Go Ford!

There is an Interesting article in the March 10 Automobiles section of the Sunday New York Times describing the one liter three cylinder engine that will power the Fiesta and be available for the Mondeo. It is here.   The engine is capable of producing 123 horsepower and 148 foot pounds of torque, with 90% of the maximum torque available at only 1500 rpm.  I realize this is far from the most powerful engine in town, but my 1956 Austin Healey engine produced only 90 horsepower, and the car was a delight to drive, could break 100 mph, and garnered me a number of speeding tickets and the right to compete in amateur road races. Think of 132 horses pulling on your car.  It should move just fine. And think of the weight saved in the car. The article mentions that the weight of the cast-iron block is only 52 pounds, and that one was taken to a show as regular luggage in a suitcase (see photo in article.}

 It is wonderful to see U.S. auto companies expanding  the envelope of their products.  When motorcycles began to radically improve their engine performance a number of years ago (many are now in the 200 hp range) I wondered why so  little was going on with U.S.automobiles.  We seemed happy to be driving around with moderately modified  V-8’s and straight sixes for many years. 

 Whether you like small cars or not, (there is an article on coming Toyota Yari in the same issue which claims the new model is great fun to drive, calling it a “grippy little monster on curving roads”) it is exciting to be able to choose from a greater selection, and find that 40 mpg is obtainable from gasoline power after all. 

 What is driving this increased diversity?  Certainly competition. Probably boredom with SUV’s and cumbersome sedans.  Also re-discovery of the fun of driving and ease of parking small, responsive cars.  A Ford person I know told me that the gasoline engine people are feeling neglected in light of all the attention being  paid to electrified automobiles and showing off their capabilities.   But finally, increased federal mileage requirements play a role, as they have before.

 It is interesting that industry seems almost automatically to fight government regulations, and then often makes money complying with them.  The automobile mileage regulations are typical.  After resisting them strongly, U.S. automohile companies seem to rapidly comply with them, with improved results for all.  It does not seem to be technical ability that stands in the way, but rather inertia and complacency—and the desire to put money into profit, rather than investing on the development of new and improved products.