Posted on 08/14/2010 2:15:22 AM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
CARS around the world are making do with fewer cylinders to save fuel; the engine of the Tata Nano, to cite one extreme case, has just two.
Yet this is America, land of cheap gasoline and home of the brave V-8, a country where 4-cylinder engines have mainly populated rental fleets and econocars. So the question nags: how low are we willing to go in the cylinder count, especially for models that stake their images on power and prestige?
Ford has already made waves with the announcement that its EcoBoost 4-cylinder will be available in the redesigned Explorer. But cowboys, urban and otherwise, might swallow their Skoal if they see 4-cylinder engines in a new, smaller pickup that carries an F-Series badge, an idea that Ford has said it is considering.
Chevrolet has tested a turbo 4 in its muscle-car Camaro. Efficient power aside, that might spark bad flashbacks to the Iron Duke, the notorious 90-horsepower 4-cylinder that came in the Camaro beginning in 1982.
Jesse Toprak, vice president for industry trends at TrueCar.com, a shopping site, said that automakers will largely test America’s small-engine appetite in safer categories.
“If you’re looking at a starter Camaro, there might be merit in offering a powerful 4-cylinder,” he said.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
I have a 1971 Norton 850 Commando Interstate, I bought off the showroom floor years ago. It weighs 430 lbs soaking wet.
It will do the 1/4 mile in 11.3 secods topping out at 112 mph. But you really have to know how to care for it or it doesn’t work well, besides becoming dangerous if you let it slip too far.
I just like larger engines, they work less to get what I need doing done.And in the long run they last much, much longer. every 4 cyl my wife has driven lasted 5 years tops, before it started to take 700+ bucks a year to keep it roadworthy.
Every v8 PU I have had was on the road for 10 years,and then I can sell them in 2 weeks for 5 grand.I guess thats just my style.I do not like 4 cyclinder vehicles unless they have a sports application, the only one I ever loved was a 1973 MG midget, and then I had to tune the dual Weber carbs every week.Once I got a V8, I never went back.
Yeah, that's why my '95 Jetta has 230,000 miles and still runs strong....
Cute, but non-responsive.
Sure. That's why just about every manufacturer has an engine where 2 or 4 cylinders are turned off once you reach cruising speed and maintain steady rpms.
Yep, shows a complete lack of understanding of physics, motor design, transmission improvements, etc.
I'll keep my Hemi V8, thanks.
that works out to 2.8 liter engine!
My Honda just hit 162K and is running fine.
Built for the autobahn. That’s my mantra when I pass V-8s and sports cars that didn’t see it coming, especially from an old diesel.
Well good for you!How many winters and how much road salt has it seen?
Oooooooo! So cute!
It was actually designed as a first car for Indian (and other third world) peasants and only costs a couple thousand dollars, IIRC. It wasn’t made for us.
I’m not impressed. It is OUR future as our ruling liberals envision it.
This is what Mr. Obama wants for us...
Ford F-100 trucks are all over Argentina...brand new models, so I assume there is a factory in country.
Best pickup I ever drove for non-heavy use was a Toyota HiLux; 3.0 liter turbo diesel, doble cabina y quatro por quatro. Drove them all over the high Andes in Chile and Argentina and Peru...over 17,000 feet above sea level.
Great trucks except the heaters didn’t put out enough hot air in winter at the high altitudes...when it was snowing, and the wind was blowing...and it was -40.
“Put 4 people in a 4 cyl and try to merge safely onto the Interstate where the flow is at 70+ mph! “
just did exactly that with 4 people and a bunch of groceries. that ole turbo kicks in and you are there.
I like 8 cyls as well but 4s have their uses. Its really not the number of cyl, its the horsepower and torque.
It's a 97, been through regular Pittsburgh winters and the like. On my 2nd tranny.
Lawrence Ulrich is a Michigan native raised and forged in Detroit and a former auto critic at the Detroit Free Press. Ulrich now lives in Brooklyn, New York and his reviews and features appear regularly in The New York Times, Robb Report, Popular Science and Travel + Leisure Golf.
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