The engine is the heart of the car. As an SUV, one of the best-selling models on the market, engine technology is a top priority. Shanghai GM Buick's new compact SUV Buick Encore will soon be available. Let's take a look at Buick Encore engine technology.

● The 1.4T engine comes from an Opel Buick Encore equipped with an in-line four-cylinder 1.4-liter turbocharged multi-split EFI engine. Both the Cruze North American version and the Opel Insignia (made by Buick Regal) use it. At present, the 1.4T engine, code-named LUJ, assembled on Buick Encore is fully assembled by the Austrian factory. According to the information we have obtained from the official website, the engine version of the overseas version of Buick Encore is LUV. In terms of performance parameters, there is no difference between the two. As for the software adjustment, it will not lead to a difference in the driving characteristics of the vehicle. This can only be shared with others in the future.

● Engine operating characteristics: biased towards low-speed and high-torque tuning. From the data analysis, this is an engine that is biased towards low speed and high torque characteristics. When the speed reaches 1850rpm, the Buick Encore goes into full acceleration until the speed reaches 4900rpm. The trend curve of the torque has only a downward trend. At this time, it has ushered in the largest power output platform. In other words, this engine can help the vehicle faster to achieve the highest possible speed. As an engine with a displacement of 1,364 milliliters, its 82.6 millimeter long stroke design is evidence of low speed and high torque. It is worth mentioning that the design of the compression ratio, the value of 9.5 can be fully adapted to 92-labeled fuel.

Engine Basic Parameters (Contrast Volkswagen 1.4 TSI Engine )   Buick Encore   1.4T Volkswagen   1.4 TSI Displacement (ml) 1364 1390 Intake Mode Turbocharged Turbocharged Fuel Injection Multi-point Injector In-cylinder Direct Injection Maximum Power (kW) 103/4900rpm 96/5000 Cylindrical X Travel (mm) 72.5X82.6 76.5X75.6 Maximum torque (N·m) 200/1850~4900 220/1500~3500 Compression ratio 9.5 10 Mass (kg) 109 129

● The technical characteristics of the engine When it comes to the 1.4T engine, people first thought of the 1.4TSI engine of the Volkswagen. In the industry, the Volkswagen EA111 model engine is indeed the benchmark product in this class, therefore, in the introduction of the general The technology of the 1.4T engine will inevitably lead to a comparison between the two.

- The injection system uses multi-point EFI, the engine quality is lighter than Volkswagen 1.4TSI. The general 1.4T engine uses a traditional multi-point EFI system, compared to the direct injection of the cylinder, the atomization of the traditional EFI fuel injection system. The ability is slightly worse. That is, the direct injection system can make every drop of fuel even more dispersed, and the combustion efficiency will naturally increase. But with this point we can think that the general 1.4T engine is more expensive?

This is not absolute, the weight also directly affects the overall fuel consumption performance. The weight of 109 kg is 20 kg lighter than the Volkswagen 1.4TSI engine. This is equivalent to the weight of a full-size spare tire, but for a small SUV model In terms of fuel consumption, the 20 kilograms will not be very prominent. In order to reduce the number of engine parts as much as possible, Encore's engine uses some highly integrated components to achieve weight reduction. The hollowed-out camshafts in the center are also lighter in weight. This is common in racing, but the difference is that the technicians of the racing team usually perform hollowing on the basis of the original camshaft. Its durability cannot be guaranteed, and the camshaft of the universal 1.4T engine has already taken into account the force situation after the center has been hollowed out and the weight distribution has been taken into account during the hollowing out process, not only the strength is high enough. And it works more smoothly.

- Lubrication System: Variable Displacement Oil Pump The engine's cooling system and lubrication system have been optimized to improve fuel economy. The use of electronic thermostat allows the engine computer to accurately control the coolant circulation mode according to the operating conditions of the engine, so as to make the engine temperature reach the best state as soon as possible after starting; the oil pump is the power source of the entire lubrication system. The crankshaft, the traditional oil pump is to rely on changes in speed to meet the lubrication needs of the engine, and its pump oil is always the same, the oil pump Buick Encore used in the work can be targeted to adjust the pump pump The amount of oil, which will reduce the engine oil pump erosion of the engine. These will directly improve the performance of the engine's fuel consumption.

-- Timing system: Larger adjustable range The universal 1.4T engine adopts a dual variable valve timing system. Under different operating conditions, the regulator corrects valve opening and closing by adjusting the rotation angle of the camshaft. The timing, so as to achieve the effect of increasing the intake or exhaust of the cylinder, obviously also affects the turbocharger's response. In the communication with the engineers, we learned that the purpose of expanding the adjustment range of the variable timing system can be achieved by reducing the volume of the blades inside the regulator. After a series of optimizations, the camshaft can be adjusted to an angle of 30 degrees (the crankshaft can be adjusted to 60 degrees).

● Four-wheel drive system taking into account practical and economical gender g Encore equipped with advanced intelligent variable timed four-wheel drive system, the system automatically recognizes vehicle operating conditions based on sensor information, adjusts the working condition of the four-wheel drive system, and enables the vehicle to drive in low load conditions. Driving mode, economic and energy saving, fully meet consumer demand for low energy consumption. When the vehicle is driving on ice or a slippery, low-absorption road, the four-wheel-drive system's torque distribution device will connect the front and rear axles to drive in a timely four-wheel drive. Once the front wheels skid, the system will allocate the most to the rear axle. 50% power to ensure the controllability and passability of vehicles.

This four-wheel-drive system is from American AAM company. We download the relevant technical information on its official website. This American company that was born in the early 20th century was first involved in the field of aircraft manufacturing, and later it devoted itself to the research and development of automobile-related components. Chrysler was once its owner.

The core of this four-wheel-drive system is the torque distribution unit at the front of the rear axle main reducer. It consists of a set of electromagnetic clutches and a multi-plate clutch controlled by a ball ramp structure. The electromagnetic clutch is the first "switch" to turn on the rear axle. When the clutch is disengaged, Encore becomes a simple front-wheel drive, which reduces unnecessary power consumption while driving, making the 1.4T engine's low-power advantages fully utilized.

● The structure of the electromagnetic clutch system is simple. The control of the ball ramp structure is the key to the transmission. Compared to the torque distribution system using the electro-hydraulic clutch, the electromagnetic clutch system has a simple structure, light weight, low energy consumption, small space, and response speed. Soon, when the rear axle needs power, it can be instantly combined to ensure that the four-wheel drive mode is "coming and coming."

After the electromagnetic clutch is turned on, the torque distribution of the front and rear axles is distributed by the “second clutch” controlled by the ball ramp structure. This second clutch is the second gate that connects the front and rear axles. The platen on one side of the roller ramp actuator (acting differently from the brake) is connected to the input drive shaft through the electromagnetic clutch, and the other side pressure plate is splined to the output drive shaft and serves as the pressure plate of the second clutch. When driving in a straight line, the front and rear wheels maintain the same rotation speed, and the power is not distributed to the rear axle. When there is a difference in the adhesion of the rear wheel (for example, the front wheel slips and spins), the pressure plates on the left and right sides of the ball rotate relative to each other, and the balls roll along the inclined plate inside the pressure plate. The two side pressure plates are stretched and the expanded pressure plate presses the multi-disc clutch group (second clutch), and the power flows through the pressed second clutch to the rear wheels. The proportion of power obtained by the rear axle depends on the magnitude of the drop in the adhesion of the front and rear wheels. This structure has the characteristics of high transmission efficiency and low power loss. When the clutch plates are fully integrated, the rear axle can theoretically achieve 50% power distribution. Both front and rear axle 50:50 allocation. In fact, when the current round completely loses its adhesion, the effective power is all passed through the rear-wheel output, which is equivalent to 100% of the rear-wheel power.

● Four-wheel drive structure and MINI The same type of MINI, only the MINI COUNTRYMAN has the ability of four-wheel drive. The core of the four-wheel drive system is also composed of a set of electromagnetic multi-plate clutch suction armature pressing guide clutch, followed by rolling in the chute. The ball rotates and rolls, squeezing the pressure plate against the main clutch to achieve the transmission of power to the rear axle, and during the specific operation, the vehicle body stabilization system will also intervene to prevent the wheels from slipping. From the point of view of structure and transmission mode, the four-wheel drive system adopted by MINI is indeed the same as Buick Encore. As far as the two are superior in terms of control logic and the effect of practical applications, it is really necessary to look for opportunities to compete.