Not sure if that's the rumors i've been hearing about, but rumor is cadilac has an engine that doesn't have a camshaft just valves that are controlled by solonoids which means you could have an infinite number of possiblitlies to tune your engine, also rev the hell out of it since their is less movable componets. Only problem i've heard about it was the voltage it was going to take and the danger behind raising the voltage to allow this system to work. I believe they were saying somewhere in the 24 volt ranger it could have been 48, but I wouldn't even be suprised if cadilac has it on the market today, cuz this was 3 years ago when I heard about this, It was too new to go into detail at that time. GM is so slow about perfecting things that honda will most likely perfect the system and get it out first though, but that's the future of gas engines after that it's over, full electronic's are taking over.

 

Infinately variable valve timing is already a reality in formula 1, but they use a Pnuematic system. McLaren experimented with an electromagnetic system, as did Audi, but if I remember correctly, that idea was abandoned due to logistics in controlling valve speed at higher RPMs.

 

The McLaren F1 with its BMW V12 has pneumatically controlled valves. BMW now has its Valvetronic system on its 4.5 liter V8 in the 745i which uses infinitely variable valve timing to replace the operation of a throttle body.

As for this head where it uses rotors instead of valves, I heard about it a couple years ago but had never seen a picture of it until now.

 

What are some drawbacks of useing this system? Of course the pretty picture they paint on their website says that useing this method is just a win/win situation.

 

On the v6 coates engine, they have the compression ration at 18:1. Thats pretty insane, it puts out 480 BHP.

I like this idea alot, it keeps the engine a lot cooler and needs to be oiled after 8000 hours instead of 400.