Hi Chris long time no see. Interesting what you say about the 1.2 litre Mahle but BMW has of course its own 1.5 triple. They put a 180 bhp version in a 1 series and it seems to go well and sound nice as well, almost like a straight six. I read that BMW were going to fit this engine to the 1 series and the 3 series but they seem to have chickened out of doing so and it is so far only available in the new Mini (de tuned to 134 BHP) and in the new I8 hybrid thingy. I guess it would be hard to get premium buyers to go for a triple at the moment no matter how good and well engineered.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MN2aw8hzGKE

No idea who they where developing the 1.2 for, but it's specific output is it's key number for me. It is a likely format for the next generation of downsizing. I think it will be a little while before buyers of premium segment cars will accept triples. Personally, I prefer the sound over a for pot, but if I am buying a premium car, I want a six as a minimum requirement. Manufacturers will probably bring the higher output triples in on SUV / people carrier type vehicles where buyers are less discriminating on powertrain details.

Apart from the Eco Ford engine and the unit that powered the Daihatsu Charade GTTI in the late 80's they are without doubt, poop.

Apart from the Eco Ford engine and the unit that powered the Daihatsu Charade GTTI in the late 80's they are without doubt, poop.

Don't forget the new BMW 1.5 3 cylinder. Thats supposed to be very good too.

The 1.0 ecoboost gets my vote with 125ps zero road tax and diesel economy. The future!

Just a shame the 1.0l ecoboost is in a ford shell

That discounts it for me

I'm a big VAG fan but those Fords 1.0's and the 1.6 ST are getting some very good reviews. A new ST can be had for £14k ish plus they have factory approved modifications which no VAG car has.

Strange how car buyers are wary of a 3pot,they are considered to be outstanding in the m/c world , they were more expensive to produce in a m/c but this could have been a volume issue,they were however smooth. Owned and rode a Triumph trident, suzuki Gt 750, Yamaha xs750+850 BMW K 750 s New version triumph trident all brilliant engines,except for early XS750,yam.

Before buying the Fabia I test drove the 1.0 Ecoboost (100bhp version). An excellent engine with plenty of grunt, taking into consideration it is just a 1.0. It made me reconsider my motoring views, a bit like driving a Powershift and now the DSG has made me reconsider how I felt about automatics.

Before buying the Fabia I test drove the 1.0 Ecoboost (100bhp version). An excellent engine with plenty of grunt, taking into consideration it is just a 1.0. It made me reconsider my motoring views, a bit like driving a Powershift and now the DSG has made me reconsider how I felt about automatics.

 

Not sure whether it is anything to do with the three cylinder, high pressure turbo, small capacity configuration but several reports I have ready say the Ford engine, in actual use, is not getting anywhere near ie 20-30% off the book figure for MPG.  Though this is true for some of the VAG engines too, which presumably must be done to driving style to get close to those book figures.

Gears and gear choice will have lots to do with it, & drivers maybe needing to drive to the engine and transmissions design,

torque and power range.

and that will be why they Motor Industry thought by now they would have Automatic Gearboxes accepted by the public to make it easy to meet the coming Euro 6 Emissions but also achieve good economy.

 

I would thing before the small engines and electric hybrid can get the best from them, they will have to be combined with an autobox or CVT.

 

Many have still not adapted after enough years to more modern diesels and driving them,

or even 6 speed manual gearboxes

 

george

I've had 2 citigo courtesy cars while mine has been in for warrenty work. I had the 60 ps version for 9 days and the 75 ps version for 3 days and I've got to say I loved them. More so the 60 ps version since it had over 3k on the clock and I could give it a bit of welly now and then unlike the 75 ps version since it only had 26 miles on the clock when I picked it up and it needed running in. Loved the noise it made strangely especially up around 5k rpm. Must be to do with the 3 cylinders since I like the noise my mates 1 litre ecoboost fiesta makes as well.

I agree it makes a great raspy noise. Very nippy too. If I give mine some grief it still returns 55mpg

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I must say that the Euro mpg figures must be taken with a pinch of salt. As Georg says it depends on how one drives the car and as the man says a lot of people, even after years of driving Diesels , still use too many revs and stay in a low gear unnecessarily. An auto in economy mode (especially a DSG with no power loss) should give better economy. Seriously though with small petrols it depends on how you drive them. I have seen no end of whingeing over engines like the FIAT Twinair for example not getting near economic figures, mainly from motoring hacks who probably rag the engines to bits!

The old SAAB two cylinder three strokes (there might be a bit of a poof reading error in there) seemed to go pretty well (Erik Carlsson never complained).

 

The engine in the Roomster (1.4 TDi)is fine, it does everything I need it to.