For immediate release

June 19, 1995

Toyota Develops New VVT-i Engine Technology

- Provides Outstanding Performance and Fuel Economy -

Tokyo — TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION announced today the development of its new
"Variable Valve Timing-intelligent" (VVT-i) technology, which increases performance and fuel
economy.

Engine development today necessitates both better fuel economy and advanced vehicle
performance. Modern engines must also meet the social requirements of natural resource
conservation and environment preservation.

In 1991, Toyota introduced the WT mechanism on its 4A-GE sports engines in order to increase
engine torque and output. WT enables the intake valve to open and close in two steps, based on
engine operating conditions.

Engine with VVT-i Technology

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 Fig. 1. VVT-i System

VVT-i is an improved version of the WT mechanism. By continuously changing the open/close

timing of the intake valve, VVT-i provides optimum valve timing based on driving conditions.
VVT-i advantages include increased torque and output, better fuel economy, and reduction of
nitrogen oxide (NOx) and hydrocarbon emissions.

The simple structure of the VVT-i makes it extremely reliable and easy to adapt for existing
engine designs. Wide applications of the new technology are expected in the future.

VVT-i will first be employed for engines used on a new model scheduled to be introduced within
the year. Tests have confirmed that VVT-i increases fuel economy by about 6% and raises low
and medium-range torque by about 10%.

Design

VVT-i is comprised of three major components: (1) the electronic control unit (ECU), which
calculates optimum intake valve timing based on engine operating conditions; (2) the oil control
valve (OCV), which controls hydraulic pressure under the ECU's instruction; and (3) the WT pulley,
which continuously changes the intake valve timing using hydraulic pressure. The WT pulley does
not need an additional pump to function because it uses the conventional engine oil pump.

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In VVT pulley operation, a piston with a helical spline is moved hydraulically in the direction of the
camshaft axis to move the camshaft by the exact amount required.

Fig. 2. Valve Timing with VVT-i (Schematic)

Toyota's new manufacturing technology has made it possible to make the helical spline with a
large spiral angle of (30°) . This produces a very swift response and a large variable angle (up to
60° crankshaft angle) with a small stroke in the direction of the camshaft axis.

The OCV provides another advantage by continuously controlling the hydraulic pressure for both
advancing and retarding the valve timing.

Performance Features

1. Improved Fuel Economy and Reduced NOx and Hydrocarbons

Valve overlap (the timing when both intake and exhaust valves are open), created by continuous,
broad control of intake valve timing based on the engine load and speed, increases fuel economy
and reduces NOx and hydrocarbon emissions.

In a conventional gasoline engine, the throttle valve controls the air intake when the accelerator
pedal is not completely pressed down (partial-load driving). This generates vacuum pressure
within the cylinder, causing extra load on the piston (pumping loss).

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In contrast, an engine with VVT-i advances the timing for opening the intake valve during
partial-load driving, increases valve overlap, and draws partial exhaust gas back into the cylinder.
This produces three results: (1) negative pressure inside the cylinder is mitigated to reduce intake
loss and increase fuel economy; (2) combustion temperature is lowered to reduce NOx; and (3)
unburned gas is returned to the combustion chamber to be reburned, reducing hydrocarbons.

The valves do not overlap to stabilize combustion when the engine is idling, and the idling speed
is lowered to improve fuel economy.

2. Increased Torque and Output

During high-load driving conditions that require high torque and output, the intake valve timing is
given optimum (continuous and broad) control based on engine speed. The intake inertia effect is
fully utilized to increase intake air, thus raising torque and output.

To increase the amount of intake air, the timing for intake valve closing must be determined in
relation to the intake inertia effect and the intake air return caused by a rising piston. Optimum
timing changes in accordance to the engine speed.

The VVT-i engine increases low- and medium-speed torque by controlling, in advance, intake
valve closing in the low- and medium-speed ranges. With an increase in engine speed, the timing
for closing the intake valve is retarded to raise output.

Fig. 1. (Captions) Fig. 2. (Captions)

#1 Movable piston #1 Valve lift
#2 Helical spline #2 Exhaust valve
#3 WT pulley #3 Variable angle
#4 Crankshaft angle sensor #4 Intake valve
#5 Engine oil pump #5 Valve overlap
#6 Camshaft angle sensor #6 Crankshaft angle
#7 Electric signal
#8 Hydraulic pressure

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