British engineering group Mayflower Corporation has unveiled a new engine which it says could increase fuel efficiency by 40%, while cutting emissions by 50%.

The engine could not only be used in cars, but in a wide range of products, from buses to lawnmowers. It could be in production in five years.

"The Mayflower e3 Variable Motion Engine has been successfully proven in tests and represents a quantum leap in the design and development of the internal combustion engine," said the company.

The technology works by allowing the engine to change its capacity, becoming larger when more power is needed and smaller and more economical when its not.

"The great advantage for major manufacturers - apart from introducing a new generation of engines and vehicles - is that this technology does not require huge investment in new plant and facilities," said John Simpson, chief executive of Mayflower. (October 1, 2001)