At the Cadillac CAFE, V8s likely to come off the menu
It all changed on December 19, according to Cadillac General Manager Jim Taylor. That's when President Bush signed the bill that made increased CAFE standards a reality. The revised fuel economy requirements mean that the days of widespread V8 power at Cadillac are all but over. This all dovetails neatly with GM's announcement that the DOHC "Ultra V8," a replacement for the aging Northstar, has been canceled. The Northstar will go out of production permanently in 2010.
Instead of the traditional V8, look for expanded use of the powerful direct-injected 3.6L V6 currently available in the CTS and STS. A caddy without a V8 might seem odd, but we thought the same thing when Lincoln announced the MKS wouldn't get eight cylinders underhood, either. That appears to be working out fine, and we're inclined to believe Cadillac will also have no problem making the transition. The DI V6 makes more than 300 horsepower in its current form anyway, and the General's pushrod V8s will still be around to service the Escalade and low-volume niche vehicles like the V-Series cars if needed. Automotive News says that the 2.9L turbodiesel in development for the European CTS could also be used Stateside when the time comes. Sounds good to us. A refined, punchy diesel and the excellent DI V6 would do well carrying Caddy's mainstream lineup into the post-V8 era, particularly when little to no power will be sacrificed along the way.
[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req.]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)
lanceslambos 11:57AM (3/15/2008)
why is this just for caddys? what about all the huge suv's that serve no real purpose. they are just a van or station wagon on steroids. if cars can't have v8s anymore why should trucks unless they are a commercial vehicle that actually needs a v8 vs soccer moms
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rndmnme 8:18AM (1/07/2008)
Ugh.
Cue the Greenies jumping for joy, and otherwise missing "the point"
Then cue the people who want to ostracize me for being disappointed that V8's are going away and that I obviously want to club baby seals and burn lots of gas.
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Jeff 8:45AM (1/07/2008)
I don't think you want to club baby seals, but I have to ask - especially in light of the HP that the direct fuel-injected V6 puts out - what the appeal of a V8 is for you in the first place, especially in a luxury vehicle?
Will you be towing a boat or trailer with it? Drag racing? What? I have personally never understood the need that some people seem to have for oversized engines.
3000GT TwinTurbo 9:14AM (1/07/2008)
maybe some people (alot of people, actually) like the sound and the lazy low-end torque of a V8. Not everyone likes a high-revving DOHC V6, especially in a luxury car. You can get the same HP as a V8 by tweaking a rotary engine...but that doesnt mean it belongs in a caddy.
The more options, the better, and IF they get rid of the V8 option, they WILL lose costomers.
Frylock350 10:05AM (1/07/2008)
Jeff, lots of folks (like me) do tow boats and trailers. Also I love the sound of a pushrod V8. That rumble cannot be reproduced by any V6. Neither can the brute force power. I also don't like "screaming" engines (turbos don't sound pleasant to me, they sound like a cat in heat). Not everybody enjoys high revving DOHC motors either.
why not the LS2/LS7? 11:19AM (1/07/2008)
I read the articles in car mags like R&T about the death of the V8. This was in the 70s.
Funny thing, CAFE is still here and I see a lot of V8s around.
Louis Duran 11:34AM (1/07/2008)
"I read the articles in car mags like R&T about the death of the V8. This was in the 70s.
Funny thing, CAFE is still here and I see a lot of V8s around."
This is because CAFE standards haven't been changes since the 70's. A very fine and affordable supercar (Nissan GT-R) pumps out over 400bhp using just a V-6.
If a V6 is good enough in a GT-R, it begs the question: Why does a Caddy need the V-8? I for one have not understood the attraction to V-8s in anything other than a large pickup or a supercar.
Derek 12:03PM (1/07/2008)
If a direct injected V6 makes as much power as a V8 then just how much power will a direct injected V8 put out?
I still favor torque over HP for a street driven car. Very few places to really put the HP to work while the torque is always there right under your toes.
why not the LS2/LS7? 12:20PM (1/07/2008)
CAFE hasn't changed in a while, but I'm pretty sure it changed since the 70s.
Anyway, even in the 70s the tightest times for CAFE, Cadillac didn't stop shipping V8s. They didn't even stop making them standard, except in the (sorry to mention it) Cimarron.
People are getting foolishly hysterical, probably driven so by someone with an agenda.
Tool 1:42PM (1/07/2008)
I think it is a big mistake that GM canceled their HF V8 program. It seems like a knee-jerk reaction to the new CAFE regs.
From a marketing and positioning standpoint, it seems like Cadillac would be missing out if they don't have a strong DOHC V8 that can compete with Lexus, MB and BMW.
naggs 2:07PM (1/07/2008)
v6s can make up to 350 hp
v8s will still be available in the limited appeal performance vehicles
what is there to complain about?
Daniel 1:11PM (1/08/2008)
A small and hyper efficient V8 can get just as good MPG as a V6 and it does it without the second order harmonic vibration associated with the V6. V6s are just a marketing ploy and by themselves have nothing to do with MPG. MPG comes from total weight and coefficient of drag - not number of cylindars. A 3.7 L V12 can get just as good MPG as a 3.7 L V6 with all else being equal - and it delivers power with far less vibration.
Carlos 8:29AM (1/07/2008)
Its sad to see the V8 go the way of the dinosaur in a mass production sort of way. Atleast we're given twin turbo V6s to make up for it. Maybe one day we can have small displacement twin turbo V8s that will get in excess of 30 mph, just maybe. Until then I'll shed a tear...=(
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rndmnme 8:39AM (1/07/2008)
30 mph huh?
It's 2008 not 1808 man.
J/K
berne1 8:39AM (1/07/2008)
How is the lack of a V8 "working out fine" for the Lincoln MKS, when that vehicle hasn't even launched yet?
Lack of a V8 definitely didn't work out for the Acura RL.
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Andrew 8:50AM (1/07/2008)
Yeah, or the Supra, Skyline, M3, Evo, STi, 911, Noble, Ariel Atom....I could go on.
DDL 10:14AM (1/07/2008)
Why is it that the Lincoln MKS doesn't get a V-8, when the platform mate Volvo S80 gets the Yamaha sourced 4.4L V-8.
It could have been the MKSHO
Daniel 2:42PM (1/08/2008)
Lincoln is making a big mistake in not offering a high end V8. Havng a V8 (although in very small numbers) is the panach that sells the bread and butter V6s.
maxconfus 5:39PM (1/07/2008)
Switching to smart 6's will probably sell more than the 8's.
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J.Crew 8:49AM (1/07/2008)
Diesel is the way like I mentioned in the post about the N* replacement being cancelled. It is too bad, but that is what you get when a government interferes with the market. The customer gets screwed without knowing why. I am sure the Euro manufacturers are ready to send over their diesel engines as well and start dropping their gas V8's and gas 10cyl.
This is just the start folks!
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