Torque Curves

"BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather" (bugeyedacura)
06/21/2016 at 13:17 • Filed to: None

Why don’t modern Auto Journos know how they work?

I just read a review of the new Camaro with the 2.0T, and they were complaining that it didn’t have top end power like the V6. Well guess what, it’s not supposed to! For those of you who don’t know, the GM 3.6 is a revver. Not much power till you get it well into the powerband. However, the Turbo 4 spools fairly quickly and has lots of grunt in the mid-range. Now, if you were in a position to buy a Camaro, but you wanted something that reminded you of old-school muscle, are you gonna pick the VTEC-bro style engine that you gotta rev the nuts off of, or something that will whisk you away in its strong torquey arms into the night to do bad things? Sounds like automotive writers don’t understand cars anymore. And that’s sad.

And that, that’s the thing...

DISCUSSION (27)

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather
06/21/2016 at 13:19

Pretty soon buyers will have to do their own research into torque ratios. Disaster will surely follow.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather
06/21/2016 at 13:24

I’d rather have the turbo, mostly for that reason.

Of course, with the V6 you get DAT NOISE

Sweet Trav > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather
06/21/2016 at 13:27

I’d take the Turbo 4, bigger upside on that engine.

Plus and maybe it's me, but I have an irrational hatred of the High Feature V6

BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer
06/21/2016 at 13:28

Any engine can be made to sound any way. The exhaust was just phoned in on the 2.0T.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Sweet Trav
06/21/2016 at 13:29

It makes a fantastic noise with the dual-mode exhaust, though.

Justin Hughes > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather
06/21/2016 at 13:40

That’s something I enjoyed in the Mustang EcoBoost. Sure, just over 300hp is nice, but torque is something you use all the time, not just at the top end. The engine feels much bigger than a 2.3.

random001 > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather
06/21/2016 at 13:40

Basically anyone who talks about torque curves and isn’t talking about a V* needs to stop talking about torque curves...

Because V8!

Other than that, you are 100% correct. Also, they aren't talking about a V8...

Nibbles > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather
06/21/2016 at 13:41

I have yet to make a two-liter sound like an LS1. Not for lack of trying...

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > Sweet Trav
06/21/2016 at 14:01

It killed the 3800 :(

Possibly the most well rounded V6 ever made. Never the best, but always appropriate. 260+ hp in supercharged form and still could push a full size sedan to 30mpg on the freeway with metric asstons of torque.

CobraJoe > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather
06/21/2016 at 14:01

Journalists not understanding engines is a problem that I’m sure has been around since the first vehicle.

Complaining about the lack of horsepower in American engines. Complaining about the roughness of a powerful engine. Complaining about how a Vette will never match a Porsche.

I think it’s mostly caused by the system in place, where they can only have the car for a short amount of time and often will schedule some amazing drive or track experience for it without bothering to drive it in an every day setting. Limiting yourself to only a couple of hours of track or closed course time really makes it impossible to learn anything about the car other than how easy it is to drive fast and how it compares directly to whatever comparison car you brought along.

Probenja > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather
06/21/2016 at 14:05

Like this?

gawdzillla > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather
06/21/2016 at 14:05

the correct answer is the v8, low end, mid range, top end, you get them all

JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
06/21/2016 at 14:12

The 3800 certainly didn’t win specific-output or refinement contests, but it was indeed a very well-rounded motor. Extremely well suited to it’s intended purpose and reliable as granite.

/former owner of a ‘97 Buick LeSabre

now the 12-valve “S” block/cam Alfa Busso V6... *THAT* engine was innapropriate ;) (and also damn reliable)

/former owner of a ‘92 Alfa Romeo 164-S

Tekamul > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather
06/21/2016 at 14:22

Playing devil’s advocate :

Now, if you were in a position to buy a Camaro, but you wanted something that reminded you of old-school muscle

Is this something from the article, or something you’re projecting on the writer? Your statement is accurate (there’s no replacement for displacement, and a turbo is effectively a variable displacement system), but if the writer has no love for 60's muscle, it’s not really applicable.

GeneralSnus > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather
06/21/2016 at 14:41

you sir, are wrong

HammerheadFistpunch > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather
06/21/2016 at 14:56

I wish “average power” was better understood/more used

RallyWrench > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht
06/21/2016 at 14:59

Kinja'd!!!

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > RallyWrench
06/21/2016 at 15:01

A 1L Ford could not possibly propel a two and half ton Oldsmobile!

RallyWrench > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht
06/21/2016 at 15:14

Are you suggesting engines are migratory?

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > RallyWrench
06/21/2016 at 15:16

IT DOESN’T MATTER

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather
06/21/2016 at 16:04

“Sounds like automotive writers don’t understand cars anymore.”

That’s an observation I made well over a decade ago. Some auto writers don’t even own cars.

BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather > Manwich - now Keto-Friendly
06/21/2016 at 17:15

I hate to sound like an 80 year old, but the rise of the internet has unleashed upon us a whole breed of writers who Were hired to churn and burn articles without any real enthusiasm or qualification for the subject matter.

BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather > Tekamul
06/21/2016 at 17:24

That’s something I came up with. Because that’s the point of the matter. Torque is what makes a muscle car. And yes, the Camaro is a world car now, meaning that it has to do more than just satisfy muscle car guys. But in my mind, the 2.0T is the more traditional alternative to the very European 3.6.

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > Nibbles
06/21/2016 at 17:24

Straight pipes and unequal headers are you friends there (within reason)

BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather > HammerheadFistpunch
06/21/2016 at 17:25

I wish people understood “Area under the curve"...

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > Manwich - now Keto-Friendly
06/21/2016 at 17:26

This. I’m now very picky with who’s reviews I read (Raph and Torch’s are both great off the top of my head. Henry Catchpole from Evo is good too. I’m sure there’s others both here at Jalopnik and afar, but I’m terrible with names).

If you want the pinnacle (as far as I’m ocncerned), look up LJK Setright.

Nibbles > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires
06/21/2016 at 17:37

gets you closer but a burble isn't a rumble