MG's KV6 engine
Discussion
The KV6 is a development of the K series engines that are used heavily within the MG Rover range. The older K series engines started with a 1.4 and 1.6 but then got developed into the 1.8 which is seen heavily in everything from Ariel Atoms to Lotus Elises.
The KV6 is a six cylinder development of this and does have some of the features of the four cylinder K series. If my memory serves me right, I think that it is a 1.6 with two extra cylinders - just like most other engine developments. Features:
1) Excellent rev characteristics
2) Excellent power for small engines
3) Pretty good fuel economy
4) Very light and compact (hence Lotus)
5) Low emissions
However, they have also been criticised in the MG Rover cars for the following:
1) Low torque - comparitively
2) Plenty of noise
3) Not so good rev charactistics in the V6 version.
The KV6 2.5 came first, followed by the 2.0 version later (also 6 cylinder). It was originally used in the old 800 series, but has now been placed in the Land Rover Freelander and the 75. Uprated power variants in the MG range are supposed to be quite nice.
The stupid thing was what while BMW owned Rover they tried to stifle development of the KV6 engine - they believed it would compete with their own 6 cylinder engines. So they have been doing lots to it since - as shown by the MG range. It is somewhat bizzare that the Land Rover uses it also - now that it is owned by Ford! Then again the new Range Rover has a BMW engine also!!!!
It would make the MG a nice car to drive with the 6 cylinder engine. This is something that has been rumoured for ages and looks increasingly likely to occur. The biggest problem I am lead to believe is balance. Although the KV6 is small and light, it will directly affect the balance of the MGF - so lots of engineering work needs to be done to sort this out.
Cheers and I know that I am a complete sado....
Paul
(with a mind full of useless crap)
The KV6 is a six cylinder development of this and does have some of the features of the four cylinder K series. If my memory serves me right, I think that it is a 1.6 with two extra cylinders - just like most other engine developments. Features:
1) Excellent rev characteristics
2) Excellent power for small engines
3) Pretty good fuel economy
4) Very light and compact (hence Lotus)
5) Low emissions
However, they have also been criticised in the MG Rover cars for the following:
1) Low torque - comparitively
2) Plenty of noise
3) Not so good rev charactistics in the V6 version.
The KV6 2.5 came first, followed by the 2.0 version later (also 6 cylinder). It was originally used in the old 800 series, but has now been placed in the Land Rover Freelander and the 75. Uprated power variants in the MG range are supposed to be quite nice.
The stupid thing was what while BMW owned Rover they tried to stifle development of the KV6 engine - they believed it would compete with their own 6 cylinder engines. So they have been doing lots to it since - as shown by the MG range. It is somewhat bizzare that the Land Rover uses it also - now that it is owned by Ford! Then again the new Range Rover has a BMW engine also!!!!
It would make the MG a nice car to drive with the 6 cylinder engine. This is something that has been rumoured for ages and looks increasingly likely to occur. The biggest problem I am lead to believe is balance. Although the KV6 is small and light, it will directly affect the balance of the MGF - so lots of engineering work needs to be done to sort this out.
Cheers and I know that I am a complete sado....
Paul
(with a mind full of useless crap)
Cerbman,
What do you want to know about the smaller capacity K's? Cracking little engine and a testiment to the Rover engineers that developed it in the first place! Nice one chaps...
Just take a look at the number of small (and not so small) sports car manufacturers that use the engines. Small, light, powerful for their capacity and actually very efficient...
Rover faught against the government on the introduction of compulsory catalysts back in the early 90s. The daft thing was that the 1.4 and 1.6 (no 1.8 then) was actually a leaner burn with lower emissions before adding a Cat! So adding one actually made the engine less efficient!! Nice one....
The K series was a fresh design from the mid-late 80's to replace the ageing A and B series engines (as well as the head-gasket eating T series) and to remove the dependancy on Honda engines. For those sados out there, the 1.6 Rover autos are Honda units, while the 1.6 manual is the K. Although some ideas were taken from Honda, Rover chose not to take the technology such as VTEC and MPFI from them and developed their own - reason for the late arrival of the VVC 1.8 engine.
The only problem in the future is that the VVC engine might not meet the tough emission laws in the future. They need to do some re-engineering of it to get it low enough and this is the problem - really Rover need a new set of engines, but with the absence of billions needed, they might have to "borrow" someones technology.
God, I really must get out more and stop reading so many car magazines! I should put this kind of crap in a book....
Cheers,
Paul
(a mind full of useless crap!)
What do you want to know about the smaller capacity K's? Cracking little engine and a testiment to the Rover engineers that developed it in the first place! Nice one chaps...
Just take a look at the number of small (and not so small) sports car manufacturers that use the engines. Small, light, powerful for their capacity and actually very efficient...
Rover faught against the government on the introduction of compulsory catalysts back in the early 90s. The daft thing was that the 1.4 and 1.6 (no 1.8 then) was actually a leaner burn with lower emissions before adding a Cat! So adding one actually made the engine less efficient!! Nice one....
The K series was a fresh design from the mid-late 80's to replace the ageing A and B series engines (as well as the head-gasket eating T series) and to remove the dependancy on Honda engines. For those sados out there, the 1.6 Rover autos are Honda units, while the 1.6 manual is the K. Although some ideas were taken from Honda, Rover chose not to take the technology such as VTEC and MPFI from them and developed their own - reason for the late arrival of the VVC 1.8 engine.
The only problem in the future is that the VVC engine might not meet the tough emission laws in the future. They need to do some re-engineering of it to get it low enough and this is the problem - really Rover need a new set of engines, but with the absence of billions needed, they might have to "borrow" someones technology.
God, I really must get out more and stop reading so many car magazines! I should put this kind of crap in a book....
Cheers,
Paul
(a mind full of useless crap!)
Cerbman,
Have run a 220GSi in the past and they are actually quite a nice car - this is the one with the T Series engine that does (deservedly) have a reputation for eating head gaskets! Mine also blew the radiator - but more likely nothing much could have been done about this.
Handling is a little suspect and they can "snatch" if you dont expect them to. But they are comfortable, zippy even with the 1.4 and very reliable.
Just dont get one with anything like a ticking noise from the head - valves! Other than that part, repairs and servicing are around Ford and Vauxhall prices - therefore cheap (so why do I have a Citroen then?)
Cheers,
Paul
Have run a 220GSi in the past and they are actually quite a nice car - this is the one with the T Series engine that does (deservedly) have a reputation for eating head gaskets! Mine also blew the radiator - but more likely nothing much could have been done about this.
Handling is a little suspect and they can "snatch" if you dont expect them to. But they are comfortable, zippy even with the 1.4 and very reliable.
Just dont get one with anything like a ticking noise from the head - valves! Other than that part, repairs and servicing are around Ford and Vauxhall prices - therefore cheap (so why do I have a Citroen then?)
Cheers,
Paul
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