BIGGER NO LONGER BETTER OR MORE POWERFUL
Carmakers favour turbocharged engines
DEAR Edwin,
Looking at the new Ford Fiesta I see that the top-of-therange model has only a 1-litre engine.
I was told that it s turbocharged and so the power is the same, or even more than that of most 1.6-litre models out there, but I am not totally convinced.
Is this true and why are most carmakers doing this? Tumelo Dear Tumelo, It might seem hard to believe, but the new range-topping Fiesta, which seems pricey at R231 500, is indeed powered by a 1-litre engine.
But size certainly doesn t matter Ford s EcoBoost philosophy sees a downgrade in engine capacity with the use of a turbocharger that redeems power but offers grunt on a par with larger engines.
In fact, this Fiesta kicks out 92kW of power and 170Nm of torque.
To put things into perspective, compare these stats to those of a Polo 1.6 that produces 77kW of power and 155Nm of torque.
Most automakers these days are using turbochargers and decreasing engine capacities.
Even BMW known for their normally-aspirated straight-six engines have succumbed to this trend, with a line-up of small turbo charged four-cylinder engines in the 1- and 3-Series models.
This has been done purely in an effort to extract more power out of less and to appear relevant in the quest to combat climate change.
Small turbocharged engines do have their merits: they offer a fizzier performance at our relatively high altitude, where the air is less rich in oxygen than at the coast, and they deliver impressive fuel consumption figures Ford claims 4.3 litres-100km for the Fiesta. Dear Edwin, My friends and I were debating which is better: diesel or petrol?
I said petrol cars were better because they cost less to buy and maintain.
My friend said diesel cars were better because they offer lower fuel consumption and last longer if maintained well.
So who is right? Steve Dear Steve, The diesel versus petrol debate is a popular one, but there is no clear winner and it all depends on buyer preference and the application the vehicle will be used for.
A diesel car will certainly consume less fuel and offer a larger range than its petrol counterpart.
But in South Africa the quality of our diesel is a major concern and has the potential to negatively affect components like injectors and turbochargers that can be expensive to replace.
As for performance, the diesel engines of today are on a par with their petrol counterparts in terms of refinement and power delivery, but they do require more regular maintenance.
Generally, it would make more sense for larger cars and SUVs to have a diesel engine.
But small to medium-sized petrol engine vehicles whose use is limited to city highways and by-ways will return good economy too if driven sensibly.
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