Ford is testing a new engine that injects small amounts of ethanol into the cylinder during high loads that’s said to develop up to three times the torque of a conventional petrol engine. The technology was pioneered by a start-up company at MIT and is just one avenue that Ford is investigating in its quest for more efficient powertrains.

The new engine runs on normal petrol but at much higher pressures. A direct injection fuel injector pumps small amounts of ethanol into the cylinder which is said to keep the fuel-air mix from burning early preventing knock. The design would allow for much smaller engines but with the power and torque that customers demand.

Ford is also working with suppliers to bring new innovations to market earlier, reports Automotive News, and it’s more open to forming joint-ventures for further developments.