Are You Ready For Your V6 Engine To Head Towards Extinction Just Like The V8's Are?

Little engines will be the big stars at next week's North American International Auto Show.

Of the 40 North American and worldwide vehicle introductions scheduled during press preview days Monday and Tuesday, most will be fuel-efficient, stylish vehicles with four-cylinder engines under the hood.

The days of the V-8 in passenger cars are over and things are starting to look bleak for the venerable V-6, as the four-cylinder engine starts to replace it in bigger cars and crossovers. It's a sign of the times: Small engines offer more power than ever before and consumers want a fallback vehicle in case gas prices jump again.

Yes, there will be a couple of mega-powerful V-8 asphalt eaters at the Detroit show, including the 2011 Cadillac CTS-V Coupe and the 2011 Ford Mustang GT 5.0, but, it turns out, destiny has determined that the meek four-banger will inherit the earth.


2010 Detroit Auto Show Photo Gallery

2010 San Diego Auto Show Photo Gallery

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2009 LA Auto Show Photo Gallery

DinamoR - 1/7/2010 9:54:42 AM

-1 Boost

I'm ready for all internal combustion engines to head towards exttinction, just like they are

Agent009 - 1/7/2010 10:36:20 AM

+3 Boost

And be replaced with what?

KZ258 - 1/7/2010 4:07:11 PM

+1 Boost

horses?

pennfootball - 1/7/2010 10:47:50 AM

+1 Boost

I think they could use a small direct injection V8 that revs high and is only about 3.5 litters and as lightweight as many V6 engines with an aluminum and magnesium block, cylinder deactivation and possibly twin turbocharged variants. To bad the Soccer Mom's and drones with cookie cutter Camry's would lament such a motor can be as efficient as a V6 with the power of some older V12's!

theoptimisticpessimist - 1/7/2010 11:49:22 AM

0 Boost

Just as long as they don't get rid of the inline six.

bfghemicuda - 1/7/2010 11:56:32 AM

+2 Boost

Maybe in small vehicles but I don't see the V8 or V6 leaving soon. There are other applications such as lite, medium, and heavy duty trucks, heavy luxo vehicles etc. Gas or diesel.

Willis - 1/7/2010 12:39:39 PM

+1 Boost

You can have big-capacity 4-cylinder diesels too for trucks. In fact there are several of these in medium trucks in Japan and Europe.