V4 advantage

[Skyline86]

doesn't anybody think a V4 engine would be the most practical and efficient type of engine to use in everyday production cars(in lieu of an inline 4)? it would take up less of the engine bay(at least length-wise). I was thinking about it and wondering why more manufacturers wouldn't experiment with this type of layoutl.

[454Casull]

Too complex for a budget engine, perhaps?

[Jimster]

no the Lancia Aprilia used a V4 back in the 1930's and 40's- and the replacement car ditched it quick-smart- V4 would be expensive to make, slower than a Linear engine and harder to get power from, also the cylinders'd probably have to be at a narrow angle.

[Hudson]

V4 engines have been used in cars and motorcycles. Inline-four cylinder engines are smoother than most Vee configurations. Subaru's flat-four engine is said to be the optimal setup for four-cylinder smoothness. Unfortunately, a horizontally-opposed engine takes up a sizable amount of space.

I don't see the benefit of a V4 of less than 180-degrees.

[2strokebloke]

SAAB switched from 3-cylinder 2-stroke power, to using 4-stroke V-4 engines in 1967, and kept the V-4 until 1979. German Ford used V-4 engines too.
But a V-4 (like most V engines) suffers from roughness and vibration, though counershafts can be used to solve this, but that makes it more complex than other layouts.

[Jimster]

Originally posted by 2strokebloke
SAAB switched from 3-cylinder 2-stroke power, to using 4-stroke V-4 engines in 1967, and kept the V-4 until 1979. German Ford used V-4 engines too.
But a V-4 (like most V engines) suffers from roughness and vibration, though counershafts can be used to solve this, but that makes it more complex than other layouts.

I knew we could rely on you to list the obscure cars with V4 engines

[Hudson]

Originally posted by 2strokebloke
SAAB switched from 3-cylinder 2-stroke power, to using 4-stroke V-4 engines in 1967, and kept the V-4 until 1979. German Ford used V-4 engines too.

Ford supplied this engine to Saab. By the way, what Saab models used the V4 that late?

[SaabJohan]

Originally posted by Hudson


Ford supplied this engine to Saab. By the way, what Saab models used the V4 that late?

Saabs V4 project started in 1965 and the Ford V4 was used instead of a 4 stroke engine called Scarab made by Ricardo Engines in England which was considered earlier. The V4 engine was used in Saab 96 that was produced until January 1980, the V4 became availible in the autumn 1966 (model year 1967). The V4 engine was also used in Saab Sonett II (except the early ones) and Sonett III.