Chinese Benda Company Unveils Two V4 Engines
If imitation is the most sincere form of flattery, then the Chinese have perfected the art and it’s hard to think of a car or bike they haven’t blatantly copied in recent years.
Having said that, Chinese company Benda seems to be ploughing its own furrow. Earlier this year, they revealed the wild LFC 700, complete with in-line four-cylinder 700cc engine. There are also rumours of a turbocharged 300cc v-twin-powered sports bike.
150bhp, 89lb.ft Torque
1198cc version won’t match
European V4s, but will be the most powerful Chinese engine so far
Now, Benda has revealed not one, but two V4 engines at the CIMA Motor show. One has a capacity of 1198cc and produces a relatively lazy 150bhp and 89lb.ft of torque while the 496cc version produces 57bhp and 33lb.ft of torque. Both have a cylinder angle of 70-degrees, double overhead camshafts and 16 valves, while the larger engine bucks the current trend by having a relatively long stroke and narrow bore.
Benda has not said what style of bike will be getting the two engines and it will likely only be 2022 before that becomes clear. At the moment, however, the 1198cc version would be the most powerful Chinese engine to date.
Benda BD300 V-Twin
Did someone say Harley Sportster? Chinese have always been good at copying but Benda seems to be bucking that trend