Formula One's governing body has formally approved plans to introduce a new V6
1.6 litre turbo engine from the start of the 2014 season.

The
International Automobile Federation (FIA) said in a statement on Wednesday that
its World Motor Sport Council had passed the new regulations in a fax vote.


The Formula One commission that groups the sport's main stakeholders had
already unanimously agreed the switch from V8 to V6 units with energy recovery
systems.

The original plans had been for a 1.6 litre four cylinder
hybrid turbo engine to be introduced in 2013 but that met resistance from some
manufacturers.

The FIA statement did not say what the rev limit on the
new engine would be.

Team technical heads met at last weekend's European
Grand Prix in Valencia and suggested the new engines be allowed to rev higher
than previously envisaged -- from around 12,000 rpm to 15,000.

Mercedes,
Ferrari, Renault and Cosworth are the sport's current engine makers, with each
supplying three teams.