GM mid sized sedans to only be offered with 4 cylinders
08-31-10, 06:45 PM
#16
A non sport oriented car the size of the Malibu or Regal packing 220hp and a healthy 258tq is plenty... especially if it comes at the benefit of better fuel economy.
I mean seriously... if the above cars can do 0-60 in, let's say, 6.8 seconds... does it really need to be any quicker?
I mean seriously... if the above cars can do 0-60 in, let's say, 6.8 seconds... does it really need to be any quicker?
08-31-10, 06:46 PM
#17
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In owning a turbo 335i and turbo Audi A4 I'm a big believer in turbos delivering the equivalent power of 2 more cylinders without the fuel economy penalty.
My A4 especially got great fuel economy.
My A4 especially got great fuel economy.
08-31-10, 07:57 PM
#19
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Well the EPA sets a standard of testing and with highway testing at 80 MPH I would say that it pretty strict. Thus the standard says that the turbo 4 is significantly more efficient than the V6s that I listed. Find someone to test these vehicles in an objective manner, another way and I would be glad to see the results. Until then this is the only standard and that is what I will go by.
08-31-10, 08:17 PM
#20
Well the EPA sets a standard of testing and with highway testing at 80 MPH I would say that it pretty strict. Thus the standard says that the turbo 4 is significantly more efficient than the V6s that I listed. Find someone to test these vehicles in an objective manner, another way and I would be glad to see the results. Until then this is the only standard and that is what I will go by.
08-31-10, 09:38 PM
#22
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I thought of this thread. I just averaged 30.2 MPG going 55-65 on the highway and mostly 45 city. 70/30 Highway City. With 340hp, with luxury and heavy to boot. This was around a 60 mile trip.
Unless these 4 cylinders are getting over 40MPG I just don't get it.
Unless these 4 cylinders are getting over 40MPG I just don't get it.
09-01-10, 05:42 AM
#24
Lexus Champion
The government puppet masters might not be the driving force behind this decision. GM has been saying for several years that their goal is to drop their OHC V8 development from their higher end cars and replace them with turbo 6 engines. This might be a carry over from that philosophy.
Here's another kind of off the wall consideration. Maybe GM sees the near future of all cars as electric vehicles powered by gasoline generators... much like the Volt. In that case they see 4 cylinder engines as the future, since there's no need for a V6 in a car with the Volt's powertrain design. I know that's unlikely, but just a thought.
Something is extremely wrong with your 335i or else your wife likes to cruise around all day in 2nd gear with the parking brake applied.
I had some tanks w/ my 335i where I drove extremely aggressively. I mean like literally taking it to an SCCA race track for half the tank and driving very aggressively on the other half. The worst I managed to get even under that circumstance was 16. Typical for me in the city was 22 with a heavy foot. At a steady 55 mph it would actually pull a 36 mpg average according to the economy gauge (which was usually accurate), and at 80 w/ the A/C would get 28 (verified by my own math at the pump). Not bad for a car that runs low/mid 13s in the 1/4-mile.
The EPA doesn't come remotely close to touching 80 with their highway test. Really, their testing method is still nothing close to representing a highway road trip or anything of that sort. I hope their new 2012 standards might fix that.
Here's their highway test cycle:
You're also in a hybrid car. Any existing powertrain can be converted to a hybrid powertrain. So if a turbo 4 makes x power and x mpg then a turbo 4 hybrid would make x + y power and get x + y mpg. It'd be that much better.
Here's another kind of off the wall consideration. Maybe GM sees the near future of all cars as electric vehicles powered by gasoline generators... much like the Volt. In that case they see 4 cylinder engines as the future, since there's no need for a V6 in a car with the Volt's powertrain design. I know that's unlikely, but just a thought.
Something is extremely wrong with your 335i or else your wife likes to cruise around all day in 2nd gear with the parking brake applied.
I had some tanks w/ my 335i where I drove extremely aggressively. I mean like literally taking it to an SCCA race track for half the tank and driving very aggressively on the other half. The worst I managed to get even under that circumstance was 16. Typical for me in the city was 22 with a heavy foot. At a steady 55 mph it would actually pull a 36 mpg average according to the economy gauge (which was usually accurate), and at 80 w/ the A/C would get 28 (verified by my own math at the pump). Not bad for a car that runs low/mid 13s in the 1/4-mile.
Well the EPA sets a standard of testing and with highway testing at 80 MPH I would say that it pretty strict. Thus the standard says that the turbo 4 is significantly more efficient than the V6s that I listed. Find someone to test these vehicles in an objective manner, another way and I would be glad to see the results. Until then this is the only standard and that is what I will go by.
Here's their highway test cycle:
You're also in a hybrid car. Any existing powertrain can be converted to a hybrid powertrain. So if a turbo 4 makes x power and x mpg then a turbo 4 hybrid would make x + y power and get x + y mpg. It'd be that much better.
09-01-10, 05:59 AM
#25
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Nevertheless, I reiterate, the EPA has set the standard whether you agree with it or not it is a measure that dictates equal testing (supposedly) for which all automakers have to comply with.
09-01-10, 07:10 AM
#26
Slegacy, I used to think the same about the EPA standard, but I realized that EPA testing only means something when you're comparing similar cars with similar engines. Otherwise, two cars with similar weight and similar displacement motor with same number of cylinders.
When you start comparing different cars, with different motors, especially with all the new tech available now - such as hybrid, turbo, and diesels, it just doesnt reflect real life results.
Furthermore, automakers tune their cars specifically for the EPA test, which is not necessarily great for real world efficiency.
When you start comparing different cars, with different motors, especially with all the new tech available now - such as hybrid, turbo, and diesels, it just doesnt reflect real life results.
Furthermore, automakers tune their cars specifically for the EPA test, which is not necessarily great for real world efficiency.
09-01-10, 07:52 AM
#27
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The graphic you quoted above is their 'high speed' test which they added for 2008 and use to combine with the highway test I posted. So in all 20+ minutes of testing they might touch 80 for under 10 seconds or so and spend an odd amount of time at a complete stop.
IMO the EPA test should resemble the sort of highway driving done on a road trip. Instead, it's more like highway driving done in moderately congested urban rush hour traffic.
09-01-10, 07:53 AM
#28
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09-01-10, 08:06 AM
#30
Lexus Champion
I think you know as well as I do that your wife's fuel economy is not realistically indicative of the general efficiency of turbo 6 cylinder vehicles.