First Drive
Vauxhall Vectra 2.2 HCCI
Test date 24 August 2007
Price as tested £19,570
What is it?
No humble Vauxhall Vectra; this is a test mule for General Motors’ very latest petrol engine technology.
Called Homogenous Charge Compression Ignition (HCCI for short), this is a system that combines the latest variable valve timing and direct inject petrol technology with cylinder pressure sensors. They allow the engine to burn its fuel at a lower temperature and therefore more controllably and efficiently.
HCCI returns 15 per cent better fuel economy than a conventional petrol engine, and because it burns the fuel at lower pressure, it also produces no harmful nitrogen oxides. Clever.
What’s it like?
The simple (but rather boring) answer is exactly the same as a current petrol engine.
After an exclusive sample of a 2.2-litre Vectra fitted with HCCI tehnology, we’d say it has the same level of flexibility and the same accelerative power.
On this prototype there was a noticeable step when it was switching between normal and HCCI combustion (the car uses normal spark combustion under full throttle and above 55mph). However, that was the only way any difference between it and a standard Vectra was evident.
Should I buy one?
If you buy a petrol-powered Chevrolet, Saab, Cadillac or Vauxhall in a few years time, it’s unlikely that you’ll have a choice; they’ll probably all come with it, and with the ability to go 15 per cent further on a tank of petrol.
What’s more, this technology seems so alike to conventional petrol engine tech that you probably won’t know any difference.
The normality and familiarity of the driving experience is one of the many pluses of GM’s HCCI technology. There’s no need for new types of engine architecture and it will work with all grades of petrol and even E85 ethanol. It will also work on all engine types, according to GM engineers, including six and eight cylinder motors.
So if and when (it’s probably when) HCCI comes on stream the only difference we’re going to notice will be lower fuel and tax bills.
Chas Hallett
First drive data
How much?
- Price as tested £19,570
- Price as tested TBA
How fast?
- 0-62 mph 8.6 sec
- Max speed 135 mph
How big?
How thirsty?
- Combined 37.6 mpg
- CO2 emissions 180 g/km
Engine
- Layout 4 , 2198 cc
- Max power 154 bhp at 5600 rpm
- Max torque 162 lb ft at 3800 rpm
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