Best, or just sweetest 4 cylinder engines?

[nebpor]

B18C6 from the JDM/UK DC2 Integra Type R is a thing of beauty and revs reliably to 9500 with simply new valve springs

I need another!!

[sly fox]

healeyneil said:

How about the ecotec fitted in the new Mustangs? Not a V8 obviously, but that power and torque from a four banger shouldn’t be sniffed at

err wrong. 2 red cards and collect coat at the door. 1st red card for choosing a non v8 mustang, 2nd red card for one of the worst engines to grace a 'sports' car.

Does not go well, sounds awful, characterless to use. The exact opposite of this thread topic in fact.

[donaircooleone]

XU10J4RS, bit biased but just a lovely thing.

[Lotobear]

bangerhoarder said:

Fiesta didn’t have the back top Zetec, it had the Sigma which has rightly been mentioned. While the 1.7 is lovely, the rally versions used the 1.6 which went up to very decent NA outputs (not great output in any road version though).

The A Series is an interesting shout. Clever, compact, lots of issues with breathing and getting power and revs from them, but the fact that the aftermarket has gone as far as twin overhead cams, there’ve been factory and aftermarket turbo versions, transverse and longitudinal fitments, 803cc to 1380 and now beyond, 50 year lifespan, and snarling rortiness with the right exhaust. Not a revver, but still endearing.

...a 970S revs pretty well!

[GhiaInjection]

Electrics not for me said:

healeyneil said:

How about the ecotec fitted in the new Mustangs? Not a V8 obviously, but that power and torque from a four banger shouldn’t be sniffed at

It's a de-tuned Focus RS engine. I believe.

2.3 Ecoboost (not Ecotec - this was a name Vauxhall used on its engines)

Also, I wish people would stop referring to any non Focus RS using the 2.3 Ecoboost as using a de-tuned RS engine.

The standard 2.3 Ecoboost producing around 300ps existed first and was modified for the RS to produce 350ps. The standard 2.3 is used in various models globally, but only in the Gen 4 Focus ST in the UK, since the 2.3 Mustang was dropped.

This is how the head gasket issue occured on some RSs as some of the RS engines got incorrectly fitted with the standard engines head gasket, rather than the modified version that had additional cooling channels.

Also careful mentioning 2.3 Mustangs in front of V8 Mustang fans ! Even on a thread about 4 pots!

Although I think a turbocharged 4 pot will struggle in terms of character against the best NA 4 pots.

[GhiaInjection]

PT1984 said:

mwstewart said:

The Ford Zetec 1.6 series 2 (iron block). The engine was designed to cater for 1.6, 1.8, and 2.0 capacities.

The 1.6 had so much meat between the bores - to the degree that an engine would never be designed as such if the target was 1.6 alone - that the block was extremely strong. It was sweeter than all of the Zetecs that followed.

Unremarkable from a performance perspective but in terms of sweetness it's right at the top for me.

Was this the engine in the mk5 Fiesta Zetec S? The black top?

That was a great little engine. I did the obligatory Pumaspeed full Milltek with 4-1 manifold and sport cat on mine, along with a map and it was a different car. It used to rev out so quickly. Good times.

As others have said the Gen 4 and on 16v Fiesta used the Sigma engine (originally 1.25 & 1.4 and mid way through Gen 4 1.6 was introduced (which some refer to as Mk5)) that was originally branded Zetec-SE (later Duratec) until it was replaced mid way through Gen 6 by the 1.0 Ecoboost and ST-line trim replaced Zetec-S.

Silver/Black top was a way to differentiate between the original and later Zetec (not SE) engine. Silver tops are found in 1.8 Mk5 & 1.6 ,1.8 Mk6 Escorts, Gen 3 1.6 Fiesta and Gen 1 1.6, 1.8 & 2.0 Mondeo.

The later black tops (branded Zetec-E) are found in Gen 1.5 Mondeo (aka MK2) 1.6, 1.8 & 2.0 plus 1.8 & 2.0 Gen 1 Focus (1.4 & 1.6 Gen 1 Focus used Zetec-SE).The black top was never used in Fiesta.

+1 for the Sigma from me too. I remember a friend having a Gen 4 Fiesta 1.4 and use to love the fact you could rev it past the end of the rev counter!!!

[Regbuser]

As others have mentioned, the Fiat Lampredi twin cam in-line 4 pot >

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiat_Twin_Cam_engine...

https://www.italicar.co.uk/blog/2019/12/30/the-lam...

Produced from 1966 to 2000, displacing from 1.3 up to near 2 litres; has been supercharged and turbocharged.

Most successful world rally championship engine, ever.

[Acorn1]

The EA888 lump in the new Golf is a peach.

[Jont999]

Garvin said:

The A series was a great little engine but it was neither that powerful, smooth or that revvy and, as such, not particularly ‘sweet’. Having said that I built many 1340cc full race engines in my times with different carburettor (pre fuel injection of course) set ups. The A series was, however, incredibly robust.

Just needs a few tweaks /s

[thiscocks]

Ambleton said:

Less than half the cars I've owned have been four pots, but the only one that stands out was a Citroen C2 Loeb with a TU5-JP4S engine.

It wasn't particularly powerful (circa 125bhp), and it needed to be worked quite hard, but when above 4.5k RPM it was a really really sweet engine that was really eager and quite torquey. Throw it down a country lane, and keep above 4.5k RPM and it was a really capable little car. It almost sounded like it had a supercharger whine to it too. It just begged for a thrashing.

It was really a one trick pony though. It was awful on long motorway journeys and didn't have a particularly good turning circle and wasn't that economical either, but as a cheap warm hatch to attack a country lane without getting into serious trouble it was excellent.

Another vote for the Peugeot TU engine from me. Not that I'm biased but the TU2j2 in the 106 Rallye and TU24 in my current are just brilliant little engines that love to be revved. There is no comparison for me with the Renault 2.0l F4R in a Clio sport I had. Compared to the TU2 it just didn't want to rev and felt pretty strained when doing so.

On standard cams they are also nice and tractable for town work, although the cars low weight helps a lot too.

[entropy]

As a former 2ZZ owner it has to be the K20 for the sound alone. That scream at the top end is a pitch reminiscent of 90s Super Touring cars. I'd rather attend Civic Cup and Type R Trophy races than BTCC these days.

VAG 1.8 5v deserves a shout. Smooth engine in original NA guise and had a nice thrum.

[BenS94]

The Yamaha developed Ford Zetec units - the 1.25 is particularly surprising, punching well above it's weight, the 1.4 is my favourite, however I've yet to try a 1.7 Ti-VCT from/in a Puma.

[bcr5784]

BenS94 said:

The Yamaha developed Ford Zetec units - the 1.25 is particularly surprising, punching well above it's weight, the 1.4 is my favourite, however I've yet to try a 1.7 Ti-VCT from/in a Puma.

I'd second that - the 1.25 was certainly the nicest "cooking" engine I've driven.

[Hungrymc]

Mr Squarekins said:

Biggy Stardust said:

Mr Squarekins said:

My s1000rr has quite a nice 4 pot.

My Blackbird is smoother.

Quite possibly. Honda make great engines.Loved my Fireblade 4 pot.

Time, technology and variable cam tech gives my bmw 200 bhp though.

I didn’t find my s1000rr that smooth. A truly great performer, and a lighter but more rattly feel than the engines in my gsxr1000 and cb1000r

[Electrics not for me]

If we're including motorcycles, the 250cc fours from the 1990s were amazingly smooth, like my old CBR250RR and FZR250RR, both Japanese imports. Both had shorter strokes than 49cc mopeds and revved to 19,000 rpm.

[AeroMan]

Electrics not for me said:

As a long time devotee of 5, 6, 8 and upwards cylinder-ed cars i often wonder if there are any smooth, powerful 4 bangers around? The A45 AMG is obviously epic from a performance point of view, 420 bhp and supercar 0-60 times are stunning efforts but i find them raw, loud and uncompromising.
What 4 cylinder cars have been made that are quick but smooth and quiet?

As a V8 devotee and having downsized from a C63 to an AMG GLA 45 as a daily driver, I must respectfully disagree with your verdict on the AMG engine Electrics. I find it epic for a 4-cylinder, if it is too loud for you turn the exhaust down to the Comfort setting, whilst leaving the engine on the Sport + setting - a modern 4-cylinder with both character and performance….

[apexeater]

My current car has a 220bhp VHPD K, it’s up there with the best for drama…. Of the right kind 😃
Had a Corolla GT coupe RWD with the 4AGE engine and whilst is was sweet as a nut it really was a bit gutless
Original Saab 9-3 aero B205R was a really grunty smooth engine
Anybody mentioned the S14 in the E30 M3? Not owned one but my mate did and at the time it felt very special

[otolith]

entropy said:

As a former 2ZZ owner it has to be the K20 for the sound alone. That scream at the top end is a pitch reminiscent of 90s Super Touring cars. I'd rather attend Civic Cup and Type R Trophy races than BTCC these days.

VAG 1.8 5v deserves a shout. Smooth engine in original NA guise and had a nice thrum.

As a long time 2ZZ owner and long time ago Civic Type-R owner, I’m of the opinion that the Honda unit is by far the nicer implementation of that concept. The Honda sounds better and stitches the two torque curves together more seamlessly. I like my 2ZZ more than I did now it’s supercharged, though.

[TameRacingDriver]

Honda B18 for me, more character than the K20 although less tunable. Both are about as good as it gets for 4 pots though.

Disagree with the Puma 1.7. Engine is ok but nothing amazing. 1.8 Vauxhall engine from the Corsa SRI was miles better I thought.

My current mx5 mk3 2.0 has a nice engine now that BBR has breathed on it. Good noise and very usable / flexible. Not that great as stock by all accounts but I really enjoy this one.

Enjoyed the MR2 Turbo. Powerful and amusing to listen to.

Clio RS decent but same concept as a Honda just not as good.

For a mundane car the 1.2 engine MK1 Punto took some beating for eagerness and character.

[Electrics not for me]

AeroMan said:

Electrics not for me said:

As a long time devotee of 5, 6, 8 and upwards cylinder-ed cars i often wonder if there are any smooth, powerful 4 bangers around? The A45 AMG is obviously epic from a performance point of view, 420 bhp and supercar 0-60 times are stunning efforts but i find them raw, loud and uncompromising.
What 4 cylinder cars have been made that are quick but smooth and quiet?

As a V8 devotee and having downsized from a C63 to an AMG GLA 45 as a daily driver, I must respectfully disagree with your verdict on the AMG engine Electrics. I find it epic for a 4-cylinder, if it is too loud for you turn the exhaust down to the Comfort setting, whilst leaving the engine on the Sport + setting - a modern 4-cylinder with both character and performance….

Can't recall mentioning the engine electrics. But i will say that turbocharged 4 cylinder cars like Type R and A45 AMG and even Lancer Evos have that same boring drone that doesn't come near an inline 6, V8 or V12 for sound. There's a Golf R near us which annoys the village but it's not just how loud, it's how it sounds loud. Really boring and monotonous. If i go out in the S2000, now that is a 4 pot i'd say comes closest to sounding nice. Especially above 8,000 rpm.
BTW of course an A45 AMG is an amazing car performance-wise. 2 litres and supercar 0-60 from just 10 years ago, some now even.