GM confirms Cadillac V8 program scrapped due to CAFE

[asrapid]

Earlier this month GM announced it was scrapping development of a new V8 engine for Cadillac. At the time, GM did not disclose a reason for the move. But at the Detroit auto show this week, CEO Rick Wagoner confirmed the U.S. government's new 35 mpg CAFE standard is the sole cause.

The cancellation of a successor to the Northstar engine family was "the direct result of the 35-mpg fuel legislation," Wagoner told Car and Driver magazine.



http://www.leftlanenews.com/gm-confi...e-to-cafe.html

And here http://www.caranddriver.com/carnews/...-gms-v-8s.html

[jasaero]

Think this was pretty much understood, even though not stated. Not many are going to miss these DOHC's much anyhow so long as the LS? series lives on. Just wish GM had some significant small cars and small hybrids in the near term pipeline ready to dominate and bring the CAFE averages up. Volt and maybe some small 2 modes could be ready by 2010, but volumes are going to be low for awhile. They need to be building reputation with small vehicles now so they can be selling volumes come 2020. Cadillac and the Trucks are going to suffer because of the lack of such vehicles right now.

[FenwickHockey65]

Stupid stupid stupid CAFE.

[Quickening]

So this is the Ultra engine family right? Es gone?

[2002 Caddy]

Yes thats the one...

CAFE or not this will neuter Cadillac

[Quickening]

Need to start hooking up twin turbos to the 3.6 DI.

[spaz]

or reworking the heads on the N* for DI to keep it semi-fresh

[Elk]

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: This is only the start of the suckfest that is 35 mpg CAFE. It’s just going to get worse and worse.

[ctaylorzl1]

Originally Posted by Quickening

Need to start hooking up twin turbos to the 3.6 DI.

This might be the only way to curb the "Suckfest" that will be the automarket in years to come!

[I-Love-Pontiac]

Originally Posted by Elk

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: This is only the start of the suckfest that is 35 mpg CAFE. It’s just going to get worse and worse.

No one listens they never listen. Even people on here... an automotive site DONT GET IT. The lawmakers don't stand a chance at getting it.

Increasing fuel efficiency, even just a little is incredibly difficult. I know it's hard to get it through your head people, but there is no cheap or easy way to make our cars more efficient. If there was, the automakers would have already done it.

[ctaylorzl1]

^^^Agree, and even if there was a way to get our big trucks & SUV's to get 35+mpg, do you really think Big Oil would let that happen???? If so you are fooling yourself! They bank on us continuing to drive our big vehicles, high oil prices or not!

[mgescuro]

GM needs to learn that Cadillac needs a true successor to the Northstar -- if only to combat perception.
Transfer the cost of the V8 to the consumer.
And how would this really affect CAFE numbers? Cadillac doesn't sell in extraordinarily large numbers!!

Something still tells me this is just GM throwing a tantrum. Because if it was really a V8 and CAFE.... all the Truck V8's would be dead too. They're not. So GM's full of ****.

[Mikkoo]

Originally Posted by I-Love-Pontiac

No one listens they never listen. Even people on here... an automotive site DONT GET IT. The lawmakers don't stand a chance at getting it.

Increasing fuel efficiency, even just a little is incredibly difficult. I know it's hard to get it through your head people, but there is no cheap or easy way to make our cars more efficient. If there was, the automakers would have already done it.

Here in Europe, high gas taxes make the car buying decision much easier. For that reason, you still can buy a V8 powered MB, BMW, Cadillac, or Hummer if you choose. So you still have choice, without the government ramming fuel mandates on the auto industry. Even Lutz has proposed the European model. Unfortunately, you must pay in one way or another. In order
to acheive the 2020 cafe standards presently, you'll be paying thousands more to purchase the vehicle. Would you rather have our model of much higher gas taxes, instead of cafe?

[asrapid]

Many existing V-8s will remain, Lutz says, “but I don’t see anybody investing a ton of money into families of all-new V-8s.”
Yeeah..like Audi, Mercedes, BMW , Lexus, Hyundai,Jaguar will probably just let their v8 gets old .
Does this mean that GM won't invest even in their next LS engines? It seems there won't be even next gen LS engine with all that technology tlike DI vvt etc?


“I would predict pickup trucks in the future, and full-size SUVs, will have a lot of diesel engines and unquestionably the mix will shift to V-6 engines in full-size sport utilities,” he says.



Yes but what about people who likes v8 and can afford too drive it.? well they'll probably go to competition. Cadillac with only v6 engines..nice..next we will see corvette with turbocharged I4.
V8 engine is not needed in cadillac , but missing it, it won't help change perception of luxurie car buyers about that brand. And as i understand perception is not very high.DTS replacement, next generation XLR, escalade,even new cts..they could all use v8 engine.

I don't get it?? If i understand correctly new V8 was almost finished. GM could put that engine in more cars including some buick models also. "People don't buy V8 as much as V6". Well most people don't need V8. And Mercedes ,Bmw and rest of the company is still building them. Maybe GM should ask why?

[91Saturn]

Originally Posted by asrapid

Many existing V-8s will remain, Lutz says, “but I don’t see anybody investing a ton of money into families of all-new V-8s.”
Yeeah..like Audi, Mercedes, BMW , Lexus, Hyundai will probably just let their v8 gets old .
Does this mean that GM won't invest even in their next LS engines?

Of course, GM is going to keep investing in and improving existing designs like LS. What Lutz is saying that if you want a "family of ALL-NEW V8s," you're out of luck. In other words, if you're expecting them to design a new V8 from the ground up, forget it.

Yes, this is somewhat disappointing, but does it really matter? Look at what GM has done with the LS9 in the '09 ZR1. That pretty much proves that they can squeeze world-class performance out of GM's venerable small-block V8.