Ford Crown Victoria: which 4.6 AT to buy
If you are choosing a Ford Crown Victoria rather than learning what the name is, the useful split is not “generation versus generation” as a slogan. It is six 4.6 AT versions on the same 4601 cm³ Gasoline V-shaped 8-cylinder layout, all Automatic 4-speed and RWD, all with ground clearance 150 mm and no turbocharging (nadduv_en: No). First generation (1992–1997) is the light sedan pair at 1720 kg.
If you are choosing a Ford Crown Victoria rather than learning what the name is, the useful split is not “generation versus generation” as a slogan. It is six 4.6 AT versions on the same 4601 cm³ Gasoline V-shaped 8-cylinder layout, all Automatic 4-speed and RWD, all with ground clearance 150 mm and no turbocharging (`nadduv_en`: No). First generation (1992–1997) is the light sedan pair at 1720 kg. Second generation (1997–2011) is four heavier sedans from 1830 kg to 1905 kg. Horsepower across the catalogue is 193, 213, 223, 227, 238 and 242 hp. Extra power is real; extra mass is also real. Length, width, wheelbase, wheel sizes and weight distribution are not measured in this dataset, so those search questions cannot be answered here with a number.
Specs that actually separate the six 4.6 AT versions
Every version is named 4.6 AT. Distinguish them by output, not by inventing trim names.
| Generation | Version | hp (kW @ rpm) | Nm @ rpm | cm³ | Fuel | Cylinders / layout | Boost | Gearbox | Drive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 (1992–1997) | 4.6 AT 193 hp | 193 (142 @ 4200) | 353 @ 3200 | 4601 | 92 | 8, V-shaped, 2 valves/cyl | No | Automatic 4 | RWD |
| 1 (1992–1997) | 4.6 AT 213 hp | 213 (157 @ 4600) | 366 @ 3400 | 4601 | 92 | 8, V-shaped, 2 valves/cyl | No | Automatic 4 | RWD |
| 2 (1997–2011) | 4.6 AT 223 hp | 223 (164 @ 4750) | 359 @ 4000 | 4601 | 95 | 8, V-shaped, 2 valves/cyl | No | Automatic 4 | RWD |
| 2 (1997–2011) | 4.6 AT 227 hp | 227 (167 @ 4800) | 369 @ 4000 | 4601 | 95 | 8, V-shaped, 2 valves/cyl | No | Automatic 4 | RWD |
| 2 (1997–2011) | 4.6 AT 238 hp | 238 (175 @ 4750) | 373 @ 4000 | 4601 | 95 | 8, V-shaped, 2 valves/cyl | No | Automatic 4 | RWD |
| 2 (1997–2011) | 4.6 AT 242 hp | 242 (178 @ 4900) | 389 @ 4100 | 4601 | 95 | 8, V-shaped, 2 valves/cyl | No | Automatic 4 | RWD |
Compression is 9.0 on both first-generation 4.6 AT versions and 9.4 on all four second-generation 4.6 AT versions. Bore × stroke is 90.2 × 90 on all six. Fuel system on all six is Distributed injection (multi-point). Engine position is not measured on any version.
Specific output from the same 4601 cm³:
- 4.6 AT 193 hp: 41.9 hp/L, 76.7 Nm/L
- 4.6 AT 213 hp: 46.3 hp/L, 79.5 Nm/L
- 4.6 AT 223 hp: 48.5 hp/L, 78.0 Nm/L
- 4.6 AT 227 hp: 49.3 hp/L, 80.2 Nm/L
- 4.6 AT 238 hp: 51.7 hp/L, 81.1 Nm/L
- 4.6 AT 242 hp: 52.6 hp/L, 84.5 Nm/L
Peak torque arrives later as power rises: 3200 rpm on the 193 hp 4.6 AT, 3400 on the 213 hp 4.6 AT, 4000 on the 223 / 227 / 238 hp 4.6 AT trio, 4100 on the 242 hp 4.6 AT. That is a 900 rpm shift from the weakest first-generation engine to the strongest second-generation engine.
Horsepower, torque and what the step actually buys
Inside first generation the 213 hp 4.6 AT is +20 hp and +13 Nm versus the 193 hp 4.6 AT. Curb weight is the same 1720 kg, so the whole 20 hp lands in specific mass: 112.2 hp/t versus 123.8 hp/t. Top speed is 200 km/h versus 180 km/h (+20 km/h). 0–100 km/h is not measured on either. Fuel 92 on both. Tank 75 L on both. If the question is “same generation, same weight, same tank, more power,” this is the only pair in the catalogue that matches that sentence.
Crossing into second generation is not a free upgrade. The weakest second-generation 4.6 AT (223 hp) has +30 hp versus the first-generation 193 hp 4.6 AT, but only +6 Nm (359 vs 353) and it is +110 kg (1830 vs 1720). Versus the first-generation 213 hp 4.6 AT it is only +10 hp and −7 Nm (359 vs 366) at +110 kg. Top speed falls to 177 km/h from 180 or 200 km/h. Power-to-weight of the 223 hp 4.6 AT is 121.9 hp/t — below the first-generation 213 hp car’s 123.8 hp/t. Fuel grade steps from 92 to 95. Tank shrinks from 75 L to 72 L (−3 L). Compression 9.4 versus 9.0.
The 227 hp 4.6 AT is +4 hp and +10 Nm versus the 223 hp 4.6 AT, and +4 kg of specific mass penalty: 1875 kg versus 1830 kg, 121.1 hp/t versus 121.9 hp/t. It is the first version with a measured 0–100: 9.8 s. Top speed stays 177 km/h. Versus first-generation 213 hp it is +14 hp, +3 Nm, +155 kg.
The 238 hp 4.6 AT is the second-generation car that restores a 200 km/h top speed. Versus 227 hp: +11 hp, +4 Nm, −20 kg (1855 vs 1875), 128.3 hp/t versus 121.1 hp/t. Versus 223 hp: +15 hp, +14 Nm, +25 kg, +6.4 hp/t, and +23 km/h top speed (200 vs 177). 0–100 km/h is not measured. Gross weight is 2305 kg, same as the 223 and 227 hp cars, so payload is 450 kg (2305−1855) versus 475 kg (2305−1830) and 430 kg (2305−1875).
The 242 hp 4.6 AT is the catalogue peak: +49 hp and +36 Nm versus first-generation 193 hp, +4 hp and +16 Nm versus second-generation 238 hp. Curb weight is 1905 kg, the heaviest of the six (+185 kg vs first generation, +50 kg vs 238 hp). Power-to-weight is 127.0 hp/t — 1.3 hp/t below the 238 hp 4.6 AT. 0–100 is 8.8 s, 1.0 s quicker than the 227 hp 4.6 AT (9.8 s). Top speed 200 km/h, same as 238 hp and the first-generation 213 hp, not higher. Peak torque 389 Nm at 4100 rpm is the only version that both makes more than 380 Nm and makes peak after 4000 rpm. Gross weight is not measured, so payload cannot be calculated.
Arithmetic ranking by hp/t (higher is better on this metric):
1. 238 hp 4.6 AT — 128.3 hp/t 2. 242 hp 4.6 AT — 127.0 hp/t 3. first-generation 213 hp 4.6 AT — 123.8 hp/t 4. 223 hp 4.6 AT — 121.9 hp/t 5. 227 hp 4.6 AT — 121.1 hp/t 6. first-generation 193 hp 4.6 AT — 112.2 hp/t
If “what extra output buys” is the question: from 193 to 213 hp at constant 1720 kg you buy 20 hp, 13 Nm and 20 km/h. From 213 to 223 hp you buy 10 hp, lose 7 Nm, add 110 kg and lose top speed. From 223 to 227 hp you buy 4 hp, 10 Nm and a measured 9.8 s, at +45 kg. From 227 to 238 hp you buy 11 hp, 4 Nm, 23 km/h and −20 kg. From 238 to 242 hp you buy 4 hp, 16 Nm and 8.8 s versus a 9.8 s sibling, at +50 kg, without a higher top speed.
Performance, mpg and what is not measured
0–100 km/h: not measured on first-generation 4.6 AT 193 hp and 213 hp; not measured on second-generation 4.6 AT 223 hp and 238 hp; 9.8 s on 4.6 AT 227 hp; 8.8 s on 4.6 AT 242 hp. Those two timed cars are 1.0 s apart and 15 hp / 20 Nm / 30 kg apart (242 vs 227: +15 hp, +20 Nm, +30 kg).
Top speed: 180 km/h (193 hp), 177 km/h (223 and 227 hp), 200 km/h (213, 238 and 242 hp). The 177 km/h pair is more powerful than the 180 km/h first-generation 193 hp car and heavier by 110–155 kg.
Fuel consumption (mpg in the search sense, here as L/100 km): only the second-generation 4.6 AT 223 hp is measured — 13.8 city, 9.4 highway, 11.6 mixed. The other five versions: not measured. Do not treat silence as “same as 223 hp.” Mixed 11.6 L/100 km with a 72 L tank is about 621 km of mixed range on that one version (72 / 11.6 × 100). First-generation tanks are 75 L with consumption not measured, so range cannot be stated.
CO2 and eco class: not measured on all six.
Dimensions, weight, tank, clearance
Length, width, wheelbase, overall size in metres or feet, wheel sizes and weight distribution: not measured for every version. Ground clearance is 150 mm on all six.
Curb weight:
- both first-generation 4.6 AT: 1720 kg
- second-generation 223 hp: 1830 kg
- 238 hp: 1855 kg
- 227 hp: 1875 kg
- 242 hp: 1905 kg
Gross weight 2305 kg on second-generation 223 / 227 / 238 hp 4.6 AT; not measured on 242 hp and on both first-generation cars.
Tank 75 L (first generation) versus 72 L (second generation).
Suspension: Independent, spring front and rear on all six. Brakes: first generation Ventilated disc front, Disc rear; second generation Disc front and Disc rear (labels as in the data).
Which generation, and which 4.6 AT
Buy first-generation 4.6 AT 193 hp if you want the lightest Crown Victoria in this set (1720 kg), Fuel 92, 75 L tank, and you accept the lowest output (193 hp, 353 Nm), 180 km/h, 112.2 hp/t, and 0–100 not measured. There is no cheaper-looking powertrain on paper: it is the same 4601 cm³, Automatic 4, RWD recipe with the least specific output.
Buy first-generation 4.6 AT 213 hp if you want that same 1720 kg and 75 L tank with +20 hp, +13 Nm and 200 km/h. It beats the second-generation 223 hp car on hp/t (123.8 vs 121.9) and on torque (366 vs 359) while staying 110 kg lighter. Fuel stays 92. That is the strongest argument in the data for staying in 1992–1997 if mass and octane matter more than the later 9.4 compression and 95 fuel.
Buy second-generation 4.6 AT 223 hp if you need the only measured consumption figures (13.8 / 9.4 / 11.6) and a stated 2305 kg gross / 475 kg payload. You pay 110 kg versus first generation, Fuel 95, 72 L tank, 177 km/h, and 0–100 not measured. It is not the power pick of generation two.
Buy second-generation 4.6 AT 227 hp if you need a measured 0–100 (9.8 s) and can live with 177 km/h, 1875 kg and consumption not measured. Versus 223 hp you gain 4 hp and lose 0.8 hp/t. Versus 238 hp you lose 11 hp, 23 km/h and 7.2 hp/t while being 20 kg heavier.
Buy second-generation 4.6 AT 238 hp if the metric is power per kilogram inside 1997–2011: 128.3 hp/t is the best of all six, 200 km/h returns, curb 1855 kg is mid-pack, payload 450 kg is known. You do not get a 0–100 figure. Versus 242 hp you give up 4 hp and 16 Nm and you are 50 kg lighter, which is why hp/t still wins.
Buy second-generation 4.6 AT 242 hp if peak horsepower (242), peak torque (389 Nm) and the only sub-9 s 0–100 (8.8 s) are the decision. You accept 1905 kg, gross weight not measured, consumption not measured, and no top-speed gain versus 238 hp or versus first-generation 213 hp (all 200 km/h).
Police Interceptor, LX, engine swaps, wiring harnesses and sale listings are search topics, not fields in this dataset. A 2011 car, if it is this model in these data, is a second-generation sedan in the 1997–2011 window; the data do not split the four 4.6 AT outputs by calendar year inside that window. A 1990 Crown Victoria is outside the 1992 start of generation one here. Engine size in these data is 4601 cm³ on every version — there is no second displacement to choose.
Short rule from the numbers: same weight and a real 20 hp / 20 km/h step → first-generation 213 hp 4.6 AT. Best hp/t and a 200 km/h second-generation sedan without the heaviest curb → 238 hp 4.6 AT. Only timed sprint under 9 s → 242 hp 4.6 AT. Only mpg figures in the file → 223 hp 4.6 AT. Lowest mass and 92 fuel → either first-generation 4.6 AT, with 193 hp as the baseline and 213 hp as the one that uses that mass.