New engine on 2014 Sprinters?

Well, the Sprinter is essentially a commercial vehicle, as we know and does incredibly well in service in the US,Europe, Canada and elsewhere. But, the use of a 4 cylinder diesel to haul our SPrinter Rvs is another story. The commercial Sprinters can handle a lot of cargo but an 11,000 plus rv vehicle is a big baby to move. No wonder the Sprinters have a V6/188hp for 3500 chassis now as compared to the single axle 2500, 8500 lb Sprinter with I-5. I drove a new BMW 328i today with the turbo 4 and it was ok but didnt have the low end grunt of my 2011 BMW528i 6 cylinder--now coming with a 4 banger since 2012. Groan. It gives me pause, to say the least...

PS the 4 cylinder BMW tended to drone and sounded un=-BMWish....Groan(twice)

The Japanese have been doing high revving four-bangers for years. With the new 7 speed transmission, it wouldn't have to rev as high as it would with a 4-6 speed.

I'm curious how well this four banger diesel will last, but I don't think it as bad as it first appears. However, Sprinters are mainly fleet/utility vehicles, so they will likely tend to face the most abuse of any vehicles in their car/light truck line. We will likely find out in the next year or so on the spinter-source forum.

Fastpaddler wrote:
I will be interested to learn how effective a small 4 cylinder diesel will be when hauling the 11,000 lb plus Sprinters. Power to weight ratio, friends, is highly relevant. Bottom end torque is also a huge factor in pulling your rigs up those long hills. Among other car projects, I once hot-tanked a Ford Zephyr so I know a little about engines and transmissions! Surprised a few youngsters with that 'sleeper'.

4 cylinder in such a big truck will have to rev its little heart out on the freeway,
not very good for longevity,.

I will be interested to learn how effective a small 4 cylinder diesel will be when hauling the 11,000 lb plus Sprinters. Power to weight ratio, friends, is highly relevant. Bottom end torque is also a huge factor in pulling your rigs up those long hills. Among other car projects, I once hot-tanked a Ford Zephyr so I know a little about engines and transmissions! Surprised a few youngsters with that 'sleeper'.

I think most of the US is going back to underpowered vehicles mainly because of the fact that most areas are so congested, horsepower means nothing, so people are moving to MPG.

It is also the fact that oil has kept the economy's growth stagnant for so long. Things pick up, gas prices rise. Prices go up, fees on airlines go up. The economy stagnants, and oil falls a little bit due to demand. In fact, our oil usage is less than it was in 1997, but at 3-5x the prices.

So unless something changes, I expect a repeat of the 1970s -- underpowered vehicles will be the norm, not the exception because people value MPG over vroom, vroom.

There are some differences. Engines now have "enough" horsepower to be able to get places without being too obnoxiously slow. Even in the 1990s, one had to eat breakdown lane if someone was trying to merge with a Mazda Protege, Dodge Shadow, or a compact car. Now, even the ratty VWs that the college students drive have enough get up and go to get to highway speeds.

After 2008, the US has changed fundamentally. The weenie engine cars that were snickered at in the past are now the rage.

I too jam looking forward to the Ford Transit. It will offer an I5 diesel, according to the Ford website. I think the Ford and the Fiat will shake things up. That is good.

I have a tough time thinking that the Fiat will be anything better than the other front wheel drive units that have hit the market.

IMHO, Europe and Japan have spent decades trying to get Americans to buy small engines. We just will not do it. So, don't fall into the squirrel under the hood trap and by a unit with adequate power. If you settle for under-powered junk, that is all you will be able to get. Stick to your guns a d demand adequate power.

Fastpaddler wrote:
Well, if BMW can put a 4 cylinder in a 5 series weighing over 4 Grand yet provide the similar torque and HP then you see where the CAFE standards are leading us. I bought the last 6 cylinder 5 series in 2011. Smaller, 4 cylinder diesels will likely be the norm and watch for Ford 150s to arrive WITHOUT a V8 pretty soon. But, heavy Rvs need TORQUE first then HP and gearing and the Sprinters with 5sp/6 cyl turbos have done well hauling 11,000 pls lbs. I say, caveat emptor --don't be intimidated by advertising smokescreens. If possible...!!

There are Many Features of an engine: hp, torque, cooling capacity, longevity, reliability, weight, good looks, and on and on.

We measure the work and engine will do (power) in horsepower whether it is a diesel, gas, 2 stroke, 4 stroke, electric, rotary....

In a drag race the Chevrolet Express Van Class B RV will leave a Sprinter Class B RV in the Dust. But going up a long significant incline, mountain road the Sprinter will pass the Express Van. Why? The Express Van does not have the cooling capacity. If it did, it would leave the Sprinter.

A 4 cylinder diesel would be fine, 'Depending' on what the other features are other than hp.

Bud

Well, if BMW can put a 4 cylinder in a 5 series weighing over 4 Grand yet provide the similar torque and HP then you see where the CAFE standards are leading us. I bought the last 6 cylinder 5 series in 2011. Smaller, 4 cylinder diesels will likely be the norm and watch for Ford 150s to arrive WITHOUT a V8 pretty soon. But, heavy Rvs need TORQUE first then HP and gearing and the Sprinters with 5sp/6 cyl turbos have done well hauling 11,000 pls lbs. I say, caveat emptor --don't be intimidated by advertising smokescreens. If possible...!!

According to Car and Driver, there are Promaster chassis cabs and cutaways.

RobertRyan wrote:

BoboJay5 wrote:
Milts, the Ford is going to be a unibody design like the Sprinter and the Promaster, so I doubt they'll be much more if any freedom to the upfitters than the current Sprinter is

No you can get Cab Chassis set ups for the Transit.. Do not know about the US though.

Robert, we will have all 3 types of Transit here. No crew, (4 door), cabs though.
The non-vans are still unibodies. The cab itself is all a one piece welded together frame body combo