I knew about the Northstar engines but now this?

http://www.caranddriver.com/carnews/...-gms-v-8s.html

GM kills V-8 family and, like Ford, embraces powertrain downsizing.
BY ALISA PRIDDLE, January 2008

The ubiquitous V-8 engine under the hood of full-size SUVs and big cars could go the way of the eight-track tape deck in a modern world where fuel-efficiency and emissions standards are redefining the cars and trucks of tomorrow.

New regulations that will require U.S. vehicle fleets to achieve 35 mpg are responsible for General Motors’ decision to kill plans for a new double overhead cam V-8 engine for luxury cars to replace the aging Northstar V-8, Bob Lutz, GM vice chairman, says in an interview at the 2008 North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

“The replacement of the Northstar, that cancellation was the direct result of the 35-mpg fuel legislation.” GM chairman Rick Wagoner says when the new V-8 family program began, “there was more optimism than we have today,” that V-8 engines could survive in today’s regulatory climate. The engine was to go into production next year, prior to phasing out the Northstar V-8 that is found in many Cadillacs, that is scheduled to be phased out in 2010.

Don’t expect new V-8 families in the future, Lutz says. Rather, look for V-6s tuned to provide low-end torque to power large vehicles.

Ford has been publicizing its EcoBoost powertrain strategy to provide V-8 power with a family of turbocharged V-6 engines with direct injection, starting with a 3.5-liter V-6 in the Lincoln MKS, followed by the Ford Flex, and eventually rolling out to 500,000 vehicles in the next five years.

 

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Sounds like Ford Ecoboost and a change in what consumers want is killing GMs V8s. If GM could build a 340HP V8 that could match the performance of Fords EcoBoost 3.5L they would. Notice how they talk about V8's going away and not 400HP+ engines.

 

New V8 families.

This doesn't mean anything is going to happen to the LSx family, nor does it mean that GM will cease improving that platform.

I've heard rumors that GM is developing DOHC LSx heads for use in future Cadillacs. It seems semi-unlikely to me, but I wouldn't rule it out, and this news certainly doesn't rule it out either.

 

BS...

GM Powertrain was quoted this week that "V8s aren't going anywhere"

Besides, how will GM sell trucks without V8s?

 

One guess...Diesel

 

Boy this sounds suprisingly familiar to another time in history. Remember the 70s? Thats why the Camaro and Mustangs were so pathetic during the 70s and early 80s and Chrysler's muscle was non existant. Now the horsepower wars are on, and gas prices are going up up up. So once again we lose our beloved cars just like the 70s, then have to wait another 15 years to get them back to the way they are now. GOD lets hope not.

What I dont understand is that my Z gets 26mpg, and its over 10 years old and has over 400rwhp NA. So whats another 10mpg with todays technology. I dont think the V8 has to go away, I think they need to make it more fuel effecient.

Oh and the US needs to drill their own oil and build more refinaries and this whole "green" campaign needs to go away.

 

I really can see V8s going away with powertrains like we're going to see on the Volt. You can still get plenty of power from the electric motor and don't necessarily need a V8 to charge the battery that's powering that motor.

But that's definitely not going to happen anytime in the next decade or so.

 

See my post. No new families. The trucks will continue to be powered by LSx engines and Duramax diesels, and those are both existing families under continuing development.

 

This was regarding the Ultra V8 program which was to be the replacement for the Northstar V8, and was posted here a couple of weeks ago. The LSx series V8s is unaffected by this.

 

You expect too much from 10 years of technology. Besides it's more that people won't pay the price it would cost for the technology needed rather than it not existing...

 

I will be interested to see how this plays out.

 

I dont think so. OK so my 81 Z28 had about 180rwhp and got 10mpg, 88 Trans Am GTA got 16mpg and had 200rwhp, my 98 had over 300 before mods and got 28mpg.

Not too much to expect in my opinion. Especially when the alternative is everyone driving Cobalts and Neons.

 

Yes we knew about the Northstar series of V8s. But this article seems to rule out ANY new family of V8s from GM in the future. But yes, the LSx engines are unafftected for now although I doubt GM would be willing to invest huge amounts of money in the next generation of LSx motors at this point because of the CAFE standards when they could be investing in "greener" forced induction V6 engines.

 

Let's hear it for CAFE! The law designed to take choices from the consumer!