Anyone have any idea how much those 2 cars weigh?Weight alway counts even in hy driving since you always have to slow down speed up.I assume the Diesel is 50-100 lbs heavier.
What is the hp output for those 2?No reason a 1 lt ICE couldn't make 75-80 rwhp pretty easily.
The diesels have a theoretical advantage because of the compression-lack of throttle plate and they can burn extremely lean, but a small ICE with fairly big bores-shortish stroke-fewer cyl can narrow it.
The small 3 cyl will have less ring-cyl contact area per RPM and per hp produced.It will also have less area exposed to hot combustion gases,so less energy lost that way. If it is small enough it will have its throttle plate pretty far open negating the Diesels advantage of no plate.
I'm not too surprised about this. In the mid 80's we had several carbed car that would get 40+ mpg at 70+ miles per hour.Not FI not electonic controls-no O2 sensors-no knock sensors- no 4 valve head-nothing to max out efficiency.Small cars(2200 lbs)-small,but decent- motors.This describes our 1985 Corolla.Thanks.Charlie PS-no airbags,no abs-lotta good things that add weight,but it might have had an iron block also.