Packing 123 Horsepower Into 3 Cylinders

[cpzilliacus]

N.Y. Times: Packing 123 Horsepower Into 3 Cylinders

Craig Daitch needed to fly to Los Angeles on short notice, and he had more than the usual amount of baggage.

In addition to a laptop and extra clothes, Mr. Daitch, manager for car communications at Ford Motor, was bringing an item for display at last fall's auto show: the largest part of a new Ford engine.

[pctech]

Ford has been turning out some very sophisticated engines. (as they have too, to meet tightening CAFE/emissions standards) It'll be interesting to see how it performs in real world test and how it sells.

Mark

[Alps]

The problem with 3-cylinder engines has historically been noise and balance. I'm sure that creative counterweighting can minimize vibration issues, but it's an inherent issue with inline engines in general. The odd number of cylinders hurts the cause, because there's a very limited range of tuning the cylinder firing combinations. They can do their best, but you'll always know you're driving a 3-banger.

[cpzilliacus]

The problem with 3-cylinder engines has historically been noise and balance. I'm sure that creative counterweighting can minimize vibration issues, but it's an inherent issue with inline engines in general. The odd number of cylinders hurts the cause, because there's a very limited range of tuning the cylinder firing combinations. They can do their best, but you'll always know you're driving a 3-banger.

Even heard or driven in an old SAAB (which featured a 2-stroke 3 cylinder engines) in the 1960's? Sounded like a popcorn machine, with plenty of oily two-stroke exhaust.

They were capable of maintaining 70 MPH in the pre-NMSL days.

[pctech]

The ford 3 cyl. eco-boost engine has the counter balancing in the flywheel, does not use a counter balance weight shaft.
From what I have read it's a pretty smooth engine and performs well.

Mark

[Henry]

The problem with 3-cylinder engines has historically been noise and balance. I'm sure that creative counterweighting can minimize vibration issues, but it's an inherent issue with inline engines in general. The odd number of cylinders hurts the cause, because there's a very limited range of tuning the cylinder firing combinations. They can do their best, but you'll always know you're driving a 3-banger.

Even heard or driven in an old SAAB (which featured a 2-stroke 3 cylinder engines) in the 1960's? Sounded like a popcorn machine, with plenty of oily two-stroke exhaust.

They were capable of maintaining 70 MPH in the pre-NMSL days.

One of my old college roommates had a Geo Metro, also with a 3-cylinder engine. Man, that thing was strange, simply because of that fact!

[Sanctimoniously]

http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/2012-ford-focus-10l-ecoboost-instrumented-test-review

http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/2014-ford-fiesta-10l-ecoboost-driven-review

Good effort by Ford, but I think I'll just stick to four-bangers. Apparently this engine is also available in the European Ford Mondeo.

[leroys73]

Triumph motorcycles use 3 cylinders.  The Rocket III is smooth. Well, then there was the Yugo.