Read this: Ilmor Engineers are currently developing an advanced engine.  The new initiative is a three-cylinder, 700cc (0.7-litre) five-stroke turbocharged petrol that Ilmor says is at least 5% more efficient than an equivalent direct injection engine.

Ilmor is currently generating 97kW (130bhp) and 165Nm (122lb-ft) of torque out of it. More innovations are being planned to cylinder capacity, valve gear design, turbo selection, and ancillaries. These should increase power to 112kW (150bhp) and return a weight saving of 20%. The prototype is demonstrating performance and torque characteristics of a small diesel engine but without the related C02 emissions.

According to Steve O’Connor, Ilmor’s engineering manager, this is just the start of further developments.  He states that loads of fine-tunings to this concept are in progress and they will see even more improvements to all the abovementioned stats.

It looks like auto-makers of hybrid plans should call Steve O’Connor and immediately set a meeting.