| Kavachi engine TCI-Tech | |
| Production: | 2008-2015 |
| Manufacturer: | SAIC Motor |
| Configuration: | Straight-four |
| Displacement: | 1796cc |
| Bore: | 802NaN2 |
| Stroke: | 89.32NaN2 |
| Block: | Aluminum |
| Head: | Aluminum |
| Valvetrain: | DOHC 4 valves x cyl. with VVC |
| Fuelsystem: | Multi-port fuel injection |
| Fueltype: | Gasoline |
| Oilsystem: | Wet sump |
| Coolingsystem: | Water-cooled |
| Power: | 131hp @ 6,000 rpm (naturally aspirated) 158hp @ 5,500 rpm (turbocharged) |
| Torque: | 168nm @ 4,500 rpm (naturally aspirated) 215nm @ 2,500-4,500 rpm (turbocharged) |
| Predecessor: | Rover K-series engine |
The Kavachi engine, commonly known as the TCI-Tech, was developed by SAIC Motor, based on a re-engineering of the Rover K-series engine.[1] It is used in Roewe and MG Motor vehicles.
The 1796cc Kavachi engine is produced in two versions, a naturally aspirated producing 980NaN0 at 6,000 rpm and 1680NaN0 @ 4,500 rpm, and a turbocharged version producing 1180NaN0 at 5,500 rpm and 2150NaN0 of torque from 2,500 to 4,500 rpm. It is Drive-by-wire.
UK engineering firm Ricardo plc were tasked with remedying the well known faults of the K series by SAIC Motor for its introduction into the Chinese marketplace. With a redesigned head, improved waterways, stiffened block as well as changing the manufacturing process and quality of material, the Kavachi is seen as the pinnacle of K-series development. As of 2015, with more than half a decade in the market, there have been no reported issues of head gasket failure on cars using the Kavachi engine.
A point to note, the Kavachi engine is sometimes referred to and often confused with the N Series engine. The N Series is also a development of the original K Series but was in fact produced by Nanjing Automobile (NAC) a rival company at the time to SAIC. (later merged)
N Series was fitted into the relaunched MG TF in the UK and in the MG3 SW and MG7 in China.