|
|
|
|
| Author |
|
|
Registered
|
It will be quite a while before the V8 marketplace is quieted based upon Europe which is the preview of our future.
__________________
63 356 2.1 Rally Coupe 75 911M 2.7 MFI 86 Sports Purpose Carrera "O4" 19 991.2 S |
||
03-05-2008, 10:26 AM
|
|
|
Registered
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Minneapolis
Posts: 7,482
|
Maybe we should forget talking number of cylinders and address it as 'displacement'. There is little reason for a 'normal' passenger car to have displacement over 4.0L, arguably 3.5L. A modern DOHC 4 valve/cyl gasoline engine with near square bore/stroke seems to have settled on ~0.6L per cylinder as the sweet spot for flame-front efficiency. 50 horsepower per cylinder is the high-end of normal, today. I think a 200hp 4 cylinder or 300hp 6 cylinder is plenty for a 3000-3500lb C/D class midsize sedan. Transmission efficiency helps small engines cope, as they multiply torque.
Combine efficient four cylinder engines with computer-controlled variable-geometry turbocharging, electric motor assist, regenerative braking, adaptive multi-ratio or CVT transmissions, better tires with lower rolling resistance (maintaining same grip), better aerodynamics, modern materials for a better strength/weight ratio, and todays active/passive safety systems and there is no reason why a car the size of a 1993 Honda Accord can't get 35 mpg city / 45 mpg freeway, pull 0.7G, earn a 5-star safty rating, and do 0-60 in 7 seconds while still selling for a reasonable price (if they sell 300K+ units like an Accord). Apply the same technologies to a performance car and the relativity remains. That said, I still love V8s |
||
|
03-05-2008, 10:32 AM
|
|
|
Unfair and Unbalanced
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: From the misty mountains to the bayou country
Posts: 9,711
|
Quote:
__________________
"SARAH'S INSIDE Obama's head!!!! He doesn't know whether to defacate or wind his watch!!!!" ~ Dennis Miller! |
||
|
03-05-2008, 11:13 AM
|
|
|
Unfair and Unbalanced
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: From the misty mountains to the bayou country
Posts: 9,711
|
I used to watch the Jetsons and..............
__________________
"SARAH'S INSIDE Obama's head!!!! He doesn't know whether to defacate or wind his watch!!!!" ~ Dennis Miller! |
||
|
03-05-2008, 11:14 AM
|
|
|
drag racing the short bus
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Location, Location...
Posts: 21,983
|
Quote:
__________________
The Terror of Tiny Town |
||
|
03-05-2008, 11:21 AM
|
|
