GM just didn't want to invest in a replacement for the aged 4.6 Northstar. Last time I checked, the toyota 4.6 found in the LS makes 60hp more than the same sized 4.6 engine in the Cadillac STS.

I don't think I could take serious a premium luxury sedan without a v8. It is kinda like the T100 trying to be a full size with a 3.4 v6.

 

I don't think so. I said in an earlier post that I thought GM would keep traditional V8s for the full-size SUV's and pickups.....though they may be of smaller displacement than the current 5.7L.

 

Unfortunately you are right, this is indeed a sad day for people like myself who love high performance cars and trucks, after this round we may never see another rebirth of performance, Congress trying to appear to be doing something doesn't surprise me but when all the domestic automakers are struggling I'm puzzled by Bush's enthusiasm to sign the new CAFE standards into law.

 

Doesn't help when the country is being run by a majority of those that have a foot in the grave already.

 

Bush based part of both his 2000 and 2004 campaigns on lowering oil use and in alternate fuels for vehicles. He is only doing what he said he would.

Count your blessings.........if Al Gore had won, he would have us all riding bicycles.
This way, we will still have real cars..........though perhaps less powerful ones. And there's a whole lot more to a nice car than just 0-60 times. Too many of us have become addicted to speed.

 

If Gore had won, would he have the time to go on this global warming campaign (much less research it)?

 

How can you say that? A lot of newer, younger people came into Congress with the elections in November 2006. And much of the anti-car sentiment is not with geezers, but with a lot of the younger people who have been caught up in the global-warming propaganda. Even Bush, to some extent, believes it.

 

Sure, but are they as influential as those that have been there for ages?

 

Global warming not in Charlotte NC it is freakin' 25 degrees outside.

 

Probably.....he could use the White House as a bully pulpit.

Anyhow, we're getting off the topic, which is V8 Cadillacs.

 

CAFE regulations are serious business, as mmarshall pointed out. However, in reality, they are nothing more than a "speed bump" for technology driven automotive engineers. I've said this several times, CAFE or no CAFE, manufacturers will find a way. Technology will lead them to it. It ALWAYS has, and ALWAYS will.
If the Caddy V8 was dropped because of CAFE then it sounds like Cadillac either gave up or is going back to the Technological drawing board.

 

Actually technology doesn't always get you there because sometimes the cost isn't justifiable. For example, if an average SUV that meets new CAFE standards ends up costing $100K (in today's dollars) it's not going to sell.

Sometimes new government standards or market forces force consumers to just lower their expectations. For example, in Europe most people drive tiny cars not because of small roads, but because gas and cars are so freaking expensive they can't afford anything better. Technology really hasn't overcome this.

 

I agree that the RL has plenty of power and is smooth enough for me and most people but I also think it could use a little more horsepower now with the competition upping the power on the v6s and the lack of a v8 whether they enlarge it to 3.7 and tune it for about 20 to 30hp or use a turbo for even more horsepower and torque to at least make it able to perform fairly even with the TL. It would shut many critics up that complained they would like to see a little more power and it would be welcomed by most.

Look at the GS350 compared to the GS430. The 350 has accelerated from 0-60 in 5.3 seconds compared to the 430 thats best number is 5.7 seconds. The v6 is faster, puts out more hp, is more fuel efficient yet less expensive then the v8 so why would you choose the 430 over the 350 aside from the v8 maybe being slightly smoother, of course the 460 will up the hp but I doubt it will be accelerating much faster.

I have seen maybe one or two new GS430 and M45 on the road since they came out, it is always the v6 versions I see driving around, same goes the the Audi a6, 5 series, and E class although I do see a few more v8s with the Merc and BMW, same with the caddy STS, the fact is most people don't see the need for a v8 in this class and the v6 is either just a little slower, about the same, or even outperforms the much more expensive and less fuel efficient v8s(GS350). That is reflected in the sales numbers in which the majority of sales even in the U.S. are the v6 versions of those cars and v8 barely make a dent.

I seriously doubt this move by GM has anything to do with CAFE standards and more to do with not wanting to spend the money for the new engine, I know alot of people who work at GM and they are making huge cuts right now in everything right now and don't want to spend money of anything.

I don't think CAFE standards will have a huge effect on car companies that have enough fuel efficient hybrids, 4 cylinders, and 6 cylinders to offset a few cars with 8 cylinder engines, I am pretty sure the 35mpg figure is not every car needs to get 35mpg but all their models put together need to average 35mpg. This may be bad news for Mercedes as most of their cars get pretty poor gas mileage and they have alot of v8 and v12 models as well as GM and Ford who rely on large heavy gas hogg SUVs/pickups for the bulk of their sales.

One of the main reasons why these 300+hp v6 are not quite replacing 8 cylinders is the cars keep getting larger and much heavier with every new model that all that horsepower is not making too much difference. With all that horsepower most cars should be accelerating in the low 5 second range and even high 4 second range which is more then enough to most people even gear heads but alot of the cars getting these engines weigh 3700-4000lbs which kills the horsepower/mpg advantage of these high strung 6 cylinders. If these manufacturers would focus more on getting weight down and start putting out entry and mid level cars weighing 3300-3400lbs with these new high powered 6 cylinders then they would not really need v8s to offset the weight and these 6 cylinders would be getting very good gas mileage.

 

Nissans V-6 is superb, as the Caddy, BMW and Lexus V-6, all on Wards 10 best engine list.
Nissan will have a new 5.0 V-8 in their new vehicles. You need a V-8, even if it sells in small quantities. People do want them, those that can buy a new one could probably care less about gas prices.

Nissan Fuga =M35/45

 

I love what Caddy has done the last 5 years, great styling, good power, better interiors and they are distinctive. THe V line ain't perfect but its a start.

The competition is NOT letting off. Caddy needs to CONTINUE to push and take risks.

As an American, I want Caddy to be a Tier 1 brand. Why should I always think import when I think of the best cars made???

You NEED a V-8 to be taken seriously.

Lets look at 2 mistakes that Caddy execs who get paid $$$$$$$$ didn't look at.
1. Jaguar has SUPERB cars in the XK, XJ and now XF but with carryover 300hp V-8 and the same S/C 400hp V-8. Even with lighter weight, better looks, no one really cares. All the reviews say the cars could use newer engines.
2. Lexus fudged up with the GS 430 carryover from 2GS to 3GS. It was ample sure enough but it was midpack with the new competition. Now the 460 is here but it won't make much of a splash midcycle.

Caddy TEASED us with a V-12 or V-16 Super luxury concept a few years ago. Now they say "no new V-8s"????

AWFUL move.