Ford 3 cylinder with the power of a 4 cylinder ..
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JHZR2
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excellent.
Let's hope it's better than the 3-cylinder POS that's in a Smart car. I seriously hate how that engine runs.
Ugh, Direct Injection. Hope they address the problems with the current crop of DI engines and deposits.
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Autonews says:
Engineers in the United Kingdom developed the engine, and it is likely to be marketed heavily in Europe, where fuel costs are considerably higher than in the United States.
The engine reaches into the EcoBoost technology bin and employs turbocharging, direct injection and twin-independent variable camshaft timing.
Engineers in the United Kingdom developed the engine, and it is likely to be marketed heavily in Europe, where fuel costs are considerably higher than in the United States.
The engine reaches into the EcoBoost technology bin and employs turbocharging, direct injection and twin-independent variable camshaft timing.
Not a response to any poster just general comments.
Companies have been messing around with this 3 cyl concept for years and still cant get it right.IMO Ford wont fair any better.
Some of the better known 3 bangers..
VW Lupo
Skoda Fabia (VW powered)
Seat
Subaru Justy
Geo Metro
Smart
Suzuki
Lots of others
On paper and in theory at least the ones i have experienced get better mileage then their 4 banger cousins but in the real world they run terrible and drink even more fuel.
There was an article some time ago that TÜV and Dekra test showed emissions were no better than a comparable 4cyl engine.
In Europe its more of a Tax issue than any real economy savings.
On that miserable 3 cyl Lupo they had to use a hair pulling start/stop system just so it could achieve the the same numbers as the smallest 4 cyl variant when it was first introduced.
IMHO more smoke and mirrors for the green touchy feely crowd.
Companies have been messing around with this 3 cyl concept for years and still cant get it right.IMO Ford wont fair any better.
Some of the better known 3 bangers..
VW Lupo
Skoda Fabia (VW powered)
Seat
Subaru Justy
Geo Metro
Smart
Suzuki
Lots of others
On paper and in theory at least the ones i have experienced get better mileage then their 4 banger cousins but in the real world they run terrible and drink even more fuel.
There was an article some time ago that TÜV and Dekra test showed emissions were no better than a comparable 4cyl engine.
In Europe its more of a Tax issue than any real economy savings.
On that miserable 3 cyl Lupo they had to use a hair pulling start/stop system just so it could achieve the the same numbers as the smallest 4 cyl variant when it was first introduced.
IMHO more smoke and mirrors for the green touchy feely crowd.
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JHZR2
Staff member
The value proposition has to be right - if the engine is so undersized that it has to work excessively, then that isnt a good situation. Similarly if it gets MPGs like the smart car (guess what, 41 MPG or whatever it gets is actually horrible), then no good either.
If incremental technology brings forth a car that can do 55-65 MPH in a pinch and return >50 MPG in around town type driving, then it is a winner for that kind of use.
If incremental technology brings forth a car that can do 55-65 MPH in a pinch and return >50 MPG in around town type driving, then it is a winner for that kind of use.
Agreed. Most Europeans have become very American like in the level of comfort they will accept as a minimum now.
Long gone are the days of the 2CV and Beetle, now it has to have A/C, PS, comfortable interior etc all adding to the weight of the vehicle.
IMO this is the hinge that can tip the scale from a decent performing economy car to a gas swilling under powered pig.
Put that engine in something, small, totally stripped, without creature comforts and yes it will perform well enough and get the desired economy.
Again just MHO but i cant see many American drivers either buying or driving a car with these minimal specs.
An old bug or 2CV would go like stink with that power plant though.
Long gone are the days of the 2CV and Beetle, now it has to have A/C, PS, comfortable interior etc all adding to the weight of the vehicle.
IMO this is the hinge that can tip the scale from a decent performing economy car to a gas swilling under powered pig.
Put that engine in something, small, totally stripped, without creature comforts and yes it will perform well enough and get the desired economy.
Again just MHO but i cant see many American drivers either buying or driving a car with these minimal specs.
An old bug or 2CV would go like stink with that power plant though.
Well, why go through of the trouble of making a 1.8L and 2.4L 4 cylinder engine of completely different architectures, rather than a 1.8L 3 cylinder and a 2.4L 4 cylinder. It would save money like when Ford and GM took 8-cylinder engines, and cut off 2 cylinders to make a V-6.
IIRC I had a 3 cyl kia loaner 10 years ago. maybe it was a hyundai. one of the two. it was, actually, a great little car. in line with the early focus. Not a huge amount of pep, but smooth and respectable drive. upper 20's mpg.
compared that to a 5spd justy a college bud test drove.... was like flogging a can full of coffee beans.
Mike
compared that to a 5spd justy a college bud test drove.... was like flogging a can full of coffee beans.
Mike
in the 1970s ford had a 3 cyl industrial engine, we put in trenching machines. two models gasoline, and diesel. to heavy for cars
I remember test driving a turbo firefly way back when, I don't remember the engine being very rough or noisy except near redline. It was a fun light car.
I guess if you they could make one for $10-11K with good mileage and 110hp, 50 mpg, in a 2000lb hatch it would have a small market up here.
I guess if you they could make one for $10-11K with good mileage and 110hp, 50 mpg, in a 2000lb hatch it would have a small market up here.
I wonder why more auto makers don't do 3 cylinder econo engines. They could easily use one head off an existing V6 with a new block.
When will we see direct compounding ? Still think dual stage expansion ( two snails, one for boost one for spinning an alternator to charge batteries)would wring out a hefty amount of thermal gain.
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