A recent trend in the automotive industry is downsizing the engine, which is decreasing the displacement and reducing the number of cylinders. To compensate for these changes, manufacturers add turbochargers, hybrid systems (batteries and electric motors) or increase the maximum RPM (revolutions per minute). This trend has been heavily implemented throughout recent years and can be seen in all car manufactures line ups. For example, Volvo has started only producing cars with 2-liter, 4-cylinder engines that are twin turbo charged and supercharged, Audi has taken away one of their most reliable engines which is the 4.2-liter V8 and replaced it with a smaller counterpart. Nevertheless, the most drastic and controversial change has been made by Mercedes-Benz.
Before talking about that controversy lets talk about why Manufactures are doing this. The main reasoning behind this change is to lower emissions produced by vehicles, whist also improving the efficiency. Another aspect of this change is that the weight of the engines is reduced, which means the engine doesn’t need use as much energy to operate (Wikipedia, 2021). Furthermore, fuel consumption is lower when compared to larger one. But from my research, I noticed that this isn’t true, since a smaller engine needs to work harder to achieve the same outcome as a larger one. For example, a person that has owned a BMW 530i G30 which has a 2-liter, 4-cylinder petrol engine, he replaced it with a BMW 550i G30 which is the same car, but the engine is a 4.4-liter V8. After couple months of ownership, he said that he has seen a 2 liter decrease in the average consumption per 100 kilometers with the same style of driving.
Other downsides to smaller engines is the reliability of them. Lower displacement engines must use more of their powerband (which also means working at higher RPM’s), because of this more stress is being put on the engine which creates a greater risk of damages. When in comparison larger displacement engines can relax and sit a lower RPM’s (McDonnell, n.d.). Moreover, smaller engines ware much more quickly, with every revolution every engine part gets a little bit of ware. Additionally, it has been spotted thru recent years is that these engines consume larger amounts of oil (I have also noticed this in one of my cars), since the engine needs more lubrication to keep up with the stress its undergoing. Furthermore, many manufactures are starting to have problems with oil leaks all around their engines. Nevertheless, most of these engines are new to the market and only time will tell how reliable they are truly.
The most controversial act of downsizing was done by Mercedes-Benz this year, with the unveiling of the new C63 (W206). The C63 is one of the most loved models in the Mercedes lineup by car enthusiast. In the past it was a smaller size sport coupé, sedan or wagon with good handling, styling but most importantly the heart of the car was a V8. Either a 6.2 liter in the W204 or a 4 liter in the W205. All these generations were loved by the community. The engine was one of the most important aspects that made the C63 stand out from its competition, but with the unveiling of the new model hearts of the car community were shattered. The powertrain will be a 2-liter, 4-cylinder hybrid generating 680 horsepower (the combustion engine will produce 470 horsepower) (Kwaten, 2022), it will be all wheel drive when all its predecessor were rear wheel drive. More problems arouse the more Mercedes talked about the car, the full power (using the combustion engine and the electric motor) will be only accessible only up to 140 km/h, which in all fairness in not enough and not what people that buy these types of cars are looking for. Another issue, the car community was fast to notice is the weight. It will weigh 2.1 tons because of the batteries. This is the weight category of an S class, significantly larger car (the S class is only 30 kilograms heavier). Therefore, the cars handling will be worse than the previous models and after 140 km/h it will be a 2.1-ton A 45 🙂
Additionally a rumor that is being spread around the car community is that the new E63 will also come with a 2-liter engine.
Feel free to comment what you think about this trend in the industry and what Mercedes-Benz has done with the C63. I look forward to seeing your view on this topic.
Bibliography
Kwaten, A. (2022, September 21). 2024 Mercedes-AMG C63 S: Using F1 Lessons, AMG Builds A Hellacious Hybrid. Retrieved from Forbes: https://www.forbes.com/wheels/news/2024-mercedes-amg-c63-s-using-f1-lessons-amg-builds-a-hellacious-hybrid/
Wikipedia. (2021, September 23). Engine Downsizing. Retrieved from Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Engine_downsizing
McDonnell, A. W. (n.d.). Are small displacement engines more reliable than bigger displacement engines?Retrieved from Quora: https://www.quora.com/Are-small-displacement-engines-more-reliable-than-bigger-displacement-engines
Doell, Z. (2022, Feburary 10). 2022 Mercedes S class. Retrieved from Cars US news: https://cars.usnews.com/cars-trucks/mercedes-benz/s-class