Can F1 Technology Save The Internal Combustion Engine?

Hidehito Ikebe of Geo Technology compares the small, lightweight piston design for the Project M engine.

Project M was introduced last spring with goals of designing an advanced internal combustion engine and super-efficient compact car for city use. A collaboration between Shell, Geo Technology and Gordon Murray Design, this vehicle is said to be considerably less expensive to own and operate than the current or even futuristic crop of electrics and hybrids, and it will be available in a much sooner timeframe that when fuel-cell vehicles will gain a substantial foothold in the market. In other words, someone still believes there is plenty of efficiency to be released in the IC engine and that it can be competitive with alternate powertrains.

The team is starting with a 3-cylinder engine.

Now we’re getting a closer look at some of the engine development by Geo Technology, a firm started by Osamu Goto, former engine development manager for two Formula 1 teams. He is joined by Hidehito Ikebe, the director of engineering at Geo and another veteran of race-engine development. A 3-cylinder engine will be foundation for the project and Geo has identified numerous components for optimization, including the rotating assembly, camshaft and valvetrain. From photos available on the project’s website and Facebook page, we can see F1 strategy in the piston design. Not only have the skirts been trimmed down to the least amount of surface area and weight possible, but Geo is going with just a 2-ring arrangement. Drawing boards also indicate liberal use of DLC coating, titanium intake valves and long connecting rods. Shell is also developing a thin, low-viscosity oil in the 0w-12 range. According to Engine Technology International, the oil is so advanced it is not recognized by any current industry specs. It also uses molybdenum to chemically react within the engine on metal surfaces to reduce friction.

No question there is quite a bit of advanced technology going into the development of this engine and vehicle vehicle. No word on power goals, although we know the target weight for vehicle is under 1,300 pounds. We’re certainly looking forward to more views of the engine and its components.

From left, Gordon Murray is designing the car; Shell is developing a thin, low-viscosity oil for the engine; and the team of Hidehito Ikebe and Osamu Goto are applying Formula 1 technology to improve the efficiency of the engine.

About the author

Mike Magda

Mike Magda is a veteran automotive writer with credits in publications such as Racecar Engineering, Hot Rod, Engine Technology International, Motor Trend, Automobile, Automotive Testing Technology and Professional Motorsport World.
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