Say what you will about DCX, but they have successfully turned the term "HEMI"....it to a well known brand.

It's obvious that GM wants to do the same to the term "smallblock" (as in smallblock Chevy......but without the Chevy part).

They even have a website:http://smallblock.gmblogs.com/

Do you think GM can pull it off? Or is the Hemi branding just better?

 

Not even the hint of a shadow of a chance.

Come on, guys, it has the word "SMALL" in it. Take it from someone who does advertising for a living. "Smallblock" ain't going nowhere.

 

Not a chance... perhaps they could use Vortec with all the V8's and drop them on the V6's.... or something catchy like that at least.

 

"big block"...now thats a term that could catch on

but "small block"...unless you have one, that name isnt going to appeal to you.

 

I've been thinking abut this very thing since DCX started marketing "Hemi"...

"Smallblock" does nothing... but maybe bringing back "Turbo-Jet" would be cool....

Though it could be misleading due to the "Turbo" in the name.

 

I don't know.......

I think "smallblock" has some potential. It just rolls off your tongue.....

And for me anyway, conjures up positive images of reliable, high revving, powerful V8's.

GM just needs to get acouple of goofy guys, in a primered '69 Nova....and have them pull up next to an LS7 powered Z06 and say ....."That thing got a smallblock"?*

Won't take long before the public gets the connection.




*(Trademarked. GM can call me for my terms. )

 

Oddly enough..there are those that revel in the small size of their engines. Poser tuners and what-not...

Vortec has always been associated with trucks. Big-block could end up being associated with large, heavy, inefficient, and low tech.

Today's smallblocks are anything but low tech. Relatively small for their displacement, they offer amazing fuel economy and power. I think that getting more smallblocks into cars like the Impala SS and MC SS will help them speak for themselves. Of course, a catchy name would definitely help too.

 

That's not a bad idea Darth. Turbo-Jet was the performance version while the lesser economy versions got Turbo-Thrift.

Mouse motor probably wouldn't work either. Rat motor might help, but then that's for the big blocks... but then again DCX's new HEMI is not a true HEMI.

 

Ya, but "smallblock" is so generic sounding... Ford had 289 and 302 smallblocks, and 428 and 429 bigblocks... etc etc etc... there's no brand identity.

That's why I thought "Turbo-Jet" more identified with Chevrolet directly, but I have reservations on if it'd be nearly as effective as "Hemi" anyway.


Plus, like centric said, it has "small" in it... and I think a lot of people felt "OLDSmobile" had a similar problem.


Either way, they should have put "427" badges on the new Z06 somewhere.

 

Answer to the question? Never!

DCX has done a fantastic job of marketing an iron block pushrod V8. Doesn't hurt that you can get it in just about everthing they build.

How about some take-off on "Corvette Powered". Stuff the LS2 into everything that can hold a V8 and promote it as "the same motor that propels the C6."

Throw out all the other variations, (except for the Z06 7 liter) and replace the old 4.3 V6 with an LS2 derived 300 HP 4.5 V6 to use a base motor in the trucks and rear drive cars.

 

I thought that would've been cool too. I dont know, I think with a good effort behind it, "smallblock" could do well. As long as the term "smallblock" keeps getting attached to a picture of a powerful, high revving V8, the term "small" isnt gonna mean much.

Also if it does take off, hopefully it wont be because of two hicks in a ratted out Chevy. Say what you will but DCX's hick HEMI commercials are annoying, though successful.

 

DCX has the Hemi, and Ford to a degree has the "cammer" (current crate engine) and perhaps "Cobra jet" (they should do something with this name, perhaps for new Cobra), etc.... The thing with chevy is that their great motors have designations like LT1, Ls6, etc.... and those designations just don't jump at you the way "Hemi" or "Cammer" does.

 

The hemi was special because they dominated racing for a time. Then they were banned. That itself made them seem bada$$. They became a legend, partly due to the fact that there were realitively few mopars out there with them. It would be difficult to duplicate they way that legend was created.

 

I think GM performance cars can sell just fine without the help of a lame engine tagline.

 

Make the new tagline, "That thing got a 350?"
I know the 350 is dead, but people really recognize the name. I can't begin to tell you how many times somebody has asked if the Z has the 350.

DCX does the same thing with HEMI, even though it really isn't a HEMI.