A Couple of Engine Questions

[ScionDriver]

I was wondering and I hope this isn't like the millionth time someone has asked this (I couldn't find anything in a search), but is there a such thing as a V4 engine? In a car at least? I think they use them in motorcycles

Second, I read a little blurb that said that VW has developed a V5 engine. How the heck would that work?

[culver]

Yes,
SAAB had a V4 motor.
The VW V5 is a VR6 with one cylinder lobbed off. The VR6 is close enough to being an I6 that you can get away with this (kind of). I don't recall the engine being very successful.

[Coventrysucks]

I'm pretty sure there have been one or two V4s.

The V5 is 3cyls on one side, 2 on t'other in a very narrow angle, allowing the engine to be shorter than a simple straight 5.

Not the best idea ever, as any gap between the 4 cyl and V6 cars could have been filled with higher power 4 cyls or de-tuned V6s.

[BjD]

Lancia had a V4, quite a narrow angle too so it had just one cylinder head

[Matra et Alpine]

Matra originally used the Ford V4 engine.

Saab repalced the 2-stroker in the 96 with a V4.
Cylinders 4, in Vee 60 degrees
Bore 90 mm
Stroke 58.86 mm
Cubic Capacity 1498 cc
Compression ratio 9.0 : 1
Max Output, net (DIN) 65 bhp at 4700 rpm
Max torque, net (DIN) 85 lb ft at 2500 rpm
Main Bearings 3
Valves overhead

[henk4]

Matra originally used the Ford V4 engine.

Saab repalced the 2-stroker in the 96 with a V4.
Cylinders 4, in Vee 60 degrees
Bore 90 mm
Stroke 58.86 mm
Cubic Capacity 1498 cc
Compression ratio 9.0 : 1
Max Output, net (DIN) 65 bhp at 4700 rpm
Max torque, net (DIN) 85 lb ft at 2500 rpm
Main Bearings 3
Valves overhead

in case it is not clear, also the Saab engine came from Ford, who developed the engine for what was long time known as the Cardinal, but ultimately became the German Taunus 12M-15M.

[ruim20]

Yes,
SAAB had a V4 motor.
The VW V5 is a VR6 with one cylinder lobbed off. The VR6 is close enough to being an I6 that you can get away with this (kind of). I don't recall the engine being very successful.

The V5 isn't a V6 without a cilinder, it's a bit more enginiered that that hehe.

[jcp123]

Well duh, but in very basic terms that's what it is

[ScionDriver]

Hey thanks, so are their any production cars today with V4s? Why aren't they used more widely? Not much more power than inline 4s?

[jcp123]

None today, but you can get a Yamaha V-Max bike with one, and up until recently Honda had its Magna with a V4. Honda in fact had quite a few bikes with the V4, but they have been quietly retired over the years.

I would guess that it's cheaper to make an inline 4, since you only have one cylinder head to make, cam or set of cams (presuming it's an OHC, which engines pretty much all are now), one timing set, etc. and you only have to bore the block on one plane rather than two different planes. But theoretically it would have no more or no less than an inline 4 with the same displacement, camshaft specs, etc.

[eyebrows]

None today.

well that depends on how you view the WRXs engine, more or less its just a 180 degree V and its a four, so its just a personal opinion.

[manga_203]

do you really not know that much about engines cause i dont either

[Matra et Alpine]

None today, but you can get a Yamaha V-Max bike with one, and up until recently Honda had its Magna with a V4. Honda in fact had quite a few bikes with the V4, but they have been quietly retired over the years.

The Honda VFR is STILL in production and is still one of the best bikes around.

I think it's called "Interceptor" in the US, but is the VFR800 everywhere else

90 degree V4 and VTec valves.
A bike that doesn't turn as shaprly as the R1, or wheelie as brutally as the Gixer or accelearte as harshly as 'ZX12 and YET is one of the fastest bikes at pushing around the roads. it just doesn't do anything dramatically, everything is controlled, precise, lovely

Is the standard police and paramedic bike in the UK for a reason

[henk4]

well that depends on how you view the WRXs engine, more or less its just a 180 degree V and its a four, so its just a personal opinion.

That is a boxer engine (like the old beetle engine), which has the pistons mounted to the crankshaft in a different way than the V-engine.

[targa]

i guess you could consider flat fours V's

180 degree V4's