Yahoo Autos Koenigsegg Is Developing a 1.6-Liter Four-Cylinder With 400 Horsepower
While Christian von Koenigsegg and his company are busy redefining supercars, they're also hard at work developing innovative tech for the cars normal people drive every day. Koenigsegg subsidiary Freevalve is developing camless engines, one of which appeared in a concept for a Chinese family car built by Qoros. Now we know some of Koenigsegg's other intentions with his Qoros tie-up.
In an interview with Carbuzz, Koenigsegg detailed his plans with Qoros, including a 1.6-liter four-cylinder that produces 400 horsepower. That would be significantly more powerful than the 375-horse 2.0-liter four used in the Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 and GLA 45, the most powerful four-cylinder currently on sale. Unfortunately, that engine is a proof of concept for now, with no production intent.
Koenigsegg doesn't reveal too many details on the engine, but he says it's designed with the same principles as the engines in the Agera and Regera. One of Koenisgegg's major goals is to reduce power-robbing heat dissipation, which is a challenge in a small displacement motor.
"By reducing the bore and elongating the stroke of the piston, we are able to lessen the heat losses from the engine," said Koenigsegg. "We've also used forged pistons, forged connecting rods, and higher quality valves that make engine as efficient as possible. These are more expensive parts, but will not be so much so in mass production."
Koenigsegg says that adding Freevalve engine tech will increase efficiency by a further 3% to 4%. While Koneigsegg doesn't say this specifically, it sounds like this engine will be turbocharged, as is the case with all of Koenigsegg's engines.
The most exciting thing about all of this is that the potential for Koenigsegg's tech to trickle down into the mainstream. Very few among us will ever drive a One:1, but our future cars might have some of the same engineering.
