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U.S. trend shows shift to smaller-displacement engines

Southfield, Michigan – North American auto plants installed more small-displacement engines, reflecting a shift in demand to more affordable, and likely more fuel-efficient vehicles, according to survey of model-year 2005 vehicles by Ward's Automotive.

Ward's survey revealed a total of 14,348,353 light vehicles were built for the U.S., an increase of 2.9 per cent over model year 2004. Installations of engines in the mid-range 3.0- to 3.9-litre displacement hit a long-time high of 35.6 per cent, well above the 30.9 per cent installed in 2004. Additionally, installation rates for engines 4.0-litre and larger declined to 38.2 per cent, from 2004's 44.3 per cent.

Engines in the 2.0- to 2.9-litre range increased to 19.8 per cent, from 18.0 per cent in 2004, but the smallest range, 1.9-litre and smaller, dropped to 6.4 per cent from 6.8 per cent in 2004.

The percentage of passenger cars increased in 2005, to 40.8 per cent, from 40.0 per cent in 2004, the first time car share did not decrease from the prior year since model year 2000.

Ward's also noted a decline in eight-cylinder engines, and an increase in smaller engines. Eight-cylinder engines dropped to 28.0 per cent, after peaking at 32.1 per cent in 2004. Six-cylinders climbed to 45.5 per cent from 44.1 per cent, and four-cylinder engines rose to 25.2 per cent from 22.7 per cent. The shift away from big engines was mainly the result of a decline in mid- and full-size SUVs, in conjunction with strong growth in the CUV (crossover utility vehicle) segment.

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