You can party like 1999 with a small engine that cranks up to a screaming 20,000 rpm.
Although the naturally aspirated large displacement engine is in decline, Cosworth believes that it can still be taught new tricks. Cosworth’s British engineering team designed a new 6.5-liter V12 engine for the Aston Martin Valkyrie and a 3.9-liter engine for the Gordon Murray T.50. Both high-revving engines have compact three-cylinder units. However, Cosworth developed a smaller powertrain in the late 1990s.
This tiny mill was built as a test mule to be used in the development of Cosworth’s final V10 motor for Formula 1. It has one cylinder and a displacement of 0.3 liters. The performance of the tiny one-cylinder engine was what made it stand out from today’s small engines that are forced down our throats in order to comply with stricter emission regulations. Drivetribe interviewed Cosworth’s managing Director to learn more about the engine.
The engine mule was created around 1998-1999 and served as a step-stone to the TJ engine, which went on to power many Formula 1 cars. It was used in Jaguar Racing’s 2003 debut, and Minardi also used it in the subsequent two seasons. Red Bull in 2005 also used it. It was retired after that season, as all F1 cars were downsized to a V8 with an maximum displacement of 2.4 liters under the new regulations.
Why is it so small? Because it was the most cost-effective and fastest way to test new components before making the full-size V10 engine. The TJ is a product of a golden age when regulations were not as stringent as they are now and cost savings were almost unheard of. Engineers had a lot more freedom to develop engines if they adhered to the 3.0-liter formula. The engines were smaller than the 1989-1994 period, but the power was still higher.
This proof of concept still produces a healthy 90 horsepower with a 300cc displacement. It revs all the way to 20,000 RPM. Although it did not sound great at full tilt, and the lack of any other cylinders made it rigid, Cosworth’s managing Director admitted that it accomplished its purpose – accelerate the development of the 3.0-liter V10.
Keep in mind that the engine is over 20 years old, naturally aspirated, and it was difficult to extract this much power without forced induction. The Ford 1.5-liter EcoBoost engine produces 200 horsepower from the three-cylinder unit in the Fiesta ST or Puma ST. Toyota’s 1.6-liter three-pot engine with 261 horsepower from the GR Yaris is also available. It’s rumored that it will be offered in the GR Corolla.