The best underutilized engines

"feather-throttle-not-hair" (feather-throttle-not-hair)
08/06/2013 at 14:12 • Filed to: None

Every now and then, car manufacturers will come up with an engine that, for whatever reason is a bit more special. These engines often find their way into deserving chassis, resulting in great cars. Sometimes they even end up in multiple chassis, spreading their goodness far and wide. The last generation Celica for instance, wasn't a bad car, but it's engine went on to power the diminutive Elise, a car better able to exploit it's sky high redline and revvy nature.

Can you imagine though, if instead of the Celica and Elise, Toyota had simply stopped after shoving the 2ZZge into the Pontiac Vibe and Toyota Matrix? It would be a phenomenal waste of a pretty good engine. But unfortunately this happens all the time. Here's a few of my favorite engines that never really made it in the automotive world. Engines that I wish had come in more cars.

side note: I live in the U.S. so these engines are all from USDM cars. Apologies to the rest of the world and I'd also love to hear your opinion and thoughts about these engines or cars.

1996-1999 3.4L V8 from the Taurus SHO - 235 hp

Why I like it: Yamaha makes damn good engines and this is probably one of their rarest. The V8 was a scant 3.4L making it pretty tiny and smaller than the V6 i've got in my car. Usually V8s of that size are found in Ferraris.

Why it's wasted: The 1996-1999 Taurus SHO was both FWD, and A/T only. It was also heavy and lets face it, not the best chassis in the world. It was also one of the ugliest cars to come from Ford in a very very long time.

Where I'd tell them to stick it: This is tricky because Ford really didn't have a chassis at the time that could exploit this engine. The Mustang had it's own V8 at the time that was much bigger and more powerful (on paper.) Ford did have an association with Mazda however and Mazda did just stop importing the FD due to people hating rotaries. It would never happen, but it would be kind of cool. In a perfect world, this engine would power 2nd generation MR2s.

1992-1996 1.8L V6 engine from the MX-3 - 130 hp

Why I like it: Continuing my theme of "tiny for their cylinder count" the K8 engine in the MX-3 is one of the smallest V6 engines to ever find its way into a production car. It had a 7K redline, but the fuel cutoff wasn't actually until 7800 RPM. It was similar in size and power to many of the higher performance 4-clyinders of the day, however it had them all beat in refinement.

Why it's wasted: The MX-3 was actually a pretty decent little car. It did look like a bean and it was FWD, but truthfully it wasn't half bad. The problem is that the K8 engine is just so damn cool it deserves to be in more than one car sold for only a few years.

Where I'd tell them to stick it: I think the answer here is pretty obvious; this should have been an optional engine on the Miata. The MX-5 was making about 115 horses at the time and I think Mazda's engineers could've probably pulled another 10-15 horsepower out of our little V6 here. The result would be a slightly more refined gran turismo style Miata. But of course it would still have a tiny engine that pulls smoothly to the upper reaches of the tach. In short, it would still be a Miata.

1992-1996 3.3L Flat 6 from the Subaru SVX - 231 hp

Why I like it: Flat sixes are always kind of cool, but the EG33 engine in the SVX was no slouch either. 231 hp from an NA engine was pretty dang good for the early 90's and in fact, Subaru wouldn't build a more powerful NA engine until 2008. Plus, its design lends it's self to a good center of gravity, which would be helpful in something with more serious sporting pretensions.

Why it's wasted: The SVX, like the MX-3 wasn't a particularly bad car, it just wasn't hard core enough to do justice to its engine. It's well documented that the SVX came equipped only with an automatic, which is it's self a great tragedy. Furthermore Subaru refused to equip the SVX with the much more sporting center differential from the Japanese version of the car, meaning that the AWD SVX was essentially FWD most of the time. In fact, the BRZ is the first car since the SVX to be offered with 2WD; as a desperate attempt to cut SVX base prices in 1994 led to a short lived FWD model.

Where i'd tell them to stick it: I would have liked to see a 2.5RS coupe with this engine. Obviously it would have to be a 3.3RS coupe, but a sportier impreza with just a bit more refinement than the WRX could've been really cool. The WRX could then be brought over in four-door-only form as a wanna be rally car, while the 3.3RS would be the grand tourer.

Alright, i'm missing a ton of great engines, but those are my top three as far as underutilized. What do you guys think? Chime in below.

DISCUSSION (27)

For Sweden > feather-throttle-not-hair
08/06/2013 at 14:16

19992-1996 3.3L V6 from the Subaru SVX - 231 hp

wut

feather-throttle-not-hair > For Sweden
08/06/2013 at 14:20

Pretty much what I thought when i found out they were A/T only.

Also what I thought years later when my friend said he got one, but that it was FWD.

dinobot666 > feather-throttle-not-hair
08/06/2013 at 14:22

The Subaru SVX will continue to be the most misunderstood car, possibly of all time. It wasn't a sports car, it was a grand tourer. That's why it was equipped with the 4EAT.

The current flat 6 available in the Legacy, Outback and Tribeca are distant relatives of the engine that first appeared in the SVX and are buttery smooth.

dogisbadob > feather-throttle-not-hair
08/06/2013 at 14:22

The 2ZZ is awesome! And the Celica and Elise predate the Corolla, Matrix, and Vibe applications.

I'm thinking GM's Atlas I6. It could've been used as the base engine for the Camaro, the Holden cars, etc. Bring back the I6, an American one that can take on BMW, Toyota, and Nissan! Too bad it never made it into the Silverado and Colorado, and their clones. All they needed to do is make an aluminum version. Heck, they could even use it on Cadillacs, and then make a V12 out of two Atlases for world dominating V12 awesomeness.

For Sweden > feather-throttle-not-hair
08/06/2013 at 14:24

The year 19992 comes after the year 1996

The SVX has a a flat 6, not a V6

bpands > feather-throttle-not-hair
08/06/2013 at 14:26

Kinja'd!!!

The compact Yamaha V8 Volvo stuck in the S80 and XC90 for a few years were pretty great. Wished they would have tucked it into a C30 when they had the chance.

Decay buys too many beaters > feather-throttle-not-hair
08/06/2013 at 14:29

The Corvair's Flat-6, I believe it is still the only horizontally opposed engine to come out of the U.S. It had similar power (and 20HP more for the turbo) as 911s of the time, and it would have been great to see the engine developed further, and put into some lightweight sport cars.

I especially liked the four carb variant

Kinja'd!!!

Saracen > feather-throttle-not-hair
08/06/2013 at 14:32

The Yamaha 3.4L V8 had massive potential (the original prototype made 300hp), but Ford transmissions were weak and they didn't want a Taurus with more power than a Cobra, so it got detuned.

Also, it has chronic camshaft problems, and a funky firing order thanks to using a 60 degree angle.

feather-throttle-not-hair > For Sweden
08/06/2013 at 14:33

Kinja'd!!!

Ok that's pretty bad. My ears are burning with shame.

feather-throttle-not-hair > bpands
08/06/2013 at 14:35

Ohhh that's a really good one. I remember that engine. Didn't it kind of get stuffed in a Swedish supercar at one point? Perhaps with some turbos? I could be totally wrong.

feather-throttle-not-hair > Saracen
08/06/2013 at 14:36

Yeah, when i was researching this article I came across mention of the cam problems. It sounds like the fix ford suggested didn't really work. Didn't know that about the 300 hp though. That makes me extra sad.

Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney > feather-throttle-not-hair
08/06/2013 at 14:38

I think he's saying 'wut' to you calling it a V6, when it's an H6/flat-six.

feather-throttle-not-hair > dinobot666
08/06/2013 at 14:41

The SVX is far from a bad car, it just would've been better with a manual option. But you're right it is somewhat misunderstood. I wasn't so much trying to condemn the SVX as I was wishing it's engine were used in other vehicles as well.

feather-throttle-not-hair > dogisbadob
08/06/2013 at 14:43

Yeah you're right, the 2ZZ was in the Celica before it was anything else.

I like the idea of bringing back the American I6. It could be just a little bit more sophisticated that what we've currently got going on. Compete with those damnable 3-series'.

feather-throttle-not-hair > Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney
08/06/2013 at 14:44

yeah...uh....oops

Also, 19992 =/= 1992

There's no graceful way to bow out of this one at this point. hehehe.

Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney > feather-throttle-not-hair
08/06/2013 at 14:45

Hey man, shit happens. You made the right move by not trying to make some asinine argument as to why you were initially correct. For Sweden has humbled us all at some point, I think.

dinobot666 > feather-throttle-not-hair
08/06/2013 at 14:50

Its flat 6 legacy lived on in the er, um, Legacy. :) There are kits available that make it possible to swap in a 5 speed manual from a WRX. It's a reasonably easy install and does make it a very different kind of car.

It's worth noting that the car was somewhat underbraked from the factory as well as it was a pretty heavy car. Upgraded brakes and the aforementioned 5 speed swap can turn a grand tourer into a reasonably quick sports coupe.

More Power!!and also some brakes. > feather-throttle-not-hair
08/06/2013 at 14:51

English supercar but I did have twin turbos attached.
https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:A…

dinobot666 > Decay buys too many beaters
08/06/2013 at 14:52

Don't forget about the Tucker flat six!

Decay buys too many beaters > dinobot666
08/06/2013 at 15:00

hmm, I guess you learn something new every day.

feather-throttle-not-hair > More Power!!and also some brakes.
08/06/2013 at 15:20

Thats right! I knew it was in something I liked.

Wildstar > bpands
08/06/2013 at 15:50

IIRC, the Volvo V-8, made by Yamaha, was a derivative of the SHO V-8.

Audi For Life > feather-throttle-not-hair
08/06/2013 at 16:00

I had a 1999 SHO and gave it up after reading about a lot of engines getting killed due to the cam problem. Sure, one can do some welding to prevent the problem; but, one problem it couldn't fix is the overly thirsty nature of the V8.

dogisbadob > feather-throttle-not-hair
08/06/2013 at 16:08

With an aluminum block, 5 valves, and maybe something like 3-stage VTEC, GM will have it going ON!!!!!!!

boxrocket > feather-throttle-not-hair
08/06/2013 at 17:41

Definitely Mazda's '90s V6s, the K8 mentioned and the KL 2.5V6 that Ford eventually slapped the Duratec label on but which went without Mazda's enhancements, leading to some reliability issues depending on application. Widely used by Ford, but without its original charm, although it did get bored out to make the 3.0L V6, which was a pretty good engine and lasted until 2011.

gti_vr6 > feather-throttle-not-hair
08/06/2013 at 20:34

The 6.0L V12 TDI from the Audi Q7.
#1 Based from the Audi R10 TDI Race Car, that did pretty well

#2 ~463 hp and ~750ftlbs

#3 V12 awesomeness + Diesel bi-turbo = Never made it to the US -_-

Kinja'd!!!

All Motor Is Best Motor > feather-throttle-not-hair
08/07/2013 at 04:35

It also sounds god damn epic.