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WTF is GM thinking? Why is the Northstar, an engine that I praise when ever I drive my STS, still being produced??? 320HP is a joke in today’s HIGH HP world. Hell GM currently has a 3.6L V6 that is only 16 paces away form the NS… a turbo-ed 4cylinder that is capable of eclipsing it… and more 2 the point… a OHV engine that would make every manufacture on the planet bow down in awe of it’s greatness… as they do very often when it’s carried under the hood of the “Plastic Fantastic.” IF ONLY GM would understand that the LS engines are “THEIR BAG.”
Has anyone at GM even considered the fact that the new Hyundai Genesis now has a DOHC V8 that is 17% more powerful than their FLAGSHIP Northstar V8 engine being fitted in the STS, SRX, and XLR… cars that will undoubtedly cost at least twice as much as the Genesis… Oh don’t get me wrong… I will never find myself buying a Hyundai… It’s not American… I hate the styling, even when it’s so derivative of more handsome, non-Korean vehicles that u actually have to do a Double-Take to make sure that it’s not an Enclave, Accord, or old Q45. Hell they even had one called the Amanti (by kia) that I swore was “Jaguar’s Joke” for about 3 months until I got around to inspecting the label.
The Northstar engine is PROOF that GM can build a world class OHC engine… the Ecotecs, and the 3.6L are even more so… but what gives??? The ULTRAS were canceled due to CAFÉ.. so WHO CARES… they could always fall back on your Bread and Butter… an engine that they have perfected to a point that not only is it more powerful than it’s competitors, but also more efficient and just as smooth. One drive in the 2008 Pontiac G8 GT will solidify it in your mind that this PUSHROD is nothing but the TRUTH… and would have no issue or problem with being dropped into an STS, SRX, Lucerne, or CTS… OH wait it is going to be… in the tune of 567HP for the most expensive CTS, the Vseries. OK OK… let me get this straight… U could have bragging rights of saying that your Cadillac STS or CTS has a class leading 400HP (which is the natural HP amount for the 6.0L ) or even the detuned 361HP 6.0L… but U’d rather say “OH NO… the Northstar is OHC.. with 320HP sure... but it has OHC… that’s what people want”
Sounds stupid to me too… fact... like most OHC engines the Northstar is not as efficient as the 6.0L… or 6.2L, despite having less power, despite having to use Premium gas. Truth is GM could ultimately be in the midst of a marketing GODSEND by exploring the idea of showing the Stunning CTS/STS/SRX/XLR with 361HP… or to differentiate it from the Pontiac G8 GT… bump it up to 390HP… and still have a vehicle that is class leading in power and fuel economy running on Regular Petrol.
The Ultimate question hat has always perplexed me… is WHY THE HELL does Cadillac take the Y-Body (Corvette/XLR) and give it a weaker engine that is less fun to drive when it would actually be, on multiple fronts, more profitable to not change the engine at all… simply adding a less aggressive exhaust (see G8 GT), and more sound deadening… that would more than likely siphon off about 10HP from the 430HP 6.2L and because of the extra sound deadening material added, slow the XLR to a point that it would still allow for the coveted Corvette to be the Forever Fastest car at GM… a position that was once challenged by a Buick in Black… and never repeated again. Or did U really need an explanation on why the ZR1 is gonna cost the same as an XLR-V and still absolutely MURDER it at the track.
I still think that the LS3, LSA, and LS9 should be offered in Cadillac. The only thing that would make me change my mind on this is IF GM went on a turbo-charged the 3.6L Di to at least 400HP. Then I would stand up and say "WOW... GM has a new plan and is LEADING the charge." They either need to LEAD the WAY or settle themselves at the lower level of Luxo.
At some point a TIER 1 Luxo manufacturer has to simply NOT CARE about political correctness. Caddy showed promise with the Escalade and especially Escalade Platinum essentially thumbing it's nose at the norm.
Many argue that the reason why a luxury car doesn't have the OHV engine is because the OHC scream sophistication and techy... But I call BS. The Cadillac Escalades 403HP 6.2L engine is SWEET!!! as is the 380HP variant in the Denali. My 5.3L in my Tahoe is smooth as butter, while My Vette's LS1 (modified) is sublime. NOW... Go drive a Corvette or GTO with the 6.0L 400HP or the Z06 with it's 505HP "BOOM BOX" and U will wonder why OHC even have the TECH heavy reputation they have versus the Push Rods.
Plain and simple.. I would think that Bentley is the Luxo Benchmark right next to Rolls right now. If Caddy, Lexus, Benz, or BMW put a Push Rod in their cars then I would see nothing wrong with it...nothing at all.
Has anyone at GM even considered the fact that the new Hyundai Genesis now has a DOHC V8 that is 17% more powerful than their FLAGSHIP Northstar V8 engine being fitted in the STS, SRX, and XLR… cars that will undoubtedly cost at least twice as much as the Genesis… Oh don’t get me wrong… I will never find myself buying a Hyundai… It’s not American… I hate the styling, even when it’s so derivative of more handsome, non-Korean vehicles that u actually have to do a Double-Take to make sure that it’s not an Enclave, Accord, or old Q45. Hell they even had one called the Amanti (by kia) that I swore was “Jaguar’s Joke” for about 3 months until I got around to inspecting the label.
The Northstar engine is PROOF that GM can build a world class OHC engine… the Ecotecs, and the 3.6L are even more so… but what gives??? The ULTRAS were canceled due to CAFÉ.. so WHO CARES… they could always fall back on your Bread and Butter… an engine that they have perfected to a point that not only is it more powerful than it’s competitors, but also more efficient and just as smooth. One drive in the 2008 Pontiac G8 GT will solidify it in your mind that this PUSHROD is nothing but the TRUTH… and would have no issue or problem with being dropped into an STS, SRX, Lucerne, or CTS… OH wait it is going to be… in the tune of 567HP for the most expensive CTS, the Vseries. OK OK… let me get this straight… U could have bragging rights of saying that your Cadillac STS or CTS has a class leading 400HP (which is the natural HP amount for the 6.0L ) or even the detuned 361HP 6.0L… but U’d rather say “OH NO… the Northstar is OHC.. with 320HP sure... but it has OHC… that’s what people want”
Sounds stupid to me too… fact... like most OHC engines the Northstar is not as efficient as the 6.0L… or 6.2L, despite having less power, despite having to use Premium gas. Truth is GM could ultimately be in the midst of a marketing GODSEND by exploring the idea of showing the Stunning CTS/STS/SRX/XLR with 361HP… or to differentiate it from the Pontiac G8 GT… bump it up to 390HP… and still have a vehicle that is class leading in power and fuel economy running on Regular Petrol.
The Ultimate question hat has always perplexed me… is WHY THE HELL does Cadillac take the Y-Body (Corvette/XLR) and give it a weaker engine that is less fun to drive when it would actually be, on multiple fronts, more profitable to not change the engine at all… simply adding a less aggressive exhaust (see G8 GT), and more sound deadening… that would more than likely siphon off about 10HP from the 430HP 6.2L and because of the extra sound deadening material added, slow the XLR to a point that it would still allow for the coveted Corvette to be the Forever Fastest car at GM… a position that was once challenged by a Buick in Black… and never repeated again. Or did U really need an explanation on why the ZR1 is gonna cost the same as an XLR-V and still absolutely MURDER it at the track.
I still think that the LS3, LSA, and LS9 should be offered in Cadillac. The only thing that would make me change my mind on this is IF GM went on a turbo-charged the 3.6L Di to at least 400HP. Then I would stand up and say "WOW... GM has a new plan and is LEADING the charge." They either need to LEAD the WAY or settle themselves at the lower level of Luxo.
At some point a TIER 1 Luxo manufacturer has to simply NOT CARE about political correctness. Caddy showed promise with the Escalade and especially Escalade Platinum essentially thumbing it's nose at the norm.
Many argue that the reason why a luxury car doesn't have the OHV engine is because the OHC scream sophistication and techy... But I call BS. The Cadillac Escalades 403HP 6.2L engine is SWEET!!! as is the 380HP variant in the Denali. My 5.3L in my Tahoe is smooth as butter, while My Vette's LS1 (modified) is sublime. NOW... Go drive a Corvette or GTO with the 6.0L 400HP or the Z06 with it's 505HP "BOOM BOX" and U will wonder why OHC even have the TECH heavy reputation they have versus the Push Rods.
Plain and simple.. I would think that Bentley is the Luxo Benchmark right next to Rolls right now. If Caddy, Lexus, Benz, or BMW put a Push Rod in their cars then I would see nothing wrong with it...nothing at all.
