Team-BHP - Cars that lost their better engines

Quote:

Originally Posted by RD410 (Post 5679341)

Have to say, even in 2023, many car makers are unable to achieve the level of engine smoothness that Honda offered 20+ years ago :Frustrati

First thing that came to my mind on reading this for Honda India, "History will be kinder to me" lol:

I guess it is Honda's engineering brilliance that we missed to experience in its fullest form by wider public in India all thanks to Honda restricting itself on going mainstream with their truly Honda products rather than ASEAN specific models.

My 2018 GLA came with a 4-cylinder 2000cc engine that churned a respectable 180BHP and 300Nm torque. The current version has a 3-cylinder 1300CC engine with reduced power figures. However, the price has gone up. I'm hoping mine sells for a decent resale value when the time comes. :)

The Creta 1.6 CRDi is truly a gem of an engine. The 128 PS of power and 260 Nm of torque give it enough punch and pull even though I have only driven it in the city. It is also extremely refined even after 8 years and people sitting inside need to ask if its a petrol or a diesel if the music is on.

Even when I drive my Audi A4 and Creta back to back, even though the 2.0 TFSI is much much faster coupled with the DSG, I don’t feel the 1.6 CRDi lagging too far behind. Unfortunately though, due to the stupid NGT rules, I will have to let go of my car and look for a replacement in the new or used car market though none of them would be available for under 30L.

XUV 700 mStallion or Kodiaq or Hycross or a pre owned 3 series or 5 series look like viable options right now.

I miss the Fiat Punto Abarth. What an engine and what a beast. The torque steer was sick and it was a cheetah on the road. The T-Jet engine was one of its kind.

I still own a Fiat which is the 1.3L 90 HP diesel. It still puts a smile on my face whenever I drive it. What a car!

Most of engines in this list are diesel, which had to go because of BS6 and some due to CAFE norms. Barring few, most of the petrol options available now are better than what we had earlier. With BS6 there are few diesel options and only some have managed to better their BS4 iterations with added complexity/DPF issues though.

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Originally Posted by LordSharan (Post 5679314)

Honda City was launched with 1.4L and 1.6L engines (first generation in India), and post it's facelift, it has always had 1.5L engine. As I've read and learnt, 1.6L engine was a true enthusiast delight and mod friendly too. I remember reading an autocar article in early 2010's where they slapped a turbo charger on this and brought down 0-100KMPH to 7.xx seconds. That puts a lot of higher cost cars to shame, even today.

Kindly correct me if I am wrong, the first gen Honda City had 1.3L and 1.5L engines, developing 90Bhp and 100 Bhp respectively.

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Originally Posted by ALTIMAed (Post 5680048)

Kindly correct me if I am wrong, the first gen Honda City had 1.3L and 1.5L engines, developing 90Bhp and 100 Bhp respectively.

You are right. The first gen City had the 1.5 lit with 100 bhp. I remember the year 1998 when I had bought the EXI S. What a car it was 25 years ago with a 100 bhp free revving engine.

I would like to add the Hyundai Alcazar to this list.
When it was first released, it was offered with the same 2 litre petrol engine as the Tucson. This engine was axed with the facelift.

Quote:

Originally Posted by furyrider (Post 5679503)

I would like to add Hyundai 1.6L Diesel to the list. We lost a gem of an engine thanks to BS6 norms kicking in.

Attachment 2543535

Image courtesy: T-BHP official review

This engine was a hoot to drive. Back in the day we used to own a 1.6 VTVT Verna and my dad's company car was a 1.6 CRDI Verna. Although I wasn't old enough to drive back then the difference can be felt immediately even from the passenger seat. Years later I got to experience the 1.6 motor from the driver seat, the thrills it gave me I can never forget.

The unfortunate thing is although the engine was a gem, the handling of Hyundai back then were nothing close to what it is today. They have come a long way since but no diesel motor on offer for Verna.

Mod Note : Please capitalize car's make / model and when referring to self as in *I*.
Thanks.

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Originally Posted by Omkar (Post 5679175)

This diesel engine put Renault-Nissan on the map. It was available in the Renault Duster and Nissan Terrano initially in 2 states of tune – 84 BHP and 108 BHP. In the Renault Captur and Nissan Kicks, it was offered in 108 BHP tune only. It was considered the runner-up for the national engine of India after the Fiat 1.3L. Just like most engines on this list, the switch to BS6 emission norms killed the Renault-Nissan 1.5L diesel engine.

The k9k had another tune of 64 seen on Logan and Micra. Arguably even better than Figo as there was very minimal turbo lag in the city.

Loosing 30d in 5 series seemed like a personal loss as for the longest time, I’ve been lurking on its threads to satisfy my fast diesel sedan itch.
Last/current gen model is also the most gorgeous.

Next one is .. I don’t know, more like a car Robocop would drive plus we don’t know if 530d will be made available or not.

E350d is an alternate but 1Cr? Thanks but no.

Cars are not just modes of transport taking us from point A to point B. Plenty of things happen in-between. Annexing so many good engines seems like late capitalism is killing capitalism.

VW Vento 1.6 TDI.. I don’t miss it yet as I still drive it but I miss it when I am out to get an alternative. Such a wonderful machine. Great power with equally great fuel efficiency, quite a rare mix of both which is difficult to find. I still remember the truck like sound when Valet got it during our first dinner night at one of the BKC restaurant to today. The same engine has become like a smooth cluttering orchestra now.