Triple Threat: Three-cylinder engine | CarExpert

news7g03/06/2022

12 4 minutes read

Triple Threat: Three-cylinder engine | CarExpert

Light cars have always tended to have engines with smaller displacements, but in general these cars should be at least powered by four cylinders.

More recently, however, manufacturers are cutting cylinder count by equipping models with three-pot engines, which are said to offer minimal compromises in power or performance.

Some manufacturers, including Toyota, Ford, Volvo and Jaguar Land Rover, are even using three-cylinder engines as an integral part of their performance or advanced plug-in hybrid powertrains.

Bring what?

Benefits and disadvantages

Why have these engines become the powertrain of choice for smaller vehicles? There are countless reasons.

Safety standards, especially those promoted by ANCAP, Euro NCAP and other organizations around the world, become more and more stringent over time, with vehicles being tested at high speeds. and with more giant devices used to simulate physical effects.

More recently, these standards have also required the incorporation of active safety devices such as automatic emergency braking (AEB) to achieve the highest ratings.

As a result, automakers must strive to ensure their smaller models remain the right size, have enough space inside and in the trunk, and incorporate a more robust crash structure and larger technology, all of which has the potential to increase vehicle weight and introduce additional packing constraints.

The compact size and lighter weight of three-cylinder engines make them ideally suited to the limited space requirements of compact vehicles and the space savings in the engine compartment can be accommodated. reserved elsewhere to maximize passenger safety and space.

Smaller cars generally also have strict cost targets to ensure that a model remains profitable, and this means that even a small savings on a unit basis can add up. a considerable amount during mass production.

With fewer cylinders and a correspondingly reduced number of parts compared to conventional four-cylinder engines, three-cylinder engines can also be cheaper to manufacture, helping to ensure that even the cheapest model in the line-up. An automaker’s product is still a good business investment.

A standard smaller cylinder also means a smaller combustion chamber and this provides environmental benefits in terms of reduced fuel consumption and CO reduction.₂ emissions, allowing car manufacturers to meet the stringent regulations of the upcoming Euro 6 and Euro 7.

This is particularly relevant in European countries, where regulators have set fleet-wide targets that mean average CO₂ Emissions from an automaker’s passenger vehicle line-up must not exceed 95g CO₂/ kilometer. Selling higher numbers of efficient three-cylinder engines could help offset larger, less efficient vehicles.

Problem?

Note that all of these claims are based on NEDC and WLTP cycle testing, and while three-cylinder engines can outperform under these test procedures, they can also be more stressed when higher loads, especially during heavy acceleration.

This means that real-world fuel economy may be negligible when compared to a comparable vehicle equipped with a four-cylinder engine.

Three-cylinder engines can be less balanced than equivalent four-cylinder engines, and as a result, this has adverse consequences for the NVH (noise, vibration and harshness), with This engine is considered to be less refined in performance than the four-cylinder engine, which often has a more ‘gross’ sound.

To some extent, this is subjective and the sound may be perceived as ‘sporty’ by some enthusiasts.

Performance Three-Cylinder Options: What’s Up?

Arguably the most iconic three-cylinder performance car is the WRC-inspired Toyota GR Yaris.

The Yaris GR uses a 1.6-liter in-line 3-cylinder engine to generate a total of 200kW of power at 6500rpm and 370Nm of torque across a wide range from 3000-4600rpm, making it the car The most powerful mass-produced road car ever. three-cylinder engine, and with outputs comparable to many famous aggressive products from the upper segment.

A more affordable performance option is the Ford Fiesta ST, which starts at $33,490 before on-road costs, and is powered by a 1.5-litre turbocharged three-cylinder making 147kW at 6000 rpm combined with a torque of 320Nm at 4000 rpm.

The car’s direct competitors include the VW Polo GTI and the Hyundai i20N, both of which are offered with a larger displacement, conventional turbocharged four-cylinder that produces power and equivalent torque.

Economical three-cylinder option: What’s up?

With the EU considered to have some of the strictest emissions regulations globally, it’s no surprise that many fuel-efficient three-cylinder engines are sourced from European carmakers. .

The French brands Peugeot and Citroën (both now under the banner of Stellantis), as well as the German brands BMW (including Mini) and the broader Volkswagen Group (including Audi) offer a wide range of products. models are available with a three-cylinder engine.

On the French side, everything from the Citroën C3 and C4 to the 2008 Peugeot and soon to the Peugeot 308 will be available with the widely used 1.2-litre three-cylinder Puretech turbocharged engine, in different states. .

From the German point of view, the BMW Group has revealed a family of modular engines whereby each cylinder has a displacement of 0.5 liters (500cc), and the smallest combination of this engine, the 1.5-litre three-cylinder engine, available in the entry-level version. Mini Cooper as well as BMW 118i hatch and 218i Gran Coupé with approximate power of 100kW and 220Nm.

Meanwhile, models from VW Group including the Audi A1, Volkswagen Polo and Volkswagen T-Cross are offered with a 1.0-litre turbocharged three-cylinder engine that produces 85kW of power and 200Nm of torque in all trims. car model.

Non-European brands offering three-cylinder engines include Kia (Picanto and Rio GT-line), Suzuki (Swift), Nissan Juke and Ford Puma small SUVs, as well as cheaper versions of the Toyota Yaris and Yaris Cross spinoff.

One way to improve the performance of a three-cylinder engine without compromising emissions or performance is through electrification, and in addition to the ‘closed-circuit’ hybrid engine offered by Toyota, the three-cylinder- Flax is also being used as part of a plug-in hybrid. (PHEV) powertrain.

For example, the Volvo XC40 Recharge PHEV and Range Rover Evoque PHEV both combine a 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine with a battery pack.