The Refining Influence of the Sixcylindered Engine.
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(\NE of the outstanding characteristics of the 'IL/latest models displayed at the recent Commercial Motor Exhibition at Olympia was the engine with six cylinders, this type of power unit being provided on the majority of the passenger-vehicle chassis.
The use of such engines may be said to be a hall-mark upon the sterling quality of the new products and to emphasize the increasing divergence between the ordinary goods vehicle and that designed solely for passenger purposes. We do not doubt that a certain number of these engines will be utilized for vehicles engaged in high-speed delivery work, but for some time to come this will, we believe, be more the exception than the rule. The modern coach and bus are becoming more and more akin to the private car in respect of the comfort afforded the passenger, and, as regards their chassis, the design, and often the finish, are actually better than those of the private vehicle, which is not surprising when one considers that the commercial vehicle achieves a mileage often six times greater than that of the average private car during a given period, and must be built to last.
Now, with the addition of the six-cylindered engine, with its quick acceleration, even torque, freedom from vibration and silence, the passenger vehicle has again forged ahead, and the refining influence of this type of unit is bound to continue to promote further improvement. Chassis and body noises which were formerly insignificant (as they were hidden by what may be termed the slight roughness of the four-cylindered engine) may obtrude themselves, and this will force further attention to e paid to the remainder of the chassis. We do not suggest that this will apply in every case, but it is a point which arose when a similar conversion from four to six cylinders was made on private cars, in which it was quickly found that chassis and body noises which had previously caused little or no annoyance at once became of major instead of minor importance.
We consider that the use of these new engines constitutes a great advance and one which will certainly have far-reaching effects. We know many instances where owners of private ears have already arranged, or are considering, tours by coach instead of in their own vehicles, and with the ever-increasing refinement of the large passenger vehicle and the objection of many private owners to the increasing strain of driving, detracting from their enjoyment of the scenery, this tendency will become even more pronounced.