In 2006, General Motors manufactured roughly 1.7 million small block V8 engines in North America. In 2011, that number fell to 1.15 million, the same year the 100 millionth small block crossed the line. What does this mean? Simply put: the automotive market and industry is slowly shaping into something new.
Yes, these numbers also relate to GM’s decline in market share from 23.9 percent to 19.2 percent in the same time frame, along with the overall decline of truck and SUV sales. But it also points to the fact that downsizing is working. Just look at GM’s 3.6L V6 engine. Or even smaller, its new 2.0L turbocharged Ecotec. These power-dense powertrains are slowly replacing where a larger displacement would otherwise be, as they are potent, capable, offer higher MPG appeal, but are also more complex.
Does it mean that we soon won’t see throaty V8 engines in GM vehicles? Not at all. But their glory days seem to have driven off into the horizon, leaving an impressive burnout trail along the way.
Comments
I think we are witnessing the end of V8 engines in sedans and sedan-like coupes. Large SUVs, Pickups, and Sports cars will continue to need V8 engines, but fuel usage is becoming a huge factor in the cars people buy. V6 engines are just as powerful today as V8 engines 20 or something years ago. We see it in the shrinking popularity of V8 sedans such as the DTS, Town Car, Lucerne, and Crown Victoria and the eventual default.
I think GM should offer two different V8 powertrains. A traditional pushrod, just like the ones they have now, and a high tech DOHC, Twin Turbo V8 around 4 liters.
GM did that with the Northstar V8.
It was available in flavours from 4.0 to 4.6; the former being in the Olds Aurora, and the latter being in Sevilles, Devilles, STS’s, DTS’s, ETC’s, SRX’s, and XLR’s.
The most powerful version of the Northstar was the 469hp S/C 4.4L LC3 which was found in the chonically overlooked STS-V.
I think one of the main reasons is the nose dive in sales of the full size trucks since they came out with the current models. As a Chevy truck owner I would say that the current truck aren’t good looking on the outside. Not ugly like the Titan but not much better.
This shouldn’t be a suprise to anyone.
If gas keeps going as it is, the LS will suffer and could even get cut.
Do the math…by the numbers, GM has sold a higher percentage of vehicles with V8’s now than in 2006. That is an incredibly slanted article.
@All Star so what? The fact remains that less V8s were sold… Period.
In other news:
“Drivers prefer gas guzzling V8’s! GM sales of non-V8 vehicles down 1 million units from 2006!”
See what I did there?
Lied and distorted the current state of affiars?
well ofcourse they lost v8 sales…v8s are great for power, not fuel efficiency. gas getting nearer to 4 bucks a gallon in most states, id rather have turbo directed injected v6. unless u need a full sized truck for work purposes that require a v8, get a v6. in most cases a 4 will do just fine and still be fun to drive.