Automakers latch onto fuel-saving tech

A promising, if so far underwhelming, fuel-economy technology is gaining momentum as automakers, squeezed by social and political pressure, look under every rock to gain even a few tenths of a mile per gallon.

The technology goes by various names but by any name does the same thing: shuts off fuel to some of an engine’s cylinders when the vehicle needs only partial power.


Chrysler just said that a new line of V-6 engines will have cylinder deactivation, starting in 2010. Honda (HMC) says it will have an enhanced version of what it calls Variable Cylinder Management on V-6 engines in the redesigned 2008 Accord coming this fall. And General Motors (GM) says it will use the feature on a 2008 Buick LaCrosse V-8 and ‘08 hybrid versions of full-size Chevrolet and GMC SUVs.

All those automakers already sell vehicles with cylinder cutoff. In most cases, it is said to boost mileage about 6%. While an impressive percentage, it typically works out to just 1 mile per gallon or so.

USA Today