What is it?
Saab Combustion Control
What's special about it?
Rising fuel prices and increasing pollution concerns have created the need for more efficient and ecological engines. The Saab Combustion Control (SCC) system, introduced at the Paris Auto Show, promises relief for our overburdened wallets and overtaxed lungs.
However, the Swedish automaker promises that, unlike previous systems, increased fuel efficiency and emissions control will not come at the cost of reduced performance: power output will remain the same. How can this be? The three main components of the SCC system are: air-assisted direct fuel injection with turbulence generator; variable valve timing; and variable spark plug gap with high-energy sparking.
The air-assisted fuel injection integrates the injector and spark plug into one unit called the spark plug injector. When fuel is injected into the cylinder, a brief blast of air, prior to ignition, creates turbulence within the cylinder, which assists combustion and shortens combustion time. Variable valve timing uses camshafts that enable the inlet and outlet valves to be adjusted continuously so that exhaust gases can be mixed with the combustion air in the cylinder, resulting in a more efficient, cleaner running engine. The variable spark plug gap and high-energy sparking are essential for igniting an air/fuel mixture so highly diluted with exhaust gases.
The result, says Saab, is a 10 percent decrease in fuel consumption and reduced emission values that fall below the American ultra-low-emission vehicle 2 (ULEV2) requirements, which become effective in 2005. This means the amount of carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons being spewed into our atmosphere will be cut in half and nitrogen oxide emissions will be cut by 75 percent. All of this is possible with no reduction in performance.
Why should you care?
If you've felt the pinch at the pump lately or ever been concerned by increasingly frequent reports of the "greenhouse effect" and ozone depletion you'll appreciate anything that will help remedy those concerns. The SCC system is still three to five years from development, but Saab says it will be released into all markets as soon as it is ready.
-- Neil Dunlop
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