Koenigsegg Developing Cam-Less Engine To Improve Efficiency
Koenigsegg wants to remove the camshafts; expect efficiency improvement of roughly 30%

Rumor has it the bespoke super car manufacturer Koenigsegg, is developing a cam-less engine based on their twin-turbo V8. Car & Driver magazine notes the engine will use pneumatic-controlled valves to individually regulate each cylinder. This will reportedly enable the engine to have infinitely variable valve lift and integrated cylinder deactivation technology.

Although cam-less designs are nothing new, there have been no viable applications in production cars using pneumatic-controlled valves. However, there is Fiat’s MultiAir system which uses electro-hydraulic variable valve actuation technology on the intake side. Koenigsegg’s design is reported to improve fuel efficiency by 20 to 30 percent.

In related news, the magazine says Koenigsegg is still seeking a smart airbag exemption which could enable the Agera RTO to be sold in the United States. Additionally, the company will reportedly unveil a rendering of their 100th vehicle at the Geneva Motor Show.

Source [Car & Driver]

 

Nice looking car !

 

Just the name Agera has that ring of sex to it. But the looks of it, ohhh yeah.

 

Stunning!

 

That's quite ambitious for a small manufacturer.

 

Whoever wrote this article needs to do a little homework. There are no cam-less engines in production automobiles as of today (although many engine manufacturers have designs). F1 engine builders had experimented with electromagnetic actuated valves, but scrapped the idea due to the high speeds and great mass involved. Pneumatic valves are not the same thing as camless valvetrains.

This is not a new technology, but so far it has not been implemented in a production vehicle.

 

Unless I read it wrong, I'm pretty sure the article said the same thing.

 

I suppose, although it is very misleading, particularly while implying that the Fiat Multi-Air engine is cam-less, which it is not.

 

I take this from the Koenigsegg website:

 

If they can solve the reliability issues with this setup, I expect it to be much more efficient, and a big step forward for the internal combustion engine.

I'm sure some people wonder how a ton of electronics, which will require a lot of electricity to run, offer more efficiency than a simpler mechanical solution. Although attached, they will run off of electricity, not off of the spinning motion of the engine. Especially in a huge V8, removing the cams and shortening chains should greatly increase efficiency. A larger alternator will most definitely be needed, along with a stronger electrical system in general. However, loss from turning a larger alternator is much less than the loss from turning tens of pounds of cam and chain.

Same reason power steering setups are going electric instead of hydraulic.