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Detroit, 3:52 PM
Sun Dec 6
14 posts in the last 24 hours
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06/08/09
When it comes to Ford news, it's new products and new tech that are all cutting-edge.
GM's busy selling brands and getting rid of the one car I'd actually want to buy. Chrysler's basically become the Big Lots of automakers in my mind. Lots of leftovers at bargain prices.
06/08/09
Some of that is just perception/PR.
GM still has the biggest fleet of fuel cell vehicles, is still refining a gas compression ignition engine, Volt, etc. Ford's powertrain tech isn't any further along than GM's.
06/08/09
...aside from to say that they're at least equal in importance when you've got to convince the tax payer you're a viable business.
06/08/09
I want that kind of tire melting goodness in a Ranger.
06/08/09
I mean, systems like this are cool and very innovative. They also represent significant fuel economy gains, which is pretty important with the new CAFE standards coming. However, I always wondered why Ford wasn't doing cylinder deactivation now like GM?
06/08/09
06/08/09
So if I paint face to be this colorful, would girls be more into me? Or I am just altogether screwed?
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06/08/09
What I'm talkin' about...
Having all those belt-driven accessories is SO 1960's...
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06/08/09
A 4-cylinder engine in any configuration will require extra balance shafts to completely balance things, while a 6-cylinder engine in any configuration can be completely balanced by the use of crankshaft counterweights.
The I-6 is a common choice for heavy-duty diesel engines because, in ag and construction equipment, width is typically more important than length, and that it somewhat simplifies plumbing.
06/08/09
@Chaparral: How is a straight six going to be heavier? Also, I don't think packaging is all the big of deal any more.
06/08/09
Yes, packaging is no longer an issue. As you can see modern engine bays have lots of empty room compared to engine bays in the past.
Seriously though, how are you going to package a straight six in a front wheel drive car? Also hybrid, turbo-charging, and other new technologies are not going to suddenly make packing either.
06/08/09
If you want to understand the advantages of a V6 versus an I6, I would suggest reading the Wikipedia articles on both.
[en.wikipedia.org]
[en.wikipedia.org]
The gist of it is that V6s, regardless of V angle, require some form of counterweights and balance shafts in order to be perfectly balanced, since they are essentially two inline three cylinder engines joined together. An inline six doesn't have these balancing problems because it has an even number of cylinders inline and therefore it can make more power per displacement. The only advantages that V6s have is in structural rigidity, lightness, and size.
06/08/09
GM is working on a ignitionless gas engine which is functional under many conditions already, and generates pretty impressive economy.
06/08/09
As a generator, though, it has promise. It could either be a staitionary gen-set for a house or the generator in a system similar to the Volt.