geko29

But turbo motors are also heavier (in general) than NA motors, which offsets the savings to a degree. Take for example the VW 2.0T, which weighs 152kg (335 lbs). This engine has effectively replaced the 2.8/2.9/3.2L VR6, which weighs 169kg (372 lbs). So a 30-40% drop in displacement and the loss of two cylinders is only accompanied by a 10% reduction in weight.

Aron9000

Good example of cars creeping up in weight, my old 1999 Z28 Camaro. LS1 V8, t-top, hatchback, weight was about 3300 to 3400lbs, depending on options, I couldn't get an exact spec, but I'm thinking it would weigh less/maybe about the same as the six cylinder due to aluminum block/heads vs cast iron block/heads for the V6 cars. Then you go look at the reintroduced 2010 Camaro and its about 3800lbs with the V8. 400lbs heavier for no reason, my old car was A LOT longer and wider, it shaded a lot more pavement. I'm thinking crash standards are the big reason for the weight gain, especially rollover standards. The 2010 car, it has HUGE A, B, and C pillars, makes the car feel like you're looking out of a tank. I don't know if this was just to make it look cool like the concept car or done out of a need to make the car pass a crash test, probably a combination of both.

Still though, I feel like GM does some lazy engineering in terms of crash performance/rollover standards and makes all the pilllars on their cars excessively thick. Or maybe its cheaper to stamp thick pillars out of regular steel than to use some higher strength steel. Go drive the newer/latest gen Tahoe/Suburban/Denali/Escalade. They all have stupidly huge pillars, A, B, C and D pillars are huge, the glass area in these trucks is horribly small, especially if you have ever driven the last gen or previous 1999-2005 gen SUV's, they are a lot easier to see out of.

mmarshall

Using regular-strength steel for the pillars is not necessarily cheaper if you have to use more of it to compensate. And when you consider what a typical full-size SUV weighs, it's not surprising that thick pillars have to be used for rollover protection, regardless of what type of steel goes into them.

Sulu

I find the A-pillars on GM's cars to be dangerously thick. They are so thick that they block view of traffic and pedestrians approaching from the front side of the car. I find that to be very dangerous not being able to see what in approaching you in intersections.