Iran Man - TC7 CNG/petrol engine

© WikipediaThis is actually the EF7 unit, but if you've seen one engine, you've pretty much seen them all

The 1,7-litre engine has been successfully passing efficiency and emission tests for some time now. The procedures are still in progress, but the unit is said to enter mass production as soon as all necessary certifications are obtained.

The new engine will be a bi-fuel one running on CNG or petrol, although it has been used before in petrol guise – it powered the Iranian-made Samand Soren sedan, itself a "reincarnation” of the once popular Peugeot 405. Average fuel consumption of the petrol-powered variant was 7,3 l/100 km. As for performance, the motor offers 150 PS and a peak torque of 215 Nm. The unit complies with Euro 4 requirements and is EOBD-compatible. However, should need arise, it can be modified to comply with the Euro 5 emission standard, too.

The TC7 has been designed as part of the EF initiative carried out by IPCO, originally also incorporating input from FEV of Germany. The EF programme was started to develop engines powered with petrol (with port and direct fuel injection), diesel and compressed natural gas. Several units, including the EF7, EF4 and EFD, have already entered production and the TC7 will follow suit.

The EF7 engine was also a bi-fuel (CNG/petrol) unit, produced in relatively large quantities – up to 130 thousand examples per year. According to IPCO, it was the first direct-injected CNG-powered engine in the world.