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28 September, Tokyo: Mitsubishi Motors Corporation announces the development
of the brand-new 4A31-type 1100cc in-line 4-cylinder GDI(*1) engine.
The smallest(*2) of its type in production, the 4A31 engine extends
the number of models in the company's passenger car fleet that are powered
by the GDI eco-engine family. Mitsubishi Motors has also completed development
of the GDI-ASG(*3) component of its low-consumption GDI SIGMA Series
powertrain, which maximizes the benefits of GDI technology. The GDI-ASG
system makes its debut powering the new PISTACHIO(*4), the first Mitsubishi
Motors' popular model to feature a GDI advanced component system.
In August 1996, Mitsubishi Motors became the first company to use a
GDI engine to power a production model, since when cumulative production
has topped 600,000 units. PISTACHIO is powered using the GDI-ASG component
system of Mitsubishi's GDI SIGMA Series powertrain, which exploits the
superior characteristics of the new 1100cc GDI engine. With GDI-ASG,
and a vehicle weight reduced to under 1,000 kg, PISTACHIO realizes a
dramatic improvement in fuel efficiency, returning the amazing mileage
for a liter car of 30 km/liter (in-house testing) in the Japanese 10-15
urban driving cycle which is a world first for a vehicle fueled only
by gasoline, making it very eco-friendly.
Mitsubishi Motors plans to introduce the GDI-ASG PISTACHIO onto the
Japanese market before the end of the year.
| (*1) |
Gasoline direct injection. GDI is a registered
trademark of Mitsubishi Motors Corporation |
| (*2) |
Smallest displacement to achieve stratified air
supply and ultra-leanburn through gasoline direct injection |
| (*3) |
Automatic stop and go |
| (*4) |
A nut grown in Iran. The pale green color and the
brittle sound the shell makes when opened conjure up an image of
the environment, nature and clean emissions |
PISTACHIO GDI-ASG
Click to download high resolution image [Mac]
[Win]
GDI-ASG features
In the Japanese 10-15 urban driving cycle, idling accounts for 15%
of the total fuel consumption for a conventional engine and 10% for
the GDI engine(as measured by the Japanese Ministry of Transport). Stopping
the engine when idling will consequently produce significant savings
in fuel consumption. With conventional engines, however, the uneasiness
the driver experiences due to the delay before his engine restarts and
other problems still require to be solved.
The GDI-ASG system solves these problems with a high-precision ASG
control system, a simple clutch pedal-operated engine restart system
and the superior starting characteristics of the GDI engine. As a result,
all the driver has to do to restart the engine after the ASG system
has stopped it at idling (only when the vehicle is at rest, the shift
lever is in neutral and the clutch is engaged) is to disengage the clutch
by pressing the clutch pedal. The lack of any complicated restarting
procedure, and the very fast engine restart-a fraction of the time required
with a conventional engine-eliminates worries about increases in emissions
or about holding up other vehicles in traffic due to being slow to move
off again.
 
Starting characteristics of GDI engine
Engine starting is really fast because the fuel mixture is ignited
when the starter has turned its first 60-degrees.
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