Expect to see smaller engines for BMW’s and Volkswagen’s future models, as high fuel prices and greater environmental concerns are pushing buyers towards engines with lower displacements and carmakers would be foolish to ignore the trend. VW’s plans to introduce a new three-cylinder variant of the Golf appear to be going ahead, according the carmaker’s development chief Ulrich Hackenberg. As a part of this environmental push, VW will also introduce hybrid variants based on its TwinDrive technology.
Expect to see smaller engines for BMW’s and Volkswagen’s future models, as high fuel prices and greater environmental concerns are pushing buyers towards engines with lower displacements and carmakers would be foolish to ignore the trend. VW’s plans to introduce a new three-cylinder variant of the Golf appear to be going ahead, according the carmaker’s development chief Ulrich Hackenberg. As a part of this environmental push, VW will also introduce hybrid variants based on its TwinDrive technology.
Wow, it would seem that Suzuki/Geo had it right back in the day after all, lol...
Seriously, anyone else had the luxury of driving one of the old 3 bangers?
Like the 2.5TL the little 3 has a bit of a viper-esque sound (thanks to the odd firing pattern?), but that little 3 struggled to push the car past 120kph at WOT.
Moot point I guess since we will likely never see a 3cyl from BMW or VW in North America.
Expect to see smaller engines for BMW’s and Volkswagen’s future models, as high fuel prices and greater environmental concerns are pushing buyers towards engines with lower displacements and carmakers would be foolish to ignore the trend. VW’s plans to introduce a new three-cylinder variant of the Golf appear to be going ahead, according the carmaker’s development chief Ulrich Hackenberg. As a part of this environmental push, VW will also introduce hybrid variants based on its TwinDrive technology.
Wow, it would seem that Suzuki/Geo had it right back in the day after all, lol...
Seriously, anyone else had the luxury of driving one of the old 3 bangers?
Like the 2.5TL the little 3 has a bit of a viper-esque sound (thanks to the odd firing pattern?), but that little 3 struggled to push the car past 120kph at WOT.
Moot point I guess since we will likely never see a 3cyl from BMW or VW in North America.
The 3 cylinders "struggling" had nothing to do with the number of cylinders. It was the HP#.
Expect to see smaller engines for BMW’s and Volkswagen’s future models, as high fuel prices and greater environmental concerns are pushing buyers towards engines with lower displacements and carmakers would be foolish to ignore the trend. VW’s plans to introduce a new three-cylinder variant of the Golf appear to be going ahead, according the carmaker’s development chief Ulrich Hackenberg. As a part of this environmental push, VW will also introduce hybrid variants based on its TwinDrive technology.
Wow, it would seem that Suzuki/Geo had it right back in the day after all, lol...
Seriously, anyone else had the luxury of driving one of the old 3 bangers?
Like the 2.5TL the little 3 has a bit of a viper-esque sound (thanks to the odd firing pattern?), but that little 3 struggled to push the car past 120kph at WOT.
Moot point I guess since we will likely never see a 3cyl from BMW or VW in North America.
The 3 cylinders "struggling" had nothing to do with the number of cylinders. It was the HP#.
I was generalizing a bit. That particular car was also an automatic which didn't make the most of the 1L displacement.
I wonder why Honda didn’t use a 3-Cyl engine on the Insight. I think this would have been a good cost savings measure resulting in a smaller and lighter engine. I suppose it has to do with refinement.
I really like the simplicity implied in a 3 cylinder engine.
I rented a three cylinder Corsa once - drove off - wow - this feels quite lively - wonder how it goes if I put my foot down...oh...no difference. Still, in a lightly loaded small car with a 5 speed manual it had perfectly acceptable power and refinement.
just thinking VW had to have a 3 cylinder - I mean they produce ( or have produced) 4 cyls, 5 (in line and VR), 6 (V and VR), V8, V10, V12, W12, W16....probably more besides. What next - a V7?
Hondasrule wrote: I wonder why Honda didn’t use a 3-Cyl engine on the Insight. I think this would have been a good cost savings measure resulting in a smaller and lighter engine. I suppose it has to do with refinement.
I really like the simplicity implied in a 3 cylinder engine.
Fit hybrid maybe?
Apart from NVH issues, there are (like 5-pots) certain breathing and balance issues that wouldn't really really satisfy Honda's engineering standards. Indeed, I'm surprised that they actually built a five!
BWM straight six takes a lot room. The block, then the transmission really eat into passenger room. I wonder if BWM will redesign the engine compartment and give more passenger room opening up leg room?
those output levels are pretty aggressive. Are these figures confirmed? I wonder what a 241hp 1.35l 3-banger would sound and feel like? Hell, a factory 321hp 1.8L 4-banger? I can only imagine those requiring rather large turbos and bags of lag.
those output levels are pretty aggressive. Are these figures confirmed? I wonder what a 241hp 1.35l 3-banger would sound and feel like? Hell, a factory 321hp 1.8L 4-banger? I can only imagine those requiring rather large turbos and bags of lag.
Twin-turbos, I'd suspect. Take one x35i engine and a plasma cutter...
Personally, the grande complication scares me. Give me a boring, smooth reliable snall four-banger with a clever VTEC head and throw out all the FREDs and heavy piping and turbos and stuff, thanks.
Not sure if it is confirmed but the article says that they are under construction & will be ready in ~2 years.
Those engines seem rather Honda/Acura-ish in lack of torque. Specifically the one that matches the TSX's 201hp but gets 10 lbs-ft less of torque. I wonder if BMW will get the same complaints & I wonder how the MPG will compare to the TSX.
those output levels are pretty aggressive. Are these figures confirmed? I wonder what a 241hp 1.35l 3-banger would sound and feel like? Hell, a factory 321hp 1.8L 4-banger? I can only imagine those requiring rather large turbos and bags of lag.
Twin-turbos, I'd suspect. Take one x35i engine and a plasma cutter...
Personally, the grande complication scares me. Give me a boring, smooth reliable snall four-banger with a clever VTEC head and throw out all the FREDs and heavy piping and turbos and stuff, thanks.
a twin turbo 3-cyl though? I can almost see the logic in the super/turbo twincombo that VW has, but sequential turbos on a 3-cyl seems a bit much.
TSX69 wrote: Not sure if it is confirmed but the article says that they are under construction & will be ready in ~2 years.
Those engines seem rather Honda/Acura-ish in lack of torque. Specifically the one that matches the TSX's 201hp but gets 10 lbs-ft less of torque. I wonder if BMW will get the same complaints & I wonder how the MPG will compare to the TSX.
well, it is only a 1.35L 3/cyl. BMW's been topping out around 100lb-ft/liter with their current crop of turbos, so 162lb-ft is stretching well past that, and the 192lb-ft version is really getting aggressive.
Hondasrule wrote: I wonder why Honda didn’t use a 3-Cyl engine on the Insight. I think this would have been a good cost savings measure resulting in a smaller and lighter engine. I suppose it has to do with refinement.
I really like the simplicity implied in a 3 cylinder engine.
Fit hybrid maybe?
Apart from NVH issues, there are (like 5-pots) certain breathing and balance issues that wouldn't really really satisfy Honda's engineering standards. Indeed, I'm surprised that they actually built a five!
Honda thought it was worth it when they came up with the original Insight.
I wonder if several car makers introduce 3 Cyl engines on their base models if Honda might go for it again and take the ECA1 to the next level (ECA13?).
Everyone else involved would be dealing with the same inherent issues, so Honda's version would be competing in a level playing field.
We are entering a period where FE is becoming critical and affordability will be key on entry level models. We'll see what happens.
if they can make 200 something from a 1.35L, does that mean the next gen 6cylinder turbo will make um.. 450~550? and a 4.0 v8 turbo would make 600 ~700 hp.
if they can make 200 something from a 1.35L, does that mean the next gen 6cylinder turbo will make um.. 450~550? and a 4.0 v8 turbo would make 600 ~700 hp.
a twin turbo 3 cyl? oo man, replace the current 3 cyl in my dads 500$ chevy sprint with one o these bad boys and that just sounds like one hell of a good time ending horribly wrong :D
anyways, back to reality.. will there really be a gain with these engines? specifically the 1.35 making 241hp! given that all the engines below it are also boosted their doubling the power the engine makes by boost alone lol. im sure that's going to put at least a little hurt on mpg, and possibly reliability... also price, eve though these things are small they don't sound very cheap :/
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