CGI gasoline engine on schedule

Production will begin in the second half of this year of the world’s first production gasoline engine with a compacted graphite iron (CGI) cylinder block.

This has been confirmed by Sintercast in its latest statement which notes that with increasing contributions from all automotive engine sectors, it has posted record annualised series production of 1.65 million engine equivalents in the second quarter of 2013.  

The production surpasses the previous record of 1.6 million engine equivalents set in the first quarter of 2012 and represents an increase of more than 35% since the end of 2012.  

The second quarter production was buoyed by continued strong performance of the Audi and Ford vee-diesels in Europe and by the ramp up of the VM Motori 3-litre vee-diesel in preparation for the start of showroom sales of the Jeep Grand Cherokee SUV and the Ram 1500 light duty pick-up in the US.  

Commercial vehicles also contributed to the increase, with the continued recovery of the Navistar 13L Big Bore cylinder block in the US and by the start of series production of two new heavy duty cylinder blocks for separate, but as yet undisclosed, European commercial vehicle manufacturers.  

But the statement adds, without naming the OEM that “the record production also includes contributions from the on-going pre-production of the first CGI petrol engine, which remains on schedule for the start of series production during the second half of the year”.

The existence of this engine programme has already been named in this newsletter. The OEM is most likely to be Volkswagen AG with its EA888 engine.

"Second quarter production was strong and stable, with each of April, May and June finishing above the previous record of 1.6 million engine equivalents, reinforcing the ability of the current series production programmes to exceed two million engine equivalents at mature volume" said Dr Steve Dawson, president and chief executive officer of SinterCast.  "After a difficult period for commercial vehicles in the second half of 2012, it is particularly rewarding to see recovery in the established truck programmes and the start of production of two new heavy duty cylinder blocks during the second quarter.  The improvement on the commercial vehicle side, together with recent increases in field trials, installation negotiations and consumable shipments, provides a positive foundation for the second half of the year."

An engine equivalent is 50kg.                                       ∎