So I finally got around to reading the Evo X article in the latest Sport Compact Car. I was surprised to see the following:

And the company left out direct injection, which at least allows tuners to upgrade to larger injectors and use conventional fuel pump upgrades. Mitsubishi also managed to pass evaporative emissions with a return-type fuel system, which saves the hassle of re-plumbing new lines for fuel-thirsty big boost.

I have mixed feelings on this. Originally, the X was supposed to deliver direct injection, which would deliver more power and better fuel economy. I'm a bit disappointed that it lacks it.

However OTOH, the fact that it has a conventional fuel injection system will make it relatively cheap and easy to upgrade and work on.

Personally, I'm torn.

What are your thoughts on the situation?

I see what you mean, I'm in for anything that'll keep the price down, but better fuel economy is super as well.

I wasn't even thinking about production costs, but yeah, a traditional fuel injection setup is going to be cheaper than DI.

So I finally got around to reading the Evo X article in the latest Sport Compact Car. I was surprised to see the following:



I have mixed feelings on this. Originally, the X was supposed to deliver direct injection, which would deliver more power and better fuel economy. I'm a bit disappointed that it lacks it.

However OTOH, the fact that it has a conventional fuel injection system will make it relatively cheap and easy to upgrade and work on.

Personally, I'm torn.

What are your thoughts on the situation?


That's an interesting one....

Direct injection is meant to be the new 'bees knees' of fuel injected engines, but as you've stated, it would be both more difficult and costly to modify for power upgrades.

Also if the Mazda MPS 3 and MPS 6 with their 2.3ltr DISI turbo engine are anything to go by, the economy/efficiency figures they're achieving are nothing special !

A good friend of mine owns a Mazda MPS 3, I can tell you that its fuel consumption is hurrendous, it's similar to my 5.7ltr LS1 V8 HSV Sedan (similar to a Pontiac G8 for you guys in the U.S.)

I always thought that direct injection was meant to be more efficient or use less fuel ?? as well as the benifits of better power, better cooling of the intake charge and less emissions.

That's an interesting one....

Direct injection is meant to be the new 'bees knees' of fuel injected engines, but as you've stated, it would be both more difficult and costly to modify for power upgrades.

Also if the Mazda MPS 3 and MPS 6 with their 2.3ltr DISI turbo engine are anything to go by, the economy/efficiency figures they're achieving are nothing special !

True. Although we don't know how much worse it'd be with standard injection.

A good friend of mine owns a Mazda MPS 3, I can tell you that its fuel consumption is hurrendous, it's similar to my 5.7ltr LS1 V8 HSV Sedan (similar to a Pontiac G8 for you guys in the U.S.)

Wow...

I always thought that direct injection was meant to be more efficient or use less fuel ??

Ditto. For cruising conditions it could apparently pull of AFRs as lean as 35:1 or so.

as well as the benifits of better power, better cooling of the intake charge and less emissions.

Yup. What the heck happened?

I like the return type fuel system. It will be easier for the aftermarket manufacturers to make a reliable high flowing system.

The direct injection fuel systems run at a very high pressure(~1000-1500psi). I know the VW GTi and BMW 335i's have crazy fuel injectors. No one has yet to come up with a high flow solution for them.

Its sad to say, but there needs to be a few sacrificial lambs so we know what these cars are made of.

Yeah, that's the way it goes.

Personally I prefer the current method of injection. It allows for much easier to control fueling, and provides an easy upgrade path for those large E85 injectors we will need.