Nissan's premium Infiniti brand will be exhibiting the world's first production-ready variable compression ratio petrol engine at the Paris Motor Show. The company says that the engine runs on petrol but can match a diesel unit for power and fuel efficiency.

Nissan believes that the VC-T engine is a major breakthrough in internal-combustion powertrain technology as it allows for the optimal compression ratio for combustion to be accessed at any time. The makers say this means it can offer the power and economy of a diesel engine as well as the performance of a petrol turbo engine. 

The turbocharged, 2.0-litre, 4-cylinder VC-T engine is said to deliver 27% better fuel economy than the 3.5-litre V-6 engine it replaces. Importantly it can also meet emissions requirements without the need for costly treatment systems.

Kinichi Tanuma, a senior Nissan engineer commented, "We believe this new engine is an ultimate gasoline engine that could over time replace the diesel engine of today.”

The new engine will first be used on Infiniti models, but is also expected to eventually be used by Nissan and possibly alliance partner Renault.