I am not a "HP stats" guy, but I am a "sales stats" guy. I know people in this segment look at these things, and the STS needs sales BADLY. And I know GM. They don't (for the most part) make peaky engines. If it has 20 more hp at the peak, it's got a proportional amount more hp across the band.

I know more displacement is coming,but there will be a MPG penalty IMO.

In the end, I'm not complaining. I just wish they were segment leaders in HP again, especially in a segment that the buyer does pay attention.

 

now add di to the v8 380hp it would be nice

 

Exactly!

Even though these hi-tech V6s develop around 70hp more than the old iron Ecotec 3.8L V6, I doubt that it's appreciably quicker. It certainly feels nothing like 70 hp.

That's the problem with the current hi-tech V6s. All good on paper but the power is developed at the top end. The problem is most of us don't redline our engines with each cog. All futile.

Give me old-fashioned displacement (torque) any day over hi-tech, high revving, impress your mates with specsheets modern day engines.

Having said that, DOHC, DI, hi-tech V6s is what is demanded by the market... so who am I to try to change their beliefs?

 

makes the 275 and 291hp Northstar seem much less appealing now...

 

In this months car and driver a 3.5L 350Z ties a mustang GT in the quarter mile, 13.7@10X. Curb weight 3340lbsZ to 3650lbsStang. The Stang weighs 7% more. The Stang has 25% more torque than the Z. Why isnt it faster? You could blame the gearing but the Z will out mpg a Stang. I do agree that a fat low end is nice. The high CR of these direct injection 3.6l's will supply decent torque. I think they are 12 to 1.

 

It could be worse. The V6 Lexus GS has more HP and accelerates faster than the V8 model.
303 vs 290hp.

 

Because the Z and the Stang have the same horsepower. If they could run the whole 1/4 mile at their HP peak, the Z would be faster, since it's lighter. But obviously, the average HP of the Stang over the 1/4 mile is a bit higher (7%) than the Z.

 

I don't think this engine would be a good base engine for camaro. I'm sure that 302hp is on premium gas. I also doubt the fuel economy is that great.

Remember the grand prix gxp is rated at 28mph highway on regular gas with 303hp and plenty more tq i'm sure.

But, that is awesome to break the 300hp mark with a V6. Good job GM!

 

I bet you it's on 87 octane. One of the reasons for going with direct injection is so that they can run higher compression without premature detonation.

 

Who said anything about this being the base engine?

 

The 3.6 DI runs on regular fuel. It also gets better mileage than the non-DI 3.6.

 

Don't forget, GM is producing 302 HP on regular fuel not premium. The Lexus and Nissan 3.5s require premium fuel to get their 306 HP.

I applaud GM for making this choice to help their customers save money. Especially with fuel prices as high as they are now. It's too bad most folks don't take this into consideration when comparing stats among vehicles, or even factor this into their purchase decisions. GM should advertise the heck out of this, it's almost like getting 5-10% better fuel economy.

 

I retract my previous statement then. That's pretty impressive.

 

This should be under the hood of a G6 GXP...

 

302HP on regular and better mileage than the non-direct injection V6. The only other V6 at GM that would get better mileage is the 3.5L 224HP HV V6