Cars
Mercedes-Benz recently introduced a strong four-cylinder diesel powerplant. It's not unusual for a German luxury automaker to introduce new engines of any sort. In fact, the ever-evolving diesel is a BMW, Audi, and Mercedes forte.Â
- Volvo Uk Announces Prices On New 2.0-litre V70 & S80
Volvo has revealed pricing on its new entry-level 2.0-litre engines in the V70 estate and S80 sedan. The 2.0-litre common rail diesel generates 136PS and 320Nm of torque and is equipped with a Diesel Particulate Filter as standard while its gasoline...
- The Ten Engines Of The Audi A6
Look under the hood of multiple Audi A6s at your local Audi dealer, America. What you won't find are options; at least compared to the wide variety of powerplants on offer in Audi's home market and much of Europe. Audi sold 234,000 A6 sedans and...
- Audi Tt - Across The Pond
Contrary to popular belief, not all TTs are created equal. While we North Americans enjoy the beauty of the Good 12-winning Audi style icon with 200+ horsepower and perhaps 30mpg at the best of times, Europe will soon be offered power and efficiency. ...
- Benz Diesels Recalled
BMW, Honda, and Volkswagen are amongst the group of automakers bringing diesel back. Mercedes-Benz has rarely left the North American marketplace completely forsaken when it comes to the high-torque engine configuration, but it appears their latest (year...
- Diesel Comeback?
Nissan has announced that 2010 will see diesel Nissans in the North American market. First to debut will likely be the Maxima. There are only a few automakers competing in Europe that don't possess a diesel repertoire. Nissan is a seller and producer...
Cars
HORSEPOWER per CC - Diesel & Gas
Mercedes-Benz recently introduced a strong four-cylinder diesel powerplant. It's not unusual for a German luxury automaker to introduce new engines of any sort. In fact, the ever-evolving diesel is a BMW, Audi, and Mercedes forte. Nevertheless, this 2.1L four-cylinder ought to garner some heady comparisons. Comparing diesels with equivalent gasoline/petrol-powered engines is unfair, to say the least. But it appears that in the latter part of this decade, the unfairness of it all has switched sides.Â
Remember the 80's? Or are you still attempting to wipe the soot off your pants after the episode involving the Oldsmobile diesel your uncle owned? Even after diesels began to be exclusively turbocharged, gasoline-fired engines had their number. It was expected, as recently as a few years back, that two turbos and a little extra capacity were required to find the horsepower present in 'normal' engines. Torque was another story, but still; the four-cylinders were at an even greater disadvantage than the big V8 diesel bruisers from Audi and Mercedes-Benz or the straight-sixes from BMW.
Forget that. This new 2.1L generates 204 horsepower. Strip away a hundred CCs or so and call yourself Volkswagen GTI. Your 2.0L turbocharged four-cylinder doesn't produce as many horses as this Benz diesel. Honda, perhaps the world's preeminent engine manufacturer, utilizes a 2.0L naturally-aspirated four in the Civic Si and Type R, but it comes up a speck short as well.
Ach, what about America? Surely Detroit can come up with something filled with gasoline that'll topple the Germans. Hmm? Hello Detroit, where art thou? Chevrolet's 2.2L Cobalt is more than 50 horsepower down on the 2.1L Benz diesel. Its torque figure is nearly 2.5x greater than that generated by the Chevrolet mill.
The French - surely the French can come up with something better. Renault's hot hatchbacks are like nothing else. True enough, but the 2.0L out of the Clio 197 produces just that. 197 horsepower.Â
Is it fair? General Motors, not exactly the last bastion of four-cylinder hope, can turbocharge a small four-cylinder gas-fired engine to heights not seen by this 2.1L Mercedes diesel. The HHR wagonette, in SS form, makes use of a 2.0L turbo that spins to 260 horsepower. That's got the Mercedes number by 56.Â
It's easy to see then, that turbo vs. turbo, gasoline can fuel an engine to horsepower greatness in a way that's yet to be seen with diesel. There are plenty of other examples just like the Chevrolet HHR SS, while diesel has a few others that can cut the mustard, too. Torque and economy are still the calling cards of every diesel. But with horsepower numbers gaining and a new following about to be born in North America (diesel prices notwithstanding), the quest for equivalent power is still charging on.
- Volvo Uk Announces Prices On New 2.0-litre V70 & S80
Volvo has revealed pricing on its new entry-level 2.0-litre engines in the V70 estate and S80 sedan. The 2.0-litre common rail diesel generates 136PS and 320Nm of torque and is equipped with a Diesel Particulate Filter as standard while its gasoline...
- The Ten Engines Of The Audi A6
Look under the hood of multiple Audi A6s at your local Audi dealer, America. What you won't find are options; at least compared to the wide variety of powerplants on offer in Audi's home market and much of Europe. Audi sold 234,000 A6 sedans and...
- Audi Tt - Across The Pond
Contrary to popular belief, not all TTs are created equal. While we North Americans enjoy the beauty of the Good 12-winning Audi style icon with 200+ horsepower and perhaps 30mpg at the best of times, Europe will soon be offered power and efficiency. ...
- Benz Diesels Recalled
BMW, Honda, and Volkswagen are amongst the group of automakers bringing diesel back. Mercedes-Benz has rarely left the North American marketplace completely forsaken when it comes to the high-torque engine configuration, but it appears their latest (year...
- Diesel Comeback?
Nissan has announced that 2010 will see diesel Nissans in the North American market. First to debut will likely be the Maxima. There are only a few automakers competing in Europe that don't possess a diesel repertoire. Nissan is a seller and producer...