Yeah, but if a high tech V6 is making "V8 power", then a high tech V8 is making "V12 power", so it's pretty damn easy to justify the V8.

 

I'm with Ron that I-6s are very very smooth. However, its hard to package, especially in different vehicles. That is why V-6s are so popular, look at how many vehicles the Nissan or Toyota 3.5 goes into for example.

In comparison the 2JZ went in the GS/IS/SC and Supra.

 

Isn't that a pity but there's a price to pay for aerodynamics. Sigh.

 

traffic and stop lights make it easy not to justify a powerful engine

 

It's the other way around actually, you need torque and passing power to deal with traffic and stop lights. If you're cruizing down the highway at a steady speed, theres no need for a powerful engine.

 

city traffic has the ability to average out travel times no matter how hard or aggressive you try to drive in the city. You have some guy driving like a maniac and I'm driving normal and I can catch up to him with little to no effort because of traffic lights. A honda fit can have the same travel time of a veyron. That is what makes having a monster engine in the city less viable. You have it backwards you need power on the highway to pass and merge.

 

Does this mean that people will look at me with contempt like I'm wearing a fur coat when I'm driving an SUV?

 

Exactly. I see this every day.....time and time again. People try to pass at the first available instant, only to get hit by the next red light. I pull up beside them and we are even again. So, they have used more gas than necessary.....and more of their brake pads.....to get nowhere. Makes a lot of sense, doesn't it?

Paitience can often be a virtue.

 

lol....well depends on where u go!!! SUVs are a big target for people, like they started the Cold War or something.....

I USED to be a SUV hater but now I understand them. I will say I DON'T UNDERSTAND useles Cute ute SUVs or sporty SUVs with all the cargo space of shopping cart.

But hey, we drive a Lexus, people look at us crazy "look at that snob". lol

 

I think a lot of people are jumping to conclusions about the V8 engine and the "death of the V8".

Especially in the luxury market, you will CONTINUE to require V8 engines for image, prestige, and also for necessity in order to provide adequate performance in heavy vehicles.

And all this talk about what you NEED, let's be honest here 95% of the drivers out there NEED nothing more than 4 cyl. People don't NEED V6 engines for the most part, they simply want them. Just like with V8 engines. The difference is that V6 engines have become very good now while comparatively V8 engines have not advanced as much. There are only a few automakers in the world right now that continue advancing V8 engine technology.

Even using Toyota/Lexus V6 engines as an example, the Toyota/Lexus V8 engines are a big step forward. They offer in many cases class-leading V8 fuel economy and a big bump in power, torque, and refinement compared to a V6.

The Lexus 4.6L V8 offers better emissions, a lot more power, and better fuel economy than the old 4.3L Lexus unit. Now that is advancement.

As long as automakers focus on and improve V8 engines, then they will still be relevant with consumers.

I think there is too much hype and optimism about diesel engines making waves in North America. I'll be honest; I like diesels, and I'd love to see more diesels in North America. I'm also realistic and it's very likely that over the next few years with all these new diesel offerings diesel engines still won't get very popular on this continent.

The problem is very simple; no matter how good diesel engines get, there will continue to be a price premium on those engines due to the state-of-the-art technology required to meet emissions. Then there is diesel fuel; regardless of how good of an engine you have, diesel fuel still is and will continue to be smelly and have the perception of being a "dirty" fuel. It's far too easy to get the diesel fuel smell into your vehicle's interior and most people will hate to have the smell in their cars, especially with expensive or luxury cars.

Unless a revolution occurs with diesel fuel (it will not) or a revolution occurs with gas stations across North America(extremely unlikely) then diesel will continue to be unpopular amongst consumers on this continent. Diesel fuel would have to lose it's smell, or gas stations would have to become fully automated and robotic for North Americans to accept diesel.

 

Wasn't it a Korean SUV, Mike (the Kia Sorento) that finally sold you on the increasing quality of Korean vehicles, and that I was correct when I said their quality in recent years was vastly improving?