4-Cylinder Engines: From Historical Evolution to Future Innovation

1. History of four-cylinder engine development

The development history of four-cylinder engine is the epitome of the continuous optimization of internal combustion engine technology. Early 4-cylinder engines were known for their simple structure and low cost, and were mainly used in family cars and industrial equipment. However, in recent years, technological breakthroughs have led to a qualitative leap in performance.

In the field of diesel engines, four-cylinder engines have also experienced technology iteration. For example, Foton Cummins F4.5T double supercharged diesel engine has increased its maximum torque to 900 Nm through two-stage supercharging technology, which takes into account the power and fuel efficiency under complex working conditions. These technological innovations have not only broken the performance ceiling of four-cylinder engines, but also reshaped the market's perception of four-cylinder engines.

2. Contemporary range of applications: from passenger cars to industrial machinery

Today, the application of four-cylinder engines has penetrated into many fields:

Passenger cars and high-performance vehicles: four-cylinder engines have become mainstream thanks to their compact size and high power efficiency. The diversified application scenarios of four-cylinder engines also fully reflect their technological adaptability

Urban commuting and family vehicles: models with a displacement of less than 1.6L have become mainstream due to policy incentives (e.g., purchase tax exemption), taking into account both fuel economy and power requirements.

Heavy Machinery and Special Vehicles: Four-cylinder diesel engines provide stable power in agricultural machinery and reduce operating costs through intelligent fuel-saving systems.

Commercial Vehicles and Industrial Equipment: Diesel four-cylinder engines occupy a central position in trucks, agricultural machinery (e.g. tractors) and generator sets. They are widely used in logistics and construction machinery.

Motorcycle field: Motorcycles rely on four-cylinder engines, thus balancing handling and cost-effectiveness, and promoting the development of the motorcycle market.

3. Market Share

According to the market report, the global four-cylinder engine market reached USD 38.5 billion in 2022 and is expected to grow to USD 52.7 billion by 2030, at a CAGR of 4.3%.2 Of these:

Regional contribution: Asia Pacific accounted for 40%, with automobile production and consumer demand in emerging markets such as China and India being the main drivers; North America and Europe accounted for 25% and 20%, respectively.

Segmentation: gasoline four-cylinder accounted for 65% share, but diesel is growing faster due to commercial vehicle demand. Turbocharging technology has become the key to growth, and its popularity is increasing to promote four-cylinder engines to achieve high power output while maintaining small displacement.

4. Development trend: environmental protection and intelligence in parallel

The future development of four-cylinder engines will revolve around the following directions:

Hybrid and Carbon Neutral Fuel: Toyota's new generation of 1.5L four-cylinder engine supports liquid hydrogen and biofuel, reducing volume by 10% while increasing efficiency by 30%, and is scheduled to be used in hybrid models in 2026.

Material and Manufacturing Innovation: Lightweight design is becoming a trend.

Electrification synergy: four-cylinder engines are used as range extenders in plug-in hybrids to extend pure electric range and enable fast replenishment through high-voltage technology.

The evolutionary history of four-cylinder engines is a history of technological breakthroughs. From early economic positioning to today's high-performance benchmark, its vitality stems from continuous technology iteration and scene adaptation. In the future, the 4-cylinder engine will further downsize, improve efficiency, embrace multiple energy sources, and continue to evolve.