Mazda uses the system in its Speed6. It gets 270 horsepower, 27 percent more than the V-6 Mazda 6 sedan and it costs nearly $7,000 more.
Very nice car but Mazda is discontinuing for 2008 due to lack of interest.
They did this in 1976; Jimmah Carter era.
I think we had a Chevy Impala with 4 or 6 that produced something like 95hp.
What a P.O.S.
I have a Sky Redline (at least for now).
The engine is amazing. 260HP and about the same torque out of a 2.0 liter four cylinder.
Its scary fast (of course it doesn’t weigh all that much either).
My contention with squeezing lots of HP out of little motors has always been durability. Let’s face it, the more stress you subject machines to, the quicker they wear out. The alternative is to use expensive alloys and polymers to resist the additional wear and tear. So far, to the best of my knowledge, the racing industry and high performance aftermarket autos are the only place these very pricy motors are used.
So, in 2010 when Ford wants me to by a 350 hp, F-150 with a V-6 in it, I will search around for the 300 hp V-8 and have confidence that I will still get 200,000+ miles out of it over 10 to 15 years.
Most “slashing” power is needed only in short bursts. Given the current state of the laws (yuck), the engine coupled with a fast response, “power bursting” technology will go a long way in the market. Currently there are not too many options:
turbo boost - usually a noticeable delay in the boost
battery assist - takes lots of batteries and adds considerable weight
ultra capacitor - new technology and still adds weight but not as much as battery assist
flywheel - old technology that could be improved but it too adds weight and can cause handling problems if not engineered properly.
Alternatively, you can reduce the mass of the vehicle. This will require expensive new materials and new designs that are not yet tested. These new designs may cause an increase in the number of highway deaths.
So, Congress either wants you to have less fun or is willing to sacrifice the lives of it’s citizens.
I have never been impressed with the Ford V8, having driven two vehicles with them. The third Ford I drove was a Mustang with a V6 that had better pick-up and responsiveness than both V8s. That’s more likely a weight issue. But then again, I drove the Lincoln LS with a 6 cylinder, also better than a V8.
Turbo and super-charging are the way to go. They should have been producing them for the last 30 years in all vehicles.
History repeating itself - it’s the 1980’s all over again. How will those things tow a boat through hilly northern Michigan?
(Not that there are too many people left here)
SOLUTION: PUT DIESELS IN ‘EM!!
More bang per cylinder.
A sedate-looking real-wheel-drive monster with a 4.0 liter, 290hp V8. It looks like you're obeying the speed limit when The Law is around, but it'll deliver 0-60mph in 6.6 seconds. And, it's built by Toyota, so it'll run forever.
LOL, yeah, well, get ready to see your truck division go bust, pal.
I don’t suppose this bodes well for the V-10s like my wife and I have in our F250 and Excursion.
Auto enthusiasts really need an NRA type organization. Anyone know of anything close?
Think the F150 counts as a “big commercial truck”? If not my dad will be switching brands. He’s had 3 F150’s so far but won’t get rid of his V8 engine to stay in the Ford family.
Oops!
I meant “an extra 27 percent horsepower”, not “27 extra horsepower”
in my post 30 above.
Off-topic comment: Why does the Lincoln MKS look like a Pontiac? What were they thinking with that grille design???
Ford looks to be in a death spiral. Would you rather have an expensive Turbo6 in your Ford pickup, or a Toyota with a V8? (Hint: higher temperatures and pressures lead to shorter engine lives)
Why don't some of these auto manufacturers simply take their existing engines and add another gear (5th, 6th, or even 7th) to improve fuel economy?
Conversely, the auto industry could push the U.S. government to do one thing that would probably be quite effective in improving overall fuel efficiency: Increase the number of vehicles with manual transmissions on the road. This isn't a bad idea at all . . . if Congress is going to force people to drive certain types of cars to meet these fuel standards, they might as well force them to drive cars that require a driver who -- well, KNOWS HOW TO DRIVE.
