Engine Sizes

[PugwasHDJ80]

Its seems very common that a actual engine sizes are very often just under the nominal size, but very rarely just over

ie our V90 has a 2.0l engine, which is actually 1969cc. It would be unusual to have an engine that was 2020cc

Is there a reason for this?

[crofty1984]

Historically in some cases racing classes (and tax classes, see 2 litre Ferrari V8) would have had an effect on this.

[Peanut Gallery]

Tax,

Engines over each size fit into the next tax bracket, your car would have been a higer tax bracket if it was 2L exactly.

On the other hand, my Citreon GS Club was 1,222 or something, as the car needed to be more that 1,2L to go onto a motorway.

[Alex_225]

My CLS63 is nearer a 6.2 than a 6.3 but I believe historically the V8 it was a homage to was a 6.3. I may be wrong.

Didn't Ford used to put a 1.25 engine in the late 90s/early 00's Fiestas but it was classed as a 1.2?

[JakeT]

Alex_225 said:

My CLS63 is nearer a 6.2 than a 6.3 but I believe historically the V8 it was a homage to was a 6.3. I may be wrong.

Didn't Ford used to put a 1.25 engine in the late 90s/early 00's Fiestas but it was classed as a 1.2?

1,242cc, so it rounded down to a 1.2.

[CanAm]

Peanut Gallery said:

On the other hand, my Citreon GS Club was 1,222 or something, as the car needed to be more that 1,2L to go onto a motorway.

In France??

[thebigmacmoomin]

My Focus ST Mk2 is a 2.5 but its 2522cc

[thebigmacmoomin]

Alex_225 said:

Didn't Ford used to put a 1.25 engine in the late 90s/early 00's Fiestas but it was classed as a 1.2?

They did call some Fiesta's the 1.25 rather than 1.2

[Pericoloso]

FIAT Barchettas are registered as 1.8s,with 1747cc.

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

TVR 4.5 Rover V8 is 4,546

But, what I don't understand is why have engines in the UK traditionally been measured in CC, even when everything was imperial?

[CanAm]

2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:

TVR 4.5 Rover V8 is 4,546

But, what I don't understand is why have engines in the UK traditionally been measured in CC, even when everything was imperial?

They haven't; they used to be referred to by (RAC) h.p., eg Austin 7, as these were taxation classes.

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

CanAm said:

2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:

TVR 4.5 Rover V8 is 4,546

But, what I don't understand is why have engines in the UK traditionally been measured in CC, even when everything was imperial?

They haven't; they used to be referred to by (RAC) h.p., eg Austin 7, as these were taxation classes.

Yep, but I meant engine sizes in CC rather than imperial.

[ruhall]

Rover V8 3.5 was 3528cc, 3.9 was 3946cc (or sometimes ststed as 3950cc). As was the 4.0

Mercedes' original A160CDi was 1689cc (as was the A170CDi, just to provide some BBC balance ).

Edited by ruhall on Thursday 31st October 19:06

[foxbody-87]

Ford used to badge cars fitted with its 302ci engine as 5.0s. In reality they were 4.9 litre but that doesn't look as good

[anonymous-user]

2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:

Yep, but I meant engine sizes in CC rather than imperial.

Ah yes, the evocatively-named "Bentley 140 fluid ounce"

[legless]

I've had a couple that were rounded down rather than up.

The Ford 2.9 Cologne V6 was 2,933cc, and the Volvo 2.4 D5 was 2,401cc (which handily put it into the 'above 2,400cc diesel' category for my work mileage claims, which was worth another 12p/mile )

[Peanut Gallery]

CanAm said:

Peanut Gallery said:

On the other hand, my Citreon GS Club was 1,222 or something, as the car needed to be more that 1,2L to go onto a motorway.

In France??

Rhodesia, but for the South Africa market, I believe.

[Rozzers]

Renaults AxM 1.6 engine was 1647cc....

[Gtom]

I can remember years ago when the government decided cars under 1100cc would get cheaper road tax. My old man was very happy about this until he found out the metro he had got for my mum was 1120cc (I think) so he had to pay the higher amount.

[anonymous-user]

In some instances of taxation-defined limits, the nominal swept volume was arranged such that the maximum excursion under allowable tolerances (including maximum re-bore size) was still just under the limit.