We’re living in a golden age of performance engines, with the four-cylinder slowly becoming the most popular type.
You can expect to find an engine under the hood of any normal car, and most of the time it will be a four-cylinder engine. Most cars on the road, from small cars to big SUVs, have engines that are set up like this. Back in the day, most big cars had V-8 engines because they were so heavy. But in recent years, the four-cylinder engine has gotten so powerful that it is now used in almost all cars.
Putting more recent cars on the market
Most car companies have put most of their efforts into making SUVs. Even Ford has stopped making sedans and only makes trucks and SUVs now. Their only car is the Mustang. But Honda, Subaru, and Volkswagen have kept making high-performance versions of their regular compact cars. Mazda doesn’t have a line of fast cars called “Speed,” but the Turbo 3 and Miata coupe are both great cars.
Even though Hyundai came late to the performance game, some of their cars are the most fun to drive. Some of the most precise-driving cars are made by their N performance division. The Elantra N looks like it has a lot going on, but it drives very well. The reliable four-cylinder engine is what makes all of these cars possible. Even though they still have to meet strict emission goals, they don’t have to make as many changes as the bigger engines, so they can stay exciting.
More engines with turbochargers
Used to be, these engines had four cylinders that turned fast and drew air in on their own. They never went after big power, but rather fun and interaction. Cars like the Honda S2000 and the first-generation Honda Civic Type R would rev up to 9,000 RPM, which is where they made their most power. When they hit the high notes, they also made some of the best sounds. But these kinds of engines aren’t as good as they used to be, and low-down torque has taken their place.
Since most of its problems have been fixed, turbocharging is now the best way to make power. Turbo cars of the past had a lot of turbo lag, but modern turbo cars don’t have that problem. Even though it’s still there, it’s a lot less than it used to be. This makes these engines feel linear, just like engines with natural airflow. It also lets companies like Hyundai Elantra N play with the sound of loud overruns.
One of the best things about turbocharging these engines is that they get more power with the same or less displacement. Bigger engines have to get smaller or even change how they are put together, but these engines can stay the same size and still make more power. Even though they are smaller, they still get great gas mileage because they can be driven normally with the turbos and still get great gas mileage.
