downsizing
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Lately, automakers haven't been touting the rising fuel economy of new vehicles, but it has to continue rising to meet reductions in the legal levels of carbon emitted. While major strides in fuel economy have been made over the past five years, the complex engine technologies and other improvements turn out to have less effect in real-world driving than the numbers would indicate. In layman's terms, a tiny turbocharged inline-4 cylinder engine may not be as efficient as lab results suggest. DON'T MISS: Fuel-efficiency rules create jobs too, contrary to industry plaints Those findings come...
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Next Mercedes-Benz small cars to get even tinier engines
Not so many years ago, a 1.2-liter engine would only have been found in the U.S. in the smallest and least impressive of subcompact cars. It might have been a 3-cylinder, and certainly wouldn't have had even 100 horsepower. But times change, and engines of that size will soon be found even in the...
John Voelcker -
VW suggests engine downsizing is done; emissions rules are the reason
When it comes to improving fuel efficiency, simply making an engine smaller is a fairly direct way to get results. It's the approach that many automakers have taken in recent years. They have downsized engines across model lines, usually adding turbochargers at the same time to match the power...
Stephen Edelstein -
Small Cars Now Deliver Fuel Efficiency of Big Motorcycles: How'd That Happen?
How are fuel-efficient are some of today's smaller cars? It turns out that they now actually equal the fuel economy of larger motorcycles--which is pretty amazing for a four-seat vehicle weighing more than a ton. Especially since the motorcycles returning comparable gas-mileage figures weigh about...
John Voelcker -
Ford Marks 5-Millionth EcoBoost Engine Since 2009
The 5-millionth EcoBoost-equipped vehicle to roll off assembly lines marks a significant milestone for Ford.
Stephen Edelstein -
2015 Hyundai Sonata Eco: Quick Drive Of Higher-Gas Mileage Small Turbo Four
The 2015 Hyundai Sonata Eco is the most fuel-efficient version of the Korean maker's mid-size sedan, aside from its Sonata Hybrid model. And this year, the Sonata Hybrid uses the carryover body from the last-generation model--meaning that if you want the highest-mileage Sonata with the new and more...
John Voelcker -
A new study claims downsized engines can't match their rated fuel economy in the real world.
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Ford EcoBoost High-Efficiency Turbo Engines: Ultimate Guide
If you've spent any time looking at Fords recently, one word won't have escaped your attention: EcoBoost. EcoBoost is Ford-speak for a downsized, turbocharged gasoline engine that aims to either supplement or replace a larger, naturally-aspirated engine in a given vehicle lineup. The name is pure...
Antony Ingram -
Audi Patent Reveals Plan For Four-Cylinder Engine As Smooth As Six Or V-8
There's a reason people like big, multi-cylinder engines and it isn't just about the noise they make or how much power they produce. It's also to do with smoothness. And it's one reason some people are worried about the latest trend for downsized four-cylinder units, as they begin appearing in...
Antony Ingram -
Ford Fiesta 3-Cyl Boosted To 140 HP: Forbidden Fruit Quick Drive
At 123 horsepower, Ford's 1.0-liter Ecoboost Fiesta already develops an impressive output for its diminutive size. That it does so while delivering entertaining handling and perhaps most importantly, a 36 mpg combined rating (31 mpg city, 43 mpg highway) is even better. But Ford's powertrain...
Antony Ingram -
Smaller, More Efficient Engines Work Harder; Noise Suppression More Important
For a long time in the U.S. car market, bigger was better. From engines to bodywork, size meant luxury and performance. But recently, manufacturers and customers alike have got used to a new concept: downsizing. In terms of engines, this means doing more with less. But engineers have encountered a...
Antony Ingram -
2014 Ford Escape: Great Small SUV, Not-So-Great Gas Mileage
The previous model of Ford Escape was a popular car in the U.S. from 2001 through 2012--not only for its utility, but also for the availability of a hybrid model. At 32 mpg combined in front-wheel-drive form, the Escape Hybrid was comfortably one of the most economical crossovers on the market...
Antony Ingram -
Three-cylinder engines are all the rage right now. Once the preserve of basic economy cars, they're now used in everything from the latest generation of economy vehicles, through sporty hatchbacks like the 2015 MINI Cooper and Ford Fiesta 1.0 EcoBoost, to BMW's i8 plug-in hybrid sports car. Mercedes-Benz though will not be joining the three-pot party, at least for its more traditional offerings like the C-Class and the models above it. The automaker told Autocar that three-cylinder units have been considered, but rejected as they have "too many compromises". Head of engine development...
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Are New, Smaller, Higher-Mileage Engines Less Reliable?
For the first time in over 15 years, increased engine and transmission problems in 2011 model year cars have contributed to a decline in vehicle dependability in J.D. Power's annual Vehicle Dependability Study. Ordinarily you might put this down to the luck of the draw--an occasional drop is almost...
Antony Ingram -
Nissan Reveals Tiny Engine For Electric ZEOD Le Mans Racer
Downsizing isn't just a concept reserved for road-going vehicles--the world of motor racing is adopting the theory too. Smaller engines, turbocharging and hybrid technology is all the rage, with this year's F1 grid adopting all three in an effort to remain relevant. Nissan's ZEOD RC Le Mans car is...
Antony Ingram -
Hybrids, Electrics Not Needed To Reach 54.5 MPG In 2025: Industry Exec
For some companies in the auto industry, building cars to hit a target of 54.5 mpg by 2025 may seem like a near-impossible task. But to others, the EPA's Corporate Average Fuel Economy targets agreed in 2011 aren't simply achievable by that date, but could be reached today--and with today's...
Antony Ingram -
2014 Ford Fiesta EcoBoost Priced, 45 MPG Highway Too
Ever since Mitsubishi revealed its gas-sipping Mirage was capable of 40 mpg combined, we've awaited the figures for Ford's 1.0-liter EcoBoost Fiesta with interest. That wait is now at an end, with Ford's customer website and the EPA's FuelEconomy.gov website both confirming the three-cylinder...
Antony Ingram -
Toyota Thinks Larger, Non-Turbo Engines Can Deliver Better MPG
One of the most popular motor industry trends in recent years has been that of 'downsizing' engines--reducing capacity even in larger vehicles to improve fuel efficiency, while usually adding a turbocharger to make up for lost power. It's why Ford can now sell a 1.0-liter engine in the U.S. in its...
Antony Ingram -
Putting a tiny engine in a hairy-chested sports car doesn't seem like the perfect recipe for fun, but British sports car companies have always been a little... different. Caterham is one of those companies. Back in 1972, it bought the rights to Colin Chapman's lightweight Lotus Seven sports car, and has produced variations on the theme ever since. The latest slots a miniscule Suzuki-sourced 660cc turbocharged gasoline engine under its long hood. That sounds quite familiar to us. 660cc is the maximum engine capacity limit for Japan's kei-car regulations--rules that ensure Japanese drivers...
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2014 Volkswagen Jetta, Beetle, Passat Get Smaller, More Efficient Engines
Volkswagen is finally dropping its long-serving 2.5-liter gasoline engine from several models, in favor of a more efficient, downsized turbocharged 1.8-liter. The 1.8 turbocharged, direct-injection four-cylinder develops 170 horsepower, the same as the naturally-aspirated 2.5. However, its 184...
Antony Ingram -
2025 Gas Mileage Reachable With 'Radical Downsizing' HyBoost Engine, Says Ricardo
Noticed engines getting smaller recently? You're not alone. "Downsizing", as it's called, involves using a smaller engine to do the work of a larger alternative--usually through turbocharging--while enjoying the fuel efficiency benefits associated with its size. Engineering firm Ricardo thinks this...
Antony Ingram -
New Gas Mileage Rules Will Reshape What Americans Drive: Engines And Transmissions
Smaller, more efficient engines better matched to more complex transmissions will have some of the biggest effects in making tomorrow's cars more fuel-efficient. The 2025 corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) level of 54.5 mpg translates to about 42 mpg on the EPA window sticker. And while Toyota...
John Voelcker -
Two-Thirds Of 2020 Vehicles Will Be Four Cylinders, Ford Says
Four-cylinder engines, often equipped with turbochargers, are very much in vogue at the moment. It's unlikely to change any time soon, either, with Ford predicting that two thirds of U.S. vehicle sales will comprise smaller-capacity four-cylinder units by 2020. That figure represents a fast climb...
Antony Ingram -
Diesel Vs Small Turbo Gas Engines: Does Real-World MPG Matter?
As fuel efficiency standards tighten continuously between now and 2025, buyers will have more powertrain options to chose from. And many have suggested there's a battle coming among smaller gasoline engines, diesels, and hybrids. If so, we hope that buyers will do the research to look at the...
John Voelcker