Volvo looking to have nothing larger than a 4cyl engine in a few years. Will offer 3 and 4 cyl engines in both gas and diesel.
Volvo is smart. They can see the future.
Please tell me why we need more than four cylinders to move us around.
Merging onto the freeway is made easier with 6cyl. Though I know we’re going to see more and more companies switch over to turbo charged vehicles in a bid to save fuel.
Ford is going to test a turbo charged 3 cyl engine in their Fiesta in England. The 1L engine shouldn’t cost very much for their congestion charge.
"Please tell me why we need more than four cylinders to move us around. "
Depends on what you drive. There’s a reason why you still see a fair number of V8 Camaros and Mustangs around. Having a 4 cylinder is simply not keeping with the character of some cars? Who wants a four cylinder Lambo? Also a four cylinder, even a larger dispacement 4 cylinder turbo diesel like a Cummins 4BT, would have tough time handling the weight a 3/4 or 1 ton pickup.
Please tell me why we need more than four cylinders to move us around.
Impossible to haul a camper and all it’s equipment with a 4-cylinder…Maybe a turbo Diesel 4-cylinder. But not a gas 4-cylinder.
Many years ago I had a Honda n600 (2 cyl) for a couple of months. It was an absolute blast to drive and cost less than $3 to fill.
Lots of models will be going to 4s. BMW is dropping their non-turbo 6s, Hyundai/Kia is using no 6s on their sedans, others will follow as the CAFE requirements ramp up.
I also had a Honda AN600 2-cylinder back in the day. I purchased it in '71 brand-new for $1,650 and drove it for 17 years. I was also riding a 1200cc Harley, so my motorcycle was twice as big as my car.
mcparadise’s post was a little broad,
but it’s obvious to me by ‘us’ he means a vehicle for basic ‘personal transportation’.
One for commuting to work, or carrying a small family of say, four and some baggage.
I have never been certain as to the relationship between the number of cylinders and either power or economy. When I bought a 2011 Toyota Sienna minvan when they came out in March of 2010, I had a choice of a 4 cylinder or a 6 cylinder. The mileage difference was nil. Consumer Reports has also noted this in its tests. I bought the 6 cylinder. When Studebaker came out with the Lark back in 1959, it was available with a 169 cubic inch 6 or a 259 cubic inch V-8. The V-8 got virtually the same mileage as the 6 and under some conditions actually got better mileage.
As for power, one of the best pulling tractors of the 1940s and 1950s was the 2 cylinder John Deere.
More cylinders aren’t necessarily better. The Lincoln had some problems with its V-12 engine and went to a V-8 in 1949. Some of the 1946-48 Lincolns were retrofitted with a V-8 with no loss in power.
I do prefer having 1 cylinder over zero cylinders in a lawnmower–as a kid I pushed a reel type mower with no engine more times than I care to remember.
Personally, I don’t see why an I4 can’t accomplish the same things as a V6 of equal displacement. The Toyota Tacoma regular cab with an I4 engine has a listed towing capacity of 3,500 lbs., while the Tacoma X-Runner with a V6 can only tow 3,300 lbs. I4 engines don’t necessarily have to be low displacement engines.
Wouldn’t it be cheaper to maintain and easier to work on an I4 because of fewer parts and ease of access in the engine compartment? Personally, I would prefer a large I4 rather than a small V6.
To paraphrase Bill Maher, many people want a big truck with a V8 engine to tow the boat they don’t own, up the side of a mountain they don’t live near.
I went from a v6 to a 4 when I realized the only (and I mean ONLY) time I floored the v6 was to have fun. Never needed to when merging in Dallas traffic. Never need to now with my 4, either, and I’ve about doubled my mpgs, same size car, hybrid.
More cylinders isn’t necessarily better or worse. In line engines are inherently smoother than V engines. An inline 4 that is well designed can be a very smooth and powerful engine.
V engines are not as smooth and more cylinders in a V engine generally equates to a smoother running motor. With the increased use of counter rotating balance shafts V4’s and V6’s have been smoothed out pretty well.
In the end a 4 can be smaller, less complicated, have less parts, less weight, and be just as powerful as the same displacement 6 or V8. Less cylinders means less fuel needed to idle the motor and less fuel used at low loads on the same displacement engine.
I can’t wait for cars to go to electric motors. We can then debate whether the car should have series wound or inductin motors. If we go with induction motors, we can then discuss how many poles the motor should have.
Personally, I don’t see why an I4 can’t accomplish the same things as a V6 of equal displacement. The Toyota Tacoma regular cab with an I4 engine has a listed towing capacity of 3,500 lbs., while the Tacoma X-Runner with a V6 can only tow 3,300 lbs. I4 engines don’t necessarily have to be low displacement engines.
For a pickup that might be fine…But pickups don’t meet my family requirements…A mid-size SUV does…And a 4-cylinder and towing a 3500lb camper is NOT going to happen.
Buy I do agree that many people buy way too much vehicle for what they need.
Do you think my motorcylcle doesn’t need 6 cylinders? It may not need 6, but I enjoy having them.
Goldwing:
Why do you think an 1,800 cubic centimeter flat 6 cylinder engine is any better than an 1,800 cubic centimeter flat 4 cylinder engine? I can see why you think an 1,800 cc engine is more fun than a 1,200 cc engine, but what do you think you are gaining from having those extra cylinders on an engine with EQUAL DISPLACEMENT?
MikeInNH:
Why do you think a 5 liter V6 engine is any better than a 5 liter I4 engine? I can see why you think a 5 liter engine can haul and tow more than a 1.7 liter engine, but what do you think you are gaining from having those extra cylinders on an engine with EQUAL DISPLACEMENT?
I wasn’t thinking equal displacement…just what is offered by the manufacturers.
I drive around in one of those little 4’s everyday (Escort, 2.0L). Mostly its just fine for personal transport & I don’t really drive for fun.
Its that every once in a while though - like getting on the highway or pulling a hill, or out to pass someone…I’m not necessarily wishing for 2 more cylinders at that point. I’d take 2 more valves per cylinder though. The difference between a SOHC-8v & DOHC-16v is stark. I think my next 4 might have to be a 16v.
My wifes 1980 Datsun 510 with the Nap-Z engine which was duel ignition was probably the fastest 4 cylinder car we’ve ever owned. Great running vehicle…Too bad those were the Rust years of Datsun.