Chinese automaker Qoros has been quite happy using a German engineered 1.6 turbo engine in its current models, but the manufacturer believes it’s now time for an upgrade. Qoros has partnered with Christian von Koenigsegg’s subsidiary Freevalve AB to investigate the potential of their cam-less engine technology.

Qoros firmly believes that this technology could reduce the size of the engine and cut production cost, while simultaneously producing more power with fewer emissions at the same time; the perfect upgrade for its 1.6 engine. Called “Qamfree”, it comes with conventional port injection but no camshaft drive, wastegate, throttle body or pre-catalytic converter; it features high compression, vastly improved cold start, lower back pressure, individual cylinder shut down and complete valve control. The Qamfree engine delivers 47% more torque, 45% more power, using 15% less fuel and with emissions reduced by 35%. Just as important, the engine is both smaller and lighter with lowered manufacturing costs.

This cam-less engine debuted at the Guangzhou Motor Show in the Qoros 3 hatchback, while Qoros continues to run a whole team of test vehicles to evaluate further feasibility for production.