Downsizing Hits an Upswing Smaller Turbo Engines Are Going Big

摘要

In 1964 the original Chevrolet Malibu made its debut. It was a sizable machine that stretched 193.9 inches long by 74.6 inches wide and came with a 3.2-liter straight-six that made-wait for it (literally)-120 gross horsepower. Given the humble output, maybe if s not too surprising that safety belts were optional. Fast-forward 51 years, and the Malibu, now in its ninth generation, offers an engine that at 1.5 liters is not even half the original's size. But with help from a turbocharger, its estimated output of 160 net hp dwarfs that of the old 3.2. Better yet, the 1.5's estimated combined fuel economy of 31 mpg humbles the 3.2's gas-guzzling figure, which surely fell closer to 13 mpg. (The EPA didn't start providing fuel economy values until 1973.)