Re: Audi stuff in "Automobile"

[Eliot Lim <eliot@u.washington.edu>]

> > Audi 20V 1.8L Four non-turbo
> > ----------------------------
> > 125 hp @ 5800 rpm
> > 128 lb-ft @ 3950 rpm
> 
> > Does the Acura engine achieve 128lb-ft below 4000 rpm?  I doubt it.
> 
> No flame here, amigo, but 3950 ain't a whole heap of revs lower than 4000...

the max. torque figure is actually just a single data point on the
entire curve.. it is my understanding that the 5 valve engine was
designed for a very flat torque curve.

also, it is not clear if the atmospheric 5 valve is coming or just
the turbo one.  the turbo one makes max. torque of 166 lb-ft at
1750 rpm and this stays flat (controlled rigidly by the sophisticated
wastegate management) all the way till 4000+ rpm.

this is with just 1.56 bars of boost (1 + 0.56 actually).  these
engines can be pressurised to over 2 bars, so there is enormous
(and easy) potential for tweaking, while the acura has none.

> > So while the Acura driver is numbing his/her hearing trying to
> > rev it up, the Audi would already be pulling ahead...
 
> and this ignores the time it takes to get to 4000 rpm. 

it doesn't take very long at all.. the only trouble is, the road
speed corresponding to 4000 rpm is very much.. :)

it revs it brains out while the bigger engined cars (such as the vr6
:) ) leaves it in the dust (or the weeds, if you will.. :) )

>by virtue of being *small*
> displacement and having 5 valves/Cyl, would be sheer *misery* to drive
> under most normal conditions in the good old US and A.  The Acura, using
> variable valve timing, would probably be a bit *less* so...

it is somewhat of a cliche that multivalve engines are peaky.. 
try some of toyo-appliances to see the contradiction of this.
the 5 valve atmospheric will probably be quite slow, but
with short gearing and a flat torque curve i don't think that
it will be miserable.  i doubt that they will bring this here
anyway.. (anybody knows better?)


eliot