant’s vitality provideincludesof electrical energy and heating. Itproduces round 40 per cent of its electrical energywantfrom on-site photo voltaic panels – a share that’s set to broaden within the coming years. The remaining 60 per cent, which comes from the grid,can beclimate-neutral electrical energy from solar.Itsheatingwant is, with this newest swap, met byutilizingclimate-neutralbiogas.
Volvo Carsrecently expanded our sustainability strategywithnew bold objectives for the approaching years. Ournewpurpose to succeed in zero greenhouse fuel emissions by 2040 builds onourpreviousambition of being local weather impartial by 2040. It clarifiesthatourfirstpriorityisto cut back actual emissions earlier than turning to carbon removalsto mitigate any unavoidable emissions. We are additionally encouraging our suppliers to do the identical.
Since the discharge of our firm’s first sustainability technique in 2019, we now have made good progressin direction of our local weather motion targets. On high of lowering CO2emissions from our whole operations by utilizing 74per centlocal weather–impartial vitality,we’re additionally progressing properly in direction of our2goals.
Volvo Cars in 2023 For the total yr 2023, Volvo Car Group recorded a record-breaking core working revenue of SEK 25.6 billion. Revenue in 2023 amounted to an all-time excessive of SEK 399.3 billion, whereas international gross sales reached a file 708,716 automobiles.
About Volvo Car Group Volvo Cars was based in 1927. Today, it is without doubt one of the most well-known and revered automotive manufacturers on this planet with gross sales to clients in additional than 100 international locations. Volvo Cars is listed on the Nasdaq Stockholm change, the place it’s traded underneath the ticker “VOLCAR B”.
“For life. To give people the freedom to move in a personal, sustainable and safe way.” This goal is mirrored in Volvo Cars’ ambition to turn into a completely electrical automotive maker by 2030 and in its dedication to an ongoing discount of its carbon footprint, with the ambition to be a climate-neutral firm by 2040.
As of December 2023, Volvo Cars employed roughly 43,400 full-time workers. Volvo Cars’ head workplace, product growth, advertising and marketing and administration capabilities are primarily positioned in Gothenburg, Sweden. Volvo Cars’ manufacturing crops are positioned in Gothenburg, Ghent (Belgium), South Carolina (US), Chengdu, Daqing and Taizhou (China). The firm additionally has R&D and design centres in Gothenburg and Shanghai (China).
Modifying – fixing, enhancing, making extra obnoxious – automobiles within the UK has been alive and effectively since, mainly, the invention of the automobiles.
The first Japanese car sold in the UK got here in 1965. But it took one other 15-20 years earlier than the modification of Japanese automobiles turned ubiquitous within the automobile scene.
And since then, regardless of the approaching and going of the Max Power period, the Japanese automobile modification scene remains to be alive and effectively.
Young individuals proceed to get entangled within the Japanese automobile scene and spend their time, effort and cash on personalising the look and efficiency of their automobiles.
Models such because the Mazda MX-5 have turn into a go-to automobile for these younger fans whereas blue-chip collectors have began hoarding Nissan Skylines and Honda NSXs.
JDM – a newbie’s information
Japanese producers tended to supply particular variants only for the Japanese market, which have been then imported by fans all all over the world. These automobiles have been particularly referred to as JDM (Japanese home market) automobiles.
These JDM automobiles differed from the worldwide export fashions in a number of methods, starting from totally different trim ranges to variations within the efficiency.
The craze for Japanese automobiles typically and JDM automobiles particularly grew within the Nineteen Nineties and early 2000s, with video video games, motion pictures and motorsport highlighting the uncooked efficiency and customisation choices accessible for them.
One of essentially the most well-known film automobiles throughout that interval was the Nissan Skyline R34 GT-R from 2 Fast and a pair of Furious, utilized by Paul Walker’s character within the opening few scenes of the film.
Similarly, the Gran Turismo sport acquired children concerned within the JDM automobile tradition very early on and these children now have a tendency to understand and purchase the automobiles they used to play with within the sport.
Why the modification scene remains to be sturdy at present
We had the chance at Japfest 2024 to meet up with just a few individuals who grew up in that period.
The occasion attracted greater than 3500 automobiles and round 20,000 spectators to Northamptonshire from all around the nation for a day devoted to the best automobiles from the land of the rising solar.
Japanese automobile tradition has all the time been churning within the background and this occasion has highlighted the enormity of it. The automobiles displayed had one thing for everybody, starting from kei automobiles to 1000-horsepower Nissan GT-Rs.
Matt Hamlett, 31 years previous and a Japfest veteran, turned as much as this 12 months’s occasion in his Bayside Blue Nissan Skyline R34 GT-R V-Spec version and immediately drew a crowd.
He has been an everyday at these occasions for greater than a decade and his love for Japanese automobile tradition is represented in his storage, which homes a Subaru WRX STi (blob-eye) Prodrive version, R35 GT-R and a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 9, together with the R34.
If DIY initiatives don’t excite you however are nonetheless looking for a reasonable, secure, and easy solution to view the eclipse, making a easy pinhole projector is probably your greatest wager. The benefit of this technique is its sheer simplicity. All it’s essential to have in your possession are two sheets of white card inventory (or two sheets of plain white paper), a small sheet of aluminum foil, tape, and a pointy object like a pin, paper clip, or pencil.
To make your easy pinhole projector, seize one of many card shares, fold it in half, and reduce a small 1-inch (or 2-inch) gap at its heart. Now, take the aluminum foil and canopy the aforementioned gap utilizing it. Use the tape to stay the foil to the cardboard inventory. Now, take the sharp object you have got chosen and pole a small gap proper by means of the aluminum foil. All it’s essential to do now could be place the second piece of card inventory onto a flat floor on the bottom. If it is a windy day, you possibly can additionally tape the paper to the bottom so it would not flutter round.
To venture the picture of the solar onto the cardboard inventory on the bottom, stand with the solar behind you and maintain the primary piece of card inventory with the aluminum foil and the opening above the cardboard caught to the bottom. If aligned appropriately, it’s best to see a picture of the solar projected onto the cardboard inventory positioned on the bottom. With this method, you can also make the projected picture larger by growing the gap between the 2 card sheets.
High-performance enjoyable now not requires making compromises. Automakers are cramming large quantities of energy into their massive household crossovers and SUVs, and you may watch two potent haulers—a BMW XM and a Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT—battle for supremacy in a brand new drag racing video.
Neither automotive is inventory, with the BMW that includes a tune. The plug-in hybrid SUV packed a twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 that makes a mixed 738 horsepower and 738 pound-feet of torque in its normal kind. However, it churned out simply over 800 hp on this battle.
It’s went up in opposition to the less-powerful Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT. It had downpipes, cranking out 650 hp and 625 lb-ft of twist. Both SUVs fought with eight-speed gearboxes and all-wheel drive, however the XM was a beefy boy at simply over 6,000 kilos. The Cayenne Turbo GT was almost 1,000 lbs lighter.
It didn’t beat the Porsche in any of the races, struggling to get off the road when the tree went darkish. But the BMW did full the quarter-mile faster than the Porsche within the first run, returning an 11.371-second time at 124.08 mph. The Porsche did it in 11.621 seconds at 118.67 mph.
The second race was nearer, however the Porsche achieved a real victory with its 11.168-second time versus the BMW’s 11.354. The third race was the identical, with the Cayenne needing 11.216 seconds to the XM’s 11.263-second time.
Koenigsegg’s three-cylinder Gemera boasts 1,700 horsepower and a couple of,581 pound-feet of torque, making it probably the most highly effective in its class.
The revolutionary twin-turbo setup and FreeValve know-how contribute to the Gemera’s spectacular efficiency and effectivity.
Koenigsegg’s subtle torque-vectoring system and all-wheel drive capabilities improve dealing with and traction in varied driving circumstances.
While commuter automobiles and small tuners might come to thoughts when discussing three-cylinder engines, just a few manufacturers choose to see simply how far trendy efficiency tech and engineering will permit the small engine to go. This has led to turbocharged and race-tuned three-cylinders finding a home in today’s sports cars. However, there ar sure manufacturers that select to develop upon the superior parts accessible to create an indomitable automobile that gives a glimpse into the way forward for efficiency and effectivity.Koenigsegg, a well known Swedish efficiency model, is revered for creating some of the world’s fastest, most advanced vehicles, usually dubbed hypercars or supercars. While within the firm of different unique manufacturers, together with Lamborghini and McLaren, Koenigsegg manages to face out because of the exclusivity and creativity of each mannequin. These fashions embrace the Regera, Jesko Attack, and One:1, to call just a few icons.More curiously, they’ve created a novel system that extracts a whopping 600 horsepower and 443 pound-feet of torque out of a small three-cylinder engine. Though this can be noteworthy by itself, there may be extra to the story that makes this explicit engine, and the automobile that homes it, a really intriguing automobile, to say the least. Superior tech and next-level engineering have allowed Koenigsegg to safe the “world’s most powerful” title within the three-cylinder class. What they did subsequent can solely be described as ludicrous.
In order to provide the latest and correct data potential, the information used to compile this text was sourced from varied producer web sites and different authoritative sources, together with Koenigsegg and Motor Trend.
The Worlds Most Powerful Three Pot Is Aided By An Ingenious E-Tri-Motor System
To begin, the Koenigsegg’s three-cylinder engine, often called the TFG (tiny pleasant big), is, by itself, the world’s strongest three-cylinder mill and is discovered within the stunning Gemera mannequin. Though it would not actually be a supercar mill with out some spectacular stats, which is the place the engineering and automotive developments enter the story. Surrounding the three-cylinder TFG are two Koenigsegg, in-house designed Dark matter e-motors that ship energy to the rear wheels by way of a single-speed gearbox, every good for 500 horses and 738 pound-feet of torque. If we preserve depend of the horsepower, that is a mixed 1,600 horsepower. But wait, there’s extra!Located on the finish of the TFG’s crankshaft sits one other Dark Matter electrical motor that produces a further 400 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque. The third motor and three-cylinder engine ship energy to the entrance wheels solely, granting the Gemera the title of Koenigsegg’s first all-wheel drive automobile. We’re now at a mixed 2,000 horsepower and a couple of,288 pound-feet of torque. Suffice to say, this setup is among the many strongest in any road-going automobile so far, and is unquestionably probably the most highly effective with three cylinders.The TFG additionally grabs the title for many highly effective 2.0-liter engine in manufacturing. This is little question attributed to its massive bore and stroke, that are 95mm and 93.5mm respectively. The Gemera’s cylinders are literally bigger than Koenigsegg’s 5.0-liter V-8, dealing with 200 horsepower per cylinder because of the massive displacement. That’s 2.5-times greater than the following highest rated three-cylinder.
The Gemera’s Real-World Numbers
The Koenigsegg Gemera is likely one of the firm’s quickest fashions. It additionally holds the title as the corporate’s first all-wheel drive mannequin because of the tri-motor setup and the way it powers the axles. The wild horsepower numbers are insane on paper and in actual life, although they fluctuate due to a couple components. The official output of the Koenigsegg Gemera is rated at 1,700 horsepower. This is as a result of battery’s output energy restrict in addition to the person motors’ and engine’s various peak instances.
Koenigsegg Gemera Specs
Engine / Motor
2.0L TFG Inline 3-Cylinder w/ 3 electrical motors
Horsepower
1,700 Combined
Torque
2,581 Combined Pound-Feet
Battery
800V / 16.6 kWh
0-60 MPH
1.9 Seconds
Top Speed
250 MPH
Driveline
AWD
Transmission
9-Speed multi-clutch
(Source: Koenigsegg)This muzzling of the horsepower permits the automobile to attain a extra cheap sense of management. However, it would not stifle the efficiency in any manner. If something, Koenigsegg has achieved a really particular recipe for the insanely highly effective setup that enables it to shine greater than if it have been a 2,000 horsepower freak of nature. Not to say, the Gemera is a street-legal “family” car that seats four passengers. The added torque could be attributed to the hydraulic coupling positioned on the torque converter, which Koenigsegg says permits as much as two-times wheel torque multiplication as much as 3,000 rpm.
Turbocharger? The TFG Has Two
While the e-tri-motor setup produces spectacular energy, the star of the present is the three pot kicking out 600 horses by itself. To illustrate, Mercedes holds the title for many highly effective four-cylinder, with their 416 horsepower M139. Not solely is the Koenigsegg TFG extra highly effective, however it could obtain this feat with out the help of its e-tri-motor system and with one much less cylinder.This is because of the distinctive twin-turbo setup discovered within the engine bay. You’ll hear me use the phrase “unique” when describing the ins-and-outs of the TFG setup. This is as a result of it merely is not a broadly used know-how or design, so all the pieces concerned is, in reality, distinctive at its core. The twin-turbo system makes use of a low-rpm turbo that handles revs under 1,700 rpm, and a high-rpm turbo that begins to spool up increase from 2,000 rpm as much as 7,000 rpm. This is just like a sequential or staged turbo system in that it gives extra increase because the engine revs larger. Combined, the twin-turbo system produces 29 PSI of increase.
Koenigsegg’s FreeValve Technology And Other Features May Revolutionize The Automotive Industry
Koenigsegg
Some of you’ll have heard of FreeValve technology when researching high-performance automobiles, although few are conversant in the method and the way it revolutionizes valve tech. FreeValve, put merely, makes use of electro-hydraulic pneumatic management as an alternative of a camshaft to ship final valve variability and management. This permits the automobile to manage the valve timing, raise, and length, which makes for extremely versatile energy supply. It additionally permits the three-cylinder TFG to simply run the Atkinson cycle and deactivate cylinders at will.Pneumatic actuators permit the valve to open, maintain its place, then shut based mostly on the meant efficiency aim. This can lead to the piston shifting extraordinarily quick with optimum airflow by attaining peak valve raise earlier and for longer durations than a conventional camshaft profile might permit. The TFG makes final use of this method with three-cylinders pumping out optimum energy and effectivity almost continuous. FreeValve know-how provides just a few key advantages, together with elevated gas economic system and emission discount.
Key Benefits Of FreeValve Technology
Increased gas economic system
Increased Torque
Increased Power
Decreased gas emissions
Lighter weight
While this can be a revolutionary system that would advance the automotive world at massive, it’s a subtle, and costly, system to construct and implement. Not to say, additional testing can be required to totally approve the FreeValve tech for widespread use. However, corporations like Qoros have been experimenting with pneumatic variable valve tech in hopes that sooner or later mass manufacturing will probably be potential, even revealing an idea of the mission in 2016.
The Gemera’s Sophisticated Torque Vectoring
Koenigsegg
The all-wheel drive system features a absolutely unbiased moist clutch in any respect 4 wheels that may lock up and disconnect each time wanted, offering the Gemera with very good torque vectoring and traction. This additionally permits the three-cylinder TFG to carry out effectively in high-speed cornering and slippery street circumstances. Being as every wheel and clutch meeting works independently, you possibly can function in front-wheel drive mode or all-wheel drive. Rear-wheel drive is unavailable, as the first inner combustion engine and motor duo energy the entrance wheels solely.
The Significance Of Koenigsegg’s 600 Horsepower Three-Cylinder Engine
Koenigsegg
The Swedish automaker’s willingness to show the automotive establishment on its head is daring, to say the least, as their developments might set a extremely aggressive precedent amongst extra courses of car aside from high-performance automobiles. We’ve noticed turbocharged, twin-turbocharged, and naturally aspirated three-pots, however none on the stage of energy and class just like the TFG.Taking into consideration that the TFG is a bored-out twin-turbo three-cylinder hybrid, one can not help however surprise: what might Koenigsegg do with a V-6 or V-8 using an analogous energy construction? Regardless of the reply, they will stay within the headlines for now, coasting off the extremely revolutionary creation that’s the Tiny Friendly Giant. And we’ll stay awe-struck with the magnificence and ingenuity of the Koegnigsegg brand and their iconic products.
Before the Merkava was designed, Israel had no expertise in making massive armored autos. However, it did attempt to create a tank that match its particular wants as a small nation that wanted to maintain its troopers as protected as attainable. Because of this, the Merkava battle tank was designed with safety because the precedence.
For this cause, the Merkava employed a singular design whereby its engine and transmission have been positioned in entrance of the automobile, performing as a defend for the tank’s inhabitants. Aside from this, it additionally saved ammo in protecting containers and had fast-reacting fireplace suppression mechanisms to keep away from explosions. However, these similar adjustments additionally launched distinctive points to the Merkava, particularly with dangers of frontal assaults damaging the engine shortly.
Despite this, the Merkava retained these traits throughout its varied iterations. Since 2004, the IDF started utilizing its fourth model, the Merkava IV, as its predominant battle tank. It may maintain eight infantry troopers, had an all-electric turret, and a safety suite that used electromagnetic risk identification. The Merkava IV is fitted with the Trophy Active Protection System (APS), which supplies protection for threats whereas launching countermeasures.
According to Army Technology, the Merkava IV’s engine elements are manufactured by German firm MTU and USA-based General Dynamics Land Systems manufactures its GD 883 engine beneath licensed manufacturing. However, the Jerusalem Post claims that 90% of the elements within the Merkava IV are domestically produced.
The new MG 3 has been priced at £18,495, making it the most affordable full hybrid automobile on sale within the UK, forward of the Renault Clio and the Toyota Yaris.
MG has additionally revealed specification particulars for the supermini, which is open for order now with deliveries set to start imminently.
Its new Hybrid Plus powertrain – MG’s first non-plug-in hybrid providing – combines a 101bhp 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with a 107bhp electrical motor to offer a mixed 192bhp and 313lb ft,
That makes it markedly stronger than the Clio and Yaris hybrids – and faster too, with a 0-62mph time of 8.0sec.
Whereas the previous 3 variously supplied a five-speed automated guide or four-speed automated gearbox, from launch the brand new automobile drives its entrance wheels by a three-speed auto, with a guide possibility coming later.
MG touted the efficiency advantages of this method “over the commonly used CVT transmission often found in hybrids”, claiming its three-speeder avoids lag to offer extra responsive acceleration. For reference, the CVT-equipped Yaris wants 9.2sec to finish the 0-62mph dash.
The further poke does not come on the nice expense of effectivity; MG claims the three will provide a mixed 64.2mpg – virtually 20mpg up on its predecessor – and have vastly decreased CO2 emissions, at 100g/km, each figures that stack it up neatly towards its French and Japanese rivals.
The hybrid makes use of a 1.83kWh battery and provides the three sufficient juice to cowl quick distances at speeds of as much as 50mph with the engine off. MG
Inside, the three’s cabin is an all-out departure from its predecessor, ushering in new ‘floating’ twin screens – a 7.0in driver’s show and a ten.25in infotainment touchscreen – that function new-look graphics and are extra responsive.
The 3 will likely be offered in two trim ranges within the UK. The vary opens with the SE, which incorporates smartphone mirroring, 4 USB ports and a rear parking digicam as customary. The £20,495 Trophy provides faux-leather seats (heated within the entrance), keyless entry and a 360deg parking digicam. All automobiles get a set of security gear plus Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as customary.
Even if what you are doing, making issues from scratch on a customized construct is often nonetheless a studying course of. If you have been round right here for a minute, it’s possible you’ll keep in mind gifted builder Vasily from such tasks as his Hayabusa-swapped electric Comuta Car.
If you’re, there are three issues it’s possible you’ll already know. One is that clearly, Vasily loves Hayabusa engines. Two, he is not afraid to manufacture no matter he wants in an effort to make his wildest construct desires come true. And three, he is obtained a lot of the abilities and tools he wants in an effort to make it occur. Since all these issues are true, it is notably enjoyable to look at timelapse movies of his builds as they arrive collectively.
Now, about this Hayabusa-swapped Yamaha Raptor quad construct. If you wish to see it from the start, you possibly can return into the movies on Vasily’s Youtube channel to see the entire thing, nevertheless it mainly began as a rolling Raptor shell, into which he determined to transplant one of many spare Hayabusa engines he had sitting round his store.
Believe it or not, that is Vasily’s second Hayabusa-swapped Raptor construct, with the primary one having been constructed for his buddies at Cboystv. Since it is the second time round, and since he is not constructing to a decent deadline this time, he is in a position to take what he realized on the primary construct and make this one much more sturdy.
Thus, on this video, you will get to look at him construct out some bespoke exhaust headers and weld the proper exhaust into place, piece by piece. This is especially vital due to one deviation he is making from his first Hayabusa-swapped Raptor construct; the truth that he is including a turbo into the combination this time. Why add a turbo? I imply, if you happen to had the talents and the tools, why would not you?
When he is completed, he estimates the ability this little monster places out to be round 200 horses. What does a inventory Raptor weigh? According to Yamaha, the 2024 Raptor 700’s moist weight is 422 kilos, in order that’s a formidable power-to-weight ratio. Of course, this one ought to be a bit chonkier, given the inclusion of the Hayabusa engine and all of the bespoke components. Still, it is gonna be bonkers.
Of course, one of many key issues in DIY tasks is recognizing what issues you possibly can deal with, and what stuff is finest achieved by hitting up your buddy’s store as a result of they’re higher geared up that will help you craft a bespoke swingarm than you’re. Sure, it is a very particular instance, however you possibly can simply extrapolate the generality to suit your particular state of affairs.
That’s precisely what Vasily does, and what he will get again appears to suit the invoice properly, whereas additionally trying good. While he is visiting, his buddy lets him check out his new laser welder to seal up the gaps within the gas tank he is began to place collectively for the Raptor construct, and he offers his ideas on the strengths and weaknesses of laser vs. different forms of welding.
While the challenge is not fairly collectively but, it is nicely on its approach, and Vasily often posts updates on his channel. If you are to see what occurs when he is lastly in a position to rip round on this monster for the primary time, you would possibly wish to subscribe.
General Motors has an extended historical past of creating modern strides in engine improvement. The Chevrolet small-block V-8, for instance, started life within the Fifties and shortly turned the usual for top horsepower in a small bundle, a legacy that continues into right this moment’s fifth-generation GM V-8s. Even GM’s lineup of V-6 engines made waves all through the business, starting from the 60-degree V-6 that powered practically each GM automobile from 1980 by 2010, to the twin-turbocharged V-6 powering the Cadillac ATS-V.
However, GM has a lesser-known engine household that deserves admiration for its outside-the-box pondering and excellent technological developments, the Atlas engine household. That Atlas household consisted of three principal engines; the front-running 4.2-liter inline-six, the three.5-liter five-cylinder, and the two.8-liter four-cylinder. All three shared the identical primary structure and a variety of elements, although it was the 4.2-liter that led the Atlas program. Here’s a more in-depth take a look at the technical points and historical past of GM’s Atlas 4.2-liter inline six.
In order to provide the most modern and correct data attainable, the info used to compile this text was sourced from numerous producer web sites and different authoritative sources, together with Motor Trend.
sequential gas injection, digital throttle management
Compression ratio
10.1:1
Horsepower (hp/kw @ rpm)
275 / 201 @ 6000
Torque (lb-ft/Nm @ rpm)
275 / 372 @ 3600
Horsepower (2004-2005)
275 @ 6000
Torque (2004-2005)
275 @ 3600
Horsepower (2006 and up)
291 @ 6000 rpm
Torque (2006 and up)
277 @ 4800 rpm
Engine weight (full)
470 kilos
Recommended gas
unleaded common
Maximum engine pace (rpm)
6300
Emissions controls
NLEV
Estimated gas financial system (mpg metropolis / hwy / mixed)
TrailBlazer 2WD: 16/22/19
TrailBlazer 4WD: 15/21/18
TrailBlazer (Vortec 4200 I6)
The 4.2-Liter Atlas I-6’s History
To uncover the distinctive particulars of the GM Atlas engine, in any other case referred to as the Vortec 4200, we reached out to GM and located Tom Sutter, the Assistant Chief Engineer for the Atlas. Sutter has been concerned with engine applications for the final 30 years, starting from Oldsmobile’s Quad Four to Cadillac’s present V-Series mills.
Looking Towards Other GM Engines For Inspiration
During improvement, Tom Sutter reverted to his time growing the Oldsmobile Quad Four, GM’s first four-valve per cylinder engine, which was essentially a small-block Chevy inline-six engine. The same design was sketched for the Atlas and finally turned an integral a part of the challenge.
Twin overhead camshafts had been used to regulate the exhaust and consumption valves individually.
Furthermore, GM’s first stab at variable valve timing was put into place on the exhaust aspect. This allowed the GM inline-six engine to breathe deeper throughout high-throttle conditions, leading to larger energy with out the gas consumption penalty being current all through the rev vary. GM’s new modern valve cowl stored issues quiet below the hood, which was constructed utilizing a plastic-like composite materials.
GM even used its comparatively new manufacturing methodology for the Atlas engine block and cylinder head. Called the Lost Foam Casting method, it mainly makes use of a pre-shaped block of Styrofoam buried in sand. Molten aluminum is then poured in, filling the voids left by the melting foam. The result’s an excellent detailed engine block that requires little or no tough machining.
Its Impact On Motorsport
The GM Atlas engine additionally had a short-lived racing profession. General Motors contracted with Falconer, a specialty engine builder, to assemble a 5.0-liter, high-performance model of the Atlas inline-six.
It produced roughly 600 horsepower at 7,500 rpm and 450 pound-feet of torque at 6,000 rpm, however shared virtually no elements with the manufacturing engine.
Herzog Motorsports ran the vans fitted with the GM Atlas inline-six, with the primary race truck being the Vortec Trailblazer that ran in the Baja 500 and Baja 1000 off-road races in 2000. The one-off car was constructed with a tube-frame chassis and coated with a carbon-fiber physique. Driven by Larry Ragland, the 81 Vortec Trailblazer solely competed in these two Baja races, earlier than retiring to Ragland’s storage.
The GM Atlas Engine’s Diverse Potential
The 4.2-liter Atlas engine was a groundbreaking engine for GM. It featured an all-aluminum building, twin overhead cams with variable valve timing on the exhaust aspect, 4 valves per cylinder, a coil-on-plug ignition system, a excessive compression ratio of 10:1, and its cylinder heads featured GM’s then-prevalent “Vortec” engineering designed to maximise airflow.
Each of those mid-sized SUVs shared the identical cutting-edge structure, together with the business’s first totally hydroformed body in a mid-size SUV. Introduced for the 2002 mannequin 12 months, the GMT360 platform bought a pair million examples worldwide earlier than ending manufacturing after 2009.
Pushing The Industry Forward
GM additionally broke floor within the SUV section by utilizing a twin overhead camshaft with roller-followers to regulate the 4 valves per cylinder. The design was chosen due to the massive quantity of air 4 valves can transfer, whereas the roller-followers supplied a smoother operation with much less friction than typical lifters, including to the engine’s effectivity.
Thanks to the variety of valves, their sizes had been stored small to assist with cooling. Large coolant chambers had been routed across the valves and the center-mounted spark plugs, additional serving to the engine run cooler. Because of the environment friendly cooling and the decreased threat of detonation, the Atlas inline-six was capable of run its excessive compression ratio with out the necessity for premium gas.
The Further In-Depth Craftmanship For The Atlas Inline-Six
As effectively as utilizing twin overhead camshaft, GM’s Atlas inline-six engine featured further components that in the end led to its success. A brand new engine comes with new challenges, resulting in GM introducing all-new elements to extract from its giant fleet of SUVs on the time.
As talked about earlier than, the Vortec 4200 was the primary GM truck engine to characteristic variable valve timing. This early adopter solely had variable valve timing on the exhaust aspect, nonetheless, however allowed for 25 levels of exhaust cam phasing. This stored torque ranges at near-peak ranges all through the rev vary and allowed a higher maximum horsepower with out killing gas effectivity or hindering drivability at decrease RPM ranges.
A First-Of-Its-Kind drive-by-wire System
The Chevy Atlas engine was additionally managed by a drive-by-wire system, one other first in a GM truck software. The system used an digital throttle with no mechanical linkage between the gasoline pedal and the throttle physique, managed by the PCM and was opened through an electrical motor mounted contained in the 77-mm diameter throttle physique.
The modern consumption manifold featured a 180-degree bend, bringing air into the throttle physique simply above the engine and wrapping it round into the cross-flow cylinder head.
The consumption manifold was stored brief with the intention to accommodate easy accessibility to the spark plugs, including a much-welcomed contact of practicality.
Its Unique Mounting System
The GM Atlas inline-six additionally utilized an modern mounting system for its equipment. Each part moreover the ability steering pump was mounted on to the block. This consists of the alternator, A/C compressor, and loafer pulley. GM says this helped eradicate play within the belt-drive system since every part was completely positioned in relation to the block.
Key Takeaways:
The General Motors Atlas inline-six engine was first launched in 2002, getting used for autos such because the Chevrolet Trailblazer and GMC Envoy.
The Atlas engine was utilized in off-road race vans, which competing in iconic races such because the Baja 1000.
Smaller variations of the Atlas engines had been launched after the I-6’s success, together with the Vortec 3500 and the Vortec 2800.
Production of the GM Atlas engine resulted in 2009, as a result of dimension and prices of the engine not being a logical enterprise choice transferring ahead.
The End of an Era
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The Vortec 4200 was an enormous leap ahead for GM powertrains. But regardless of this, the modern inline-six didn’t take pleasure in an extended life. It was the cancelation of the GMT360 platform in 2009 that spelled the tip for the Vortec 4200.
The engine merely wouldn’t slot in different purposes. “The length of the engine and its structure definitely played a part in that,” Sutter mentioned. “The engine doesn’t work in a transverse application, so it was limited in the vehicle choices.”
The inline-six would theoretically have slot in GM’s full-size vans just like the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra. However, it was logistics that prevented that from taking place. Those vans used GM’s 4.3-liter V-6 as their base engine, which was based on the GM small-block V-8.
What Were The Other Atlas Engines?
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Two years after the Atlas inline-six, GM launched a smaller Atlas engine, named the Vortec 3500. Instead of six cylinders, the Vortec 3500 decreased the scale right down to solely 5, with a displacement of three.5 liters. It used the identical 3.7-inch cylinder bore and 4.0-inch piston stroke because the Vortec 4200, together with the identical rods, pistons, and valves.
The Vortec 3500 was utilized in GM’s compact pickups, these being the first-generation Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon. Both vans had been launched for the 2004 mannequin 12 months and used the five-cylinder because the extra-cost engine possibility over the Vortec 2800 four-cylinder. The straight-five produced 220 horsepower and 225 pound-feet of torque.
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Speaking of the Vortec 2800 engine, this four-cylinder Atlas engine additionally used lots of the similar elements, together with the rods, pistons and valves. A giant cause for this was to maintain prices in examine, but additionally helped entice prospects after the success of the Atlas I-6 engine. Standard for the Chevrolet Colorado and the GMC Canyon, the Vortec 2800 would produce 175 horsepower and 185 pound-feet of torque.
Despite having a reasonably brief lifespan of solely seven years, the GM Atlas engine, notably the primary inline-six iteration, set the stage for additional improvements below the hood of numerous vehicles and vans. Despite not being as spoken about as engines reminiscent of Chevrolet’s big-block V-8s or the LS7 Crate engines, the Atlas’ contributions to the business cannot be forgotten.
CboysTV is the present that retains on giving to powersports lovers. If the fellows aren’t making the wildest Harley-Davidson snow bike you’ve got ever seen, they’re changing the wheels on a mud bike and an ATV with noticed blades.
The video thumbnail exhibits a Honda CRF250R on a frozen lake with noticed blades as an alternative of wheels, however like most content material from the CboysTV, the thumbnail is simply the tip of the iceberg. And the boys discover much more fascinating methods to place these selfmade angle grinders to make use of.
Queue the sirens.
Blades on Ice
There’s a near-endless supply of videos that includes the lads placing issues on the ice that don’t have any proper to be there, however these movies often contain snow tires. If you get twisted up with a snow tire, it is unhealthy. But if you happen to get run over by a mud bike wielding 100 lb noticed blades, on the very least, you are in all probability dropping a limb.
Looking on the thumbnail, you’d suppose there isn’t any manner that the CRF will work on ice, and if it did, it’d in all probability sink again. And the primary few toes of ice using does nothing to dispel these ideas. But, like so many bizarre tasks earlier than it on CboysTV, it really works virtually too properly.
The dust bike digs into the ice so properly that the rider, Ev, stated,
“Like, when someone says it’s “on rails”, I don’t know if you can get much more on rails than this.”
Unfortunately, the ATV wasn’t as thrilling to look at and seemed prefer it was going to shake itself aside at some phases. But, by far, probably the most scary a part of the video was when it spun out, and its blades have been inside a couple of foot of the CRF’s.
Blades on Dirt
If you watch the Cboys, you realize the subsequent pure port of name was their dust observe. And if you happen to thought their saw-blade autos did properly on ice, you will want to choose your jaw up after watching them sort out the dust observe.
This time, each the ATV and the CRF shone, and there have been loads of drifts, jumps, and even wheelies. It’s arduous to overstate how properly these autos carried out off-road.
Chopping Wood
After testing the CRF’s wood-cutting skills on a hefty log, the lads used each autos to demolish a stockpile of used wooden. Again, this labored higher than you’d have imagined, main Ryan to say,
Crazy, it is like probably the most unsafe round noticed I’ve ever seen.
Finally, the lads set ablaze to the pile of wooden utilizing an industrial flame thrower, resulting in a shock go to from the cops and hearth division. How the Cboys prime this newest video, I do not know. Tell us what you consider their newest creations within the feedback.
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