TSX69

V8s Losing Ground in America
While there is no engine more American than the V8, it appears as though powerplant is falling out of favor with many U.S. consumer. Stricter CAFE regulations may have automaker concerned about the future of the V8, but many consumers are opting for more fuel efficient engines in the face of rising gas prices and a general trend toward greener vehicles.

According to a study by Edmunds, V8 demand has fallen in every segment except for full-size pickup trucks. The report finds that overall V8 take rates have fallen from 19% in 2006 to a current rate of 15%.

Not surprisingly, the most fuel inefficient segment — SUVs — has seen the sharpest drop off in V8 demand. Two years ago, 24% of buyers opted for a V8, but at the end of 2007, that number fell to just 18%. The full-size V8 sedan market has also seen a shift in demand, with V8 take rates falling from 36% to 29% in the same time frame.

Within the segment, Chrysler's 300 and Dodge Charger sedan have seen some of the biggest declines. At one point, 60% of Charger buyers opted for the HEMI V8, but now the HEMI only has 38% take rate across the 12 vehicles it is offered in. Chrysler even openly admits that the HEMI is not the engine of the future.

Despite the decline in most segments, V8 demand in full-size trucks has actually grown — going from 55% in 2006 to its current level of 59%. Edmunds speculates that the increase is due to casual truck buyers dropping out of the market, leaving only those who need a more powerful work truck.

There is no question that the fate of the V8 engine is up in the air, with automakers canceling V8 engine programs in favor of more fuel efficient options.



Americans Losing Their Love for the V8s
The end of the performance V8 engine is approaching. Of course, there will also be the odd enthusiast after the smooth revving and torqeuy nature of a big V8 but their numbers are dwindling fast. A new study has found that installation rates for V8 engines, the favored choice of powerplant for performance fans in the U.S. for more than five decades, is dropping and that new car buyers are markedly less interested in V8 power.

Data compiled in the Edmunds study reveal overall demand for V8s has dropped from 19% years ago to just 15% today. The drop is even more significant for SUV buyers, whose interest in V8s has dropped from 24% in 2006 to just under 18% at the end of last year. Demand for V8 power in large cars also slid from 36% to 29% in the same time frame, and the same story could be told for two-seaters. The only segment where demand for V8s has actually increased is the fullsize pickup market, with demand rising from 55% in 2006 to a current level of 59%.

With fuel prices now more expensive than ever and the push for green vehicles constantly being posted across the media, the allure of big V8s understandably is fading. America’s carmakers have seen the writing on the wall and for once are acting fast. GM has already canceled its future luxury V8 program and Chrysler has stated that its legendary HEMI doesn’t have a place in its future powertrain lineup.

Texas

Well with the CAFÉ barf in the wonderful No energy energy bill, future for all engines/cars has changed. With that said get ‘em while they are hot!

http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/...allenger_srt8/

http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/..._gt_first_look

I like this look: http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/.../photo_13.html

Oh and they said the same thing about the V-8 in the 80s high gas prices of $1.30 etc....oh and do not forget the double nickle when talking about CAFE/BARF and how well the gov fixes things.......

JediMindTricks

i'm telling you. despite all the criticism thrown at honda/acura, they're really ahead of the game.

charliemike

Maybe they lobbied Congress to raise CAFE standards

bigman

I feel that these stories about V-8's not being hot anymore are made up by automobile manufacturers that are trying to push v-6 models that adhere to future cafe standards.But at the same time, lots of 6 cyl's are making the power 8 cylinders were putting out a few years ago. Not to mention that manufacturers slap turbos on 6's and get insane power and economy.

F23A4

on all three points. In all likelihood, V8 motors will be relagated to more niche vehicles like GT cars, higher end luxury and larger SUVs. While I respect motors like the GM LS series and Chrysler's Hemi, I have never had a strong desire for a V8 powered car....mainly due to fuel economy.

Costco

Though I could care less if I drove a car with a V8 and it got 12 mpg... as long as it had the performance to match. Nowadays V8s get much better mileage than that, but it still isn't enough...

Edward'TLS

I agree. V8 has no place in volume-selling economy cars and trucks whose buyers are very sensitive to gas prices. However, V8 will remain strong in expensive, ultra-luxury cars and trucks whose buyers hardly care about fuel economy, and also V8 is well established as a status symbol to differentiate between luxury and economy vehicles.

Texas

Bad , bad V-8 but what about those V-6s…..For some reason the V-8 and say the new Pontiac G8 GT gets a bad rap while things like the Honda Coupe, pilot, ridgeline are looked as practical and not a gas hog…Hmmmm, judging a book by the cover?

G8 GT 15/24 regular gas, 361/385 hp/tq
Accord Coupe V-6 6sp 17/25 premium gas, 268/248 hp/tq
Pilot 16/22 regular gas, 244/240 hp/tq (Tahoe 14/20)
Ridgeline 15/20 “ 247/245 hp/tq (Silverado 15/20)
TL-S 17/26 premium, 286/256 “
RL 16/24 " 290/256
Vette 15/25 " , 430/424, " (16/26 S/T)
Mustang GT 15/22, regular 300/320

Spread: city 15-17 hwy 20-26 G8 GT and TL-s are seperated by 2mpg and premium in the TL...

Edward'TLS

Unfortunately 2mpg worst is 2mpg worst. The majority people are not intelligent enough to break it down into hp/torque/power-to-weight-ratio etc. when comparing gas mileage. But when the V8's are all gone in the economy vehicle segment, then it's be the V6's turn for bad rap against the 4-cylinders.

swift22

what you guys fail to realize is its pure BS IMO. yes IMO. Why....when you get reports of old 429s or whatnot in a muscle car tuned to get 20+ mpg...

And they can't get this much with an all aluminum OHC engine that has electronic fuel injection?? Right...

Now if they say that cant meet emissions etc..I dont believe that for one second at ALL.

No matter what engine you have normally the perfect a/f ratio for optimum combustion is 12.5:1. So if you have 4 or 8 cylinders shouldnt matter...just the effieciency of the valve timing and spark. If they have an efficient catalytic converter...everything should be fine.

So take your nice K24...good engine, clean and makes good power. Put it in a V format 8. and use the same injection pulse for each cylinder...are you really adding any more fuel(obviously 4 more cylinders but you get the point)?

Edward'TLS

Many years ago, Mazda had produced an 1.8L-V6 for the MX3. The torque output for that small displacement V6 was very impressive at low/mid rpm range, but the extra two cylinders added too many moving parts to be power efficient. With it's already low output power, additional engine power was simply wasted to overcome the extra friction arising from the extra moving parts. Needless to say, this V6 engine option was dropped soon after.

So for the same displacement, engines with lesser cylinders are always more efficient.

biker

The numbers of cylinders is meaningless - what counts is performance and fuel efficiency. This article and some people say the V8 will be reserved for high end vehicles - wrong again - look at the F700 concept from MB - a 4! cylinder full size S class replacement.

Edward'TLS

It is still a concept. I wonder if it ever make to the $70K+/$80K+ high-end models. Possibly suitable in the A-class, B-class, or maybe C-class. MB claims the 1.8L turbo-diesel is comparable in output to the 3.5L-V6.

The smallest engine size for the current North American S-class is the S550 which has the 382hp/391lb-ft 5.5L-V8 powerplant. MB USA doesn't even dare to import any S350 into North America, since even cheap economy sedans nowadays like Altima, Accord, Camry, etc. all have the 3.5L-V6 as available options.

biker

Like the unsubstantiated notion that Americans don't like diesels, this one will also go by the wayside. The kind of folks that buy an S class are quite informed and are probably on the "green" end of the scale and would welcome such a drivetrain. Even here in the land of 60 cents/gal premium and LS, 7 series and S class cars all over the place, the norm is the S350.

Edward'TLS

The kind of folks thinking "green" will never consider the S-class, when the smaller and lighter E-class or even C-class will do the same job. Putting a 3.5L in a S-class is equivalent to putting a 4-cylinder in a Hummer H1. The sheer vehicle size and weight is already crying out loud "non-green" all over the place.

S350 (3.7L-V6), S430 (4.3L-V8), and S500 (5L-V8) have all disappeared from the North American S-class lineup since the 2007 model year. The smallest engine size now is the S550 (5.5L-V8) all the way up to the S65-AMG (6L-V12 twin turbo) in North America. So it is very obvious that output horsepowers are considered very important among MB buyers for luxury sedan this hulking big.

F23A4

I doubt fuel consumption would play ANY part in the buyers decision to make an S350 purchase. If there was an S350, more than likely its sale success (and popularity) would be do more towards the buyer being able to get into an S-Class for less than the cost of the S550.

biker

True that - not everyone wants all the power and options of the 550 when the 350 will do. In many well off neighborhoods I see a Prius next to the S-class - that's how those folks make themselves feel good about the guilt of buying the S class.

Costco

Sometimes I think people buy hybrids just to "be part of the club."

Edward'TLS

The Prius is very likely for the parents' kid who finds the gas bill cutting deep into his/her limited pocket money allowance.

Edward'TLS

There is also that group of hybrid buyers (Lexus LS-h, GS-h, RX-h) who are more interested in boosting raw horsepower rather than extending gas mileage.

DarkSithCL

iTrader: (1)

I just bought a 2008 chevy suburban (my second one) for my wife yesterday... it was better to buy a bigger truck (with a smart engine that shuts down 4 cyclinders on the highway) than try to drive 2 smaller cars... we road trip alot and it killed us driving two cars... we did that just one time...

hunterk1

Maybe it's making a comeback with the IS F.

Holy smoke!

F23A4

If I were in the market, I would like be part of this group for just the reason you stated. And this is exactly the reason why I do love hybrid technology: adding power while getting better gas mileage....as opposed to other power adder methods (i.e. : turbo, supercharger, etc,...)

nokiaman

Congratulations DarkSithCL!

Costco

In one case especially, the Lexus LS600h, it doesn't make sense. The non-hybrid Lexus LS460 is $30,000 cheaper than the LS600h. The LS600h has no significant increase in MPG, and only a slight bump in power. The LS600h is rated at 430 hp, a 50 hp improvement over the LS460, at the expense of another 30 grand and less trunk space. Whats it worth to you?

The Prius is a great buy, but it just goes to show people either have too much money or don't spend it properly when they go out and buy an S-Class then turn around and get a Prius too. Two cars in lightyears-apart classes. It'll take them a ridiculously long amount of time to recoup the money they spent buying that Prius, and the improvement in fuel mileage is good but it won't save them that much.

biker

For the person who buys an S-class it's never about the money - they can afford whatever. It's about the guilt of driving a gas guzzler and/or "looking" like they're "green".

DarkSithCL

iTrader: (1)

Thanks alot! ... my wife has been drivin my CLS since her suv got toltalled by some nut... I am glad to get my car back too...

Edward'TLS

With the LS buyers, it's a completely new mindset. People are born to compete. They always want to be better than others. How about being exclusive among the exclusives. Able to afford a LS460 is one step up from the ordinary, and buying the LS600h is another step up from the LS460 crowds. To me or you might mean a lot, but $30K is nothing when the LS600h is sitting beside a late model Ferrari inside the massive garage of a multi-million $ house.

Aftermarket luxo-car tuners such as Ruf, Hamann, Brabus, AC Schnitzer all cost more than that to soup up respective Porsche, Ferrari, MB, and BMW.

JediMindTricks

congrats!