LucasVarity Diesel Systems Division Highlights State-of-the-Art Common Rail System, Announces Third Major Contract Win
23 February 1998
LucasVarity Diesel Systems Division Highlights State-of-the-Art Common Rail System, Announces Third Major Contract Win
DETROIT, Feb. 23 -- LucasVarity's Diesel Systems Division
will highlight its innovative common rail fuel injection system at the
LucasVarity SAE International Congress & Exposition booth, #2413. The
LucasVarity common rail is designed to reduce emissions and noise, and improve
fuel economy and driveability. Following recent common rail contract win
announcements with Ford Motor Company, Dearborn, Mich., and Renault, S.A.,
France, worth over $850 million, LucasVarity is pleased to announce a third
contract with Kia Motor Corp., Korea, worth over $200 million.
The number of passenger cars powered with High Speed Direct Injection
diesel engines is increasing in Europe and other parts of the world and the
automotive market has identified the common rail as an attractive injection
system for future diesel powered passenger cars. This identification is
primarily due to the clear advantage of the direct injection combustion
process in terms of fuel economy and power density compared to the indirect
injection concept. This kind of injection system operates at very high
pressure with a flexible electronic control of fuel delivery, injection
timing, injection pressure and rate of injection by multiple injection
strategy. By controlling these parameters, the common rail is capable of
achieving a level of performance and driving comfort for diesel cars similar
to that of gasoline powered cars while presenting very significant advantages
in terms of fuel economy and improved exhaust emissions. The increase in the
use of this technology to passenger cars, and the implementation of low
emission regulations raises the requirement for more flexible and fully
electronic controlled high pressure fuel injection systems.
"The majority of vehicle manufacturers are now choosing common rail fuel
injection systems for their future car diesel engines, and we are delighted to
be able to announce the contract with Kia," said Dominique Chauvin, divisional
managing director, Diesel Systems. "Our system is world class, and we expect
further customer selections in the following months."
"Europe currently has the largest diesel engine market for cars and vans,"
commented Chauvin. "With the commitments to LucasVarity from Ford and
Renault, we are now one of two major common rail suppliers in Europe and we
are keen to contribute to the diesel market take-off in the U.S. with our
common rail technology," he added.
The LucasVarity common rail system is comprised of a high pressure pump
with a pressure regulator and inlet metering valve; a rail for fuel storage
with a pressure sensor; electrohydraulic injectors and an electronic control
unit. The system is designed to meet the stringent emissions requirements
of Euro 3, U.S. 98 and beyond. Production of LucasVarity's common rail will
begin in 2000.
LucasVarity is well positioned with this innovative common rail system
into the next millennium. LucasVarity's Diesel Systems Division is the one of
the world's leading manufacturers of diesel fuel injection systems, serving
the car, van, truck, bus, agricultural, industrial and marine sectors.
LucasVarity plc designs, manufactures and supplies advanced technology
systems, products and services in the world's automotive and aerospace
industries.
SOURCE LucasVarity