In the video above you’ll see engineers and designers from a Silicon Valley company called Tula Technology driving a GMC Denali SUV around town and talking about how the company’s new ignition control technology called “Dynamic Skip Fire” could help to increase the current truck’s fuel economy by as much as 15-percent when compared to that of the same engine running without any cylinder cut-off technology.

Imagine what that could do for you when exploring new off-road areas, or your favorite trail for that matter. That’s up to 15-percent greater range from a tank of fuel, so if the current range of your off-roader is 300-miles, your next truck, given the same fuel tank capacity, could allow you to romp into the woods for as much as 345-miles before you needed to fill up.

The Dynamic Skip Fire system, or DSF, is a new ignition system technology developed by Tula that integrates advanced digital signal processing and computer software that selectively fires the engine’s spark plugs based on driver demand. This new technology delivers an infinitely variable cylinder deactivation system and fires only the cylinders needed to deliver the performance the driver needs.

“This technology holds the potential to improve fuel economy on select GM vehicles without degrading power capability when it’s required,” said Jon Lauckner, GM chief technology officer, vice president of Global R&D, and president of GM Ventures. “This joint effort combines software expertise from Silicon Valley with powertrain expertise from General Motors.”

General Motors V6 and V8 small block engines use electrically controlled valve lifters to turn off cylinders in these engines under low loads to gain greater fuel mileage. It’s likely the DSF could be used on the next-gen V6 and V8 engines reported to be coming in 2017.

After watching the video and learning more about Tula’s fuel-saving technology, what’s your take on this new system? Share your thoughts in the Comments section below.