Three cylinders used to mean compromise — not anymore
From Honda kei cars to a 600-hp Koenigsegg hypercar — these three-cylinder engines redefined what a small motor can do.
Three-cylinder engines were long seen as a compromise for the sake of fuel economy — and nothing more. But modern technology has turned everything on its head. Turbocharging, direct injection and precision tuning have transformed the “three-pot” into a serious piece of engineering — today these motors power not only city runabouts but full-blooded sports cars. Below is the list of three-cylinder units that have proven themselves beyond doubt.
Let’s start with the Honda S07A, a 0.66-litre unit. It’s the heart of Japanese kei cars: the Honda S660, N-One and N-Box. Output is modest — around 64 hp — but that’s not why this engine is loved. It’s loved for its simplicity, compactness and the way it fits Japan’s strict kei-car regulations like a glove.
The BMW B38, displacing 1.5 litres, turned out to be far more versatile. You’ll find it under the bonnet of the 1-Series, 2-Series, 3-Series, X1, X2, MINI Cooper — and even the hybrid BMW i8 supercar. It’s not without weak spots: ignition components, intake carbon build-up, the thermostat. But given proper servicing, this is considered one of the most successful engines in the entire line-up.
And now the real mass-market star — the Toyota G16E-GTS. Just over 1.6 litres, a single turbocharger, three cylinders — and up to 300 horsepower straight from the factory in the GR Corolla. The same engine powers the GR Yaris. And here’s the kicker — it has enormous tuning headroom, something tuners worldwide have already proven on drag strips.
But the absolute pinnacle of all this is the Koenigsegg TFG. A 2.0-litre three-cylinder monster from the Gemera hypercar, fitted with twin turbos and the revolutionary camless Freevalve system. Output — up to 600 horsepower. And that’s not all. Peak torque of 600 Nm arrives from just 2,000 rpm and the engine holds that plateau all the way to 7,000 rpm — only then does it let go. Remember the name: Tiny Friendly Giant. That’s what they call it in Sweden. The little, friendly giant.
Earlier it was reported that the Toyota MR2 may return with a 2.0-litre turbocharged engine.