Hyundai has revealed its Continuously Variable Valve Duration (CVVD) engine technology alongside a new petrol engine which will be rolled out to Hyundai and Kia vehicles this year.

Hyundai has revealed its new Continuously Variable Valve Duration (CVVD) engine technology today in Korea along with its new Smartstream G1.6 T-GDi engine, saying it will be rolled out to future Hyundai and Kia vehicles. The first Hyundai to feature this engine will be the new Sonata Turbo due out later this year, Kia will announce which of its vehicles will debut the new engine later this year. The new Hyundai Smartstream G1.6 T-GDi, a V4 turbocharged petrol engine makes 134kW and 265Nm of torque.

What is CVVD? According to Hyundai, “CVVD optimises both engine performance and fuel efficiency while also being eco-friendly. The valve control technology regulates the duration of valve opening and closing according to driving conditions, achieving a 4% boost in performance and a 5 percent improvement in fuel efficiency. Furthermore, the technology cuts emissions by 12 percent.

“When the vehicle is maintaining a constant speed and requires low engine output, CVVD opens the intake valve from the middle to end of the compression stroke. This helps to improve fuel efficiency by reducing the resistance caused by compression. On the other hand, when engine output is high, such as when the car is driving at a high speed, the intake valve is closed at the beginning of the compression stroke to maximise the amount of air used for the explosion, enhancing torque to improve acceleration,” Hyundai said.

“The development of the CVVD technology is a good example how Hyundai Motor Group is strengthening our powertrain technology,” said Albert Biermann, President and Head of Research and Development Division at Hyundai Motor Group. “We will continue our innovation efforts to bring forth paradigm shifts and ensure sustainability of our business model.”