i dunno if the tech is there to get 330 hp out of 2.3 litre I4 to last as long as a 4.6 V8 putting out less power...doubling the power output has GOT to stress things like head gaskets, and inherent torsional vibration at the crank has to be worse than double due to the wider spaced power pulses at twice the energy...a countershaft might hide the 'feel' of vibration, but the crank/damper/flywheel has to still tolerate it.

heat/cylinder pressure beating head gaskets to death will still be my biggest worry, but this stuffs all come so far the last couple years, who knows.

if only they could get V8 sound from a 4 cylinder

 

I'm not sure that it's so much of an issue of can a 4 cylinder turbo make 330hp and last long/be reliable, because I do believe the technology is out there to make a 300+ hp 4 banger that lasts 200,000 miles of gentle driving, but the question is going to be how much of that engine design's potential is tapped out in stock form? The 4.6 3v can make 450hp all day long on stock internals with a little boost, and with forged internals can see double those numbers and still remain reliable with a good tune.

A 4 cylinder turbo engine making 330hp stock is probably very close to maxing out the potential of it's design and probably wont be able to make much more power reliably... Reminds me of the TSB that ford just put out advising people NOT to modify the 5.0 coyote AT ALL because it is maxed out in stock form...

 

Strange, I see kids rebuilding Honda and other imports to handle 500+HP all day long with forged internals and some other overhauls, obviously. From an engineering standpoint, why would you put a car out that's so close to being on the edge of the line in terms of performance? Isn't that like stonewalling your consumer into only upgrading to the next tier of performance from the factory while simultaneously limiting yourself on the open market?

 

I find it funny that a lot of people think they are smarter than the engineers that devolop these engines.

Remember back in 1930s and 40's where engines with 4 to 5L only put out 80hp gross. and now our 5L has 420hp net. Whos to say where the limit is? is there really a limit if you build the engine with that hp in mind?

Obviously if you boosted a normal 2.3L to 330hp it would be short lived but you increase the stress points in the rods and pistons and such and it will be fine.

The highest specific output car on the market now is the porsche GT2RS with 620hp from a 3.6L. 172.2hp/L So that would mean a 2.3L at the same level would make 396hp. But Ford doesn't need to make that much power, nor will its consumers be blasting around racetracks all day long that a 911 GT2RS is designed to do.

Anyone that wonders if it can be done only has to look at automotives 100+ year history and see what seemed impossible in the day has always been made possible.

 

Maybe not truly possible to get a V8 sound from a 4cyl. but this inline 4 comes pretty darned close! You'll know which ones I'm talking about when they make low speed passes. At higher RPMs, they do lose the V8-like sound though. There's also a (Euro) Ford V4 that sounds pretty good too.

 

I found this rather funny. First saying that the V6 engines are on the way out and then saying that they have a great thing going with the 3.5 V6.

Why not bring back the straight 6 & throw some turbo / supercharger on that?

 

I think it's a brilliant idea but not likely. I'm a fan of the I6. Just because I believe that the typical V6, not turbo or supercharged, is being a thing of the past I can't help but marvel in the work Ford has done with a twin turbo V6. Not the same as the 3.7L naturally aspirated engine. Anyone else need this spelled out?

The amount of buyers for cars with 4 cylinders have risen over the years to become more popular than the V6 counterparts in the same vehicles. Not many models even flirt with forced induction.

Just so everyone knows, I'm impressed with the Duesenburg Straight 8 as well but I don't think this is a good option for the Mustang.

 

As long as we're talking about fantasy engines, how about this? A horizontally-opposed six with big bore/short stroke and an 8000 rpm redline. It would have a lower center of gravity than an inline or V engine, which would be nice in a performance car. I suppose it would also allow for a lower hood, for better visibility.

I've heard that somebody (BMW maybe?) has been experimenting with a turbocharging system that uses a single large turbocharger with a small electric motor to start it spinning on demand, so there's absolutely no lag while waiting for exhaust pressure to build up. I think this would make a nice combination.

 

Audi rally cars from the 80s had electric motors to keep the turbos spinning.

 

i look at it this way, if a 330hp 4 cylinder keeps the CAFE standards good enough for us to keep the 5.0 V8 im happy.

 

My wife has a '11 Kia Optima SX with a 2.0L turbo-charged engine producing 275 hp on 87 octane fuel getting 33 mpg hwy. If Ford can produce a 330hp 2.3L turbo-charged Mustang using 87 octane fuel getting the same or better than 33 mpg/hwy, then that would definitely open eyes with buyers and help Ford with CAFE

 

Actually BMW has been working on A three turbo system and one of them is an electric turbo to reduce lag and offer instant throttle like an n/a motor for the new m3