@ozyran: Yes... a prehistoric pushrod V8 that, in N/A form, happens to make 500+HP, 470 lb/ft of torque, and yet amazingly achieves 26+ mpg highway in the Corvette Z06.
@tonyola:
Exactly. Obviously there is no equivalent picture for chevy engines, but this picture illustrates one pretty big advantage small-block pushrod engines have over their OHC counterparts. Hmm... I wonder which one weighs more? And if the performance and efficiency numbers GM gets out of their pushrods keep getting better, as they most certainly will, they'd be crazy to switch to an OHC design, which, news flash people, isn't exactly the pinnacle of "new" technology - DOHCs have been around for almost a century.
@Muscles Marinara: You do realize that it gets 26+ mpg (on the highway cruising in 6th gear on level ground without a headwind or a heavy foot) in the Corvette solely based on the fact that it's pushing around a 3100-lb chassis that's designed for aerodynamics, right?
You can tout the "advantages" of the pushrod design but it does have its limitations. If the 6.2L V8 under the hood of the Z06 is so great, then why does Ferrari's 4.3L manage to come in at 483 hp without supercharging? Undoubtedly, the 4.3L V8 is smaller, more compact, and lighter than the 6.2L V8 under the hood of the Vette. Oh, and it *does* utilize OHC design, something Ferrari has been utilizing successfully since the mid '60s. Shortly after the design and implementation of OHC engines in the Ferrari race cars, they were already working on a 5 valve design in their cylinder heads. True, Ford came back and bit Ferrari, quite hard. But that was with a 427 using what? An overhead cam design.
The only reason to stick with pushrods is cost. It's the question of, "Why fix it? It's not broke."
Sure, the Corvette Z06 is "only" $75,000.00. given the quality of the interior materials and the archaic engine architecture GM is using, I'd say you're getting what you pay for.
@ozyran: You're making the mistake of equating piston volume displacement with the physical size and weight of the engine. The 7.0-liter Corvette LS7 weighs 458 pounds. The 5.0-liter BMW M5 engine weighs 529 pounds. The Corvette engine, as I said in a previous post, is very light and compact for its size and power. The 4.3 Ferrari engine is not "undoubtedly" smaller and lighter than the 'Vette engine - back up your claim with numbers. If you can do that, we'll accept your statement.
Also, the 427 used in the GT40 was a pushrod. The SOHC 427 was intended to be a NASCAR engine but it was never permitted to run, so it ended up in drag racers. It was NOT used in the GT40.
Check your facts and come back to play when you think you're ready.
@Muscles Marinara: Most of the decent gas mileage can be attributed to the aerodynamics and weight of the corvette. But yes, still one of my favorite engines.
@Brybe: Just for grins, here are the city/highway mileage ratings for some sports cars from the 2010 EPA Guide. The Chevy does pretty damn well compared to other largish sports cars. This should kill the notion that large-displacement engines are always inefficient.
@tonyola: No doubt but it's not really the engine. I also forgot to mention the ridiculous 6th gear ratio which is a huge factor. Most cars don't have a gear that is useless outside of highway gearing.
And don't get me wrong, LSx series engines are my favorite. #tips
@tonyola: The new OHVs do very well, but only because Chevy managed to build variable valve timing into the block.
It's not really about fuel consumption. It's about the limitations on pushrod engines. Low rev limits, and very little space for electronic valve control are both potential killers.
If you want a reason why we don't see more OHVs from GM, just compare Chevy's line of pushrod V6s to the DOHC units.
Advanced in design, the 1917 V-8 had a central camshaft operating vertical overhead valves in each bank, a counterweighted crankshaft, and detachable crossflow cylinder heads. Displacing 288 cubic inches and breathing through a Zenith two-barrel carburetor, it developed 55 horsepower at 2,700 rpm, running on 4.75:1 compression.
This is probably because gasoline had an octane rating in the mid-40s in those days. 4.75:1 was probably pushing it, and 55 HP was about as good as it got for that size engine during World War I.
BMW had also intended to use the V8 in a top-line limousine called the 505. There is a story that BMW showed German Chancellor Adenauer a prototype of the limousine to try to woo him away from his Mercedes 300. The Chancellor's hat got knocked off as he entered the rear seat. At that moment, BMW knew they lost their chance and immediately killed off the 505 program.
My brother had a 1959 502 sedan that he bought used in the late 60's. It was probably a serviceman's car brought back home from Europe. The car was black and stodgy but solid and supremely smooth. The engine however was a work of art with beautiful aluminum castings everywhere. I think the version in his car made 130-140hp and powered through a four speed on the column. He claimed it would do 70 in 2nd gear. Autobahn gearing for sure. He couldn't find brake parts for it so traded for a 190SL with bad carbs. Of the two I'd go for the 502.
If FromaBuick6 has to watch one more Chevy commercial, he's going to punch Howie Long in the face was starred
If FromaBuick6 has to watch one more Chevy commercial, he's going to punch Howie Long in the face was unstarred
Hyundai should have designed the coupe's engine bay to accept the Tau V8. Had they done so from the beginning, I don't think it would have cost them too much extra money, and it would give them and aftermarket tuners a lot more flexibility with the platform.
The whole problem is that they failed to use the same platform for the two cars that share a name, so I wouldn't doubt that you could stuff the Tau V8 in the front of a Coupe but when your V6 already makes 300 HP then whats the point especially when the V6 weighs less.
The Camaro just came out, and the base model has an engine just as powerful as the high-end Genesis coupe (although the Camaro is actually a tenth of a second or two slower due to its weight, though it get better mileage), and the Camaro SS leaves the Genesis in the dust.
The 2011 Mustang will have a base engine more powerful than the Genesis coupe's premium engine, and won't have the same weight disadvantage that the Camaro has. And the 2011 Mustang GT? It, too, will leave the Genesis coupe in a cloud of dust and tire smoke.
Granted, the base price for the highest Genesis coupe trim line undercuts the base Camaro SS and Mustang GT price by a grand or two, but for that extra grand or two, you get a hell of a lot.
Where the Genesis coupe makes the least sense is stacked up against the base models of the 2010 Camaro and the 2011 Mustang, which are at the least it's peer in power, get better mileage, and are more refined than the Genesis coupe; all for a price that is in the same ballpark of a base, 4-cyl Genesis coupe.
Had Hyundai designed a little more growth potential into the Genesis coupe platform by designing it to accept the Tau V8, they could have made the platform more competitive in a broader field.
@dal20402: I've been trying to find the weight and dimensions of the Genesis engines, but, ironically, those seem to be the only bits of information I can't find about them.
pauljones promoted this comment
alowishus wants to run a Saab Sonett III at LeMons was starred
alowishus wants to run a Saab Sonett III at LeMons was unstarred
@pauljones: Yeah yeah yeah, I know they went and slapped the mustang and all that. But seriously, show me a guy who wants to buy a Mustang who's going to be swayed by a Genesis. My point being that in the real world, the yokels who want muscle cars won't be drawn to the the Genesis. It'll be young moderately successful guys and the JDM set.
But the truth is, the majority of people in the non-premium sporty, RWD coupe market (in which the Genesis, Mustang, Camaro, Challenger, 370Z, and RX-8 compete) aren't necessarily Mustang people. They are people out to buy a car in that class, and while they may have a short list, they are likely to consider alternatives based on the deals they can get and other similar criteria.
So yes, the Genesis does indeed compete with the Mustang.
Edited by Schm, enjoying his first desert winter. . at 10/14/09 2:38 PM
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11/22/09
Had.
Right.
11/22/09
11/22/09
11/23/09
@tonyola:
Exactly. Obviously there is no equivalent picture for chevy engines, but this picture illustrates one pretty big advantage small-block pushrod engines have over their OHC counterparts. Hmm... I wonder which one weighs more? And if the performance and efficiency numbers GM gets out of their pushrods keep getting better, as they most certainly will, they'd be crazy to switch to an OHC design, which, news flash people, isn't exactly the pinnacle of "new" technology - DOHCs have been around for almost a century.
11/23/09
You can tout the "advantages" of the pushrod design but it does have its limitations. If the 6.2L V8 under the hood of the Z06 is so great, then why does Ferrari's 4.3L manage to come in at 483 hp without supercharging? Undoubtedly, the 4.3L V8 is smaller, more compact, and lighter than the 6.2L V8 under the hood of the Vette. Oh, and it *does* utilize OHC design, something Ferrari has been utilizing successfully since the mid '60s. Shortly after the design and implementation of OHC engines in the Ferrari race cars, they were already working on a 5 valve design in their cylinder heads. True, Ford came back and bit Ferrari, quite hard. But that was with a 427 using what? An overhead cam design.
The only reason to stick with pushrods is cost. It's the question of, "Why fix it? It's not broke."
Sure, the Corvette Z06 is "only" $75,000.00. given the quality of the interior materials and the archaic engine architecture GM is using, I'd say you're getting what you pay for.
#tips
11/23/09
Also, the 427 used in the GT40 was a pushrod. The SOHC 427 was intended to be a NASCAR engine but it was never permitted to run, so it ended up in drag racers. It was NOT used in the GT40.
Check your facts and come back to play when you think you're ready.
11/23/09
11/23/09
AUDI R8
A-S6 4.2/8 13/18
M-6 4.2/8 12/19
AM6 5.2/10 13/20
M-6 5.2/10 12/20
CHEVROLET Corvette
A-S6 6.2/8 15/25
M-6 6.2/8 16/26
M-6 6.2/8 14/20
M-6 7.0/8 15/24
FERRARI 599 GTB Fiorano
AM6 5.7/12 11/15
M-6 5.7/12 11/15
LAMBORGHINI
Gallardo Coupe
AM6 5.2/10 14/20
M-6 5.2/10 12/20
Murcielago
AM6 6.5/12 9/14
M-6 6.5/12 8/13
MASERATI GranTurismo
A-6 4.2/8 12/19
A-6 4.7/8 12/19
NISSAN GT-R
AM6 3.8/6 16/21
11/23/09
And don't get me wrong, LSx series engines are my favorite.
#tips
11/23/09
It's not really about fuel consumption. It's about the limitations on pushrod engines. Low rev limits, and very little space for electronic valve control are both potential killers.
If you want a reason why we don't see more OHVs from GM, just compare Chevy's line of pushrod V6s to the DOHC units.
11/22/09
Oh, and GM and Ford...
11/22/09
Advanced in design, the 1917 V-8 had a central camshaft operating vertical overhead valves in each bank, a counterweighted crankshaft, and detachable crossflow cylinder heads. Displacing 288 cubic inches and breathing through a Zenith two-barrel carburetor, it developed 55 horsepower at 2,700 rpm, running on 4.75:1 compression.
This is probably because gasoline had an octane rating in the mid-40s in those days. 4.75:1 was probably pushing it, and 55 HP was about as good as it got for that size engine during World War I.
11/22/09
BMW had also intended to use the V8 in a top-line limousine called the 505. There is a story that BMW showed German Chancellor Adenauer a prototype of the limousine to try to woo him away from his Mercedes 300. The Chancellor's hat got knocked off as he entered the rear seat. At that moment, BMW knew they lost their chance and immediately killed off the 505 program.
11/23/09
11/22/09
11/22/09
My engine of the day is the Alfa Romeo Montreal 230 hp, 1970 dry sump V8...
11/22/09
That being said, I love the Montreal V-8.
11/22/09
I wonder why they don't?
11/22/09
11/22/09
11/23/09
#tips
11/22/09
Step 2: Chop top of and remove fenders from said Dixi
Step 3: ?
Step 4: Profit!
11/21/09
11/20/09
11/21/09
11/20/09
11/20/09
11/20/09
[jalopnik.com]
11/20/09
Hyundai should have designed the coupe's engine bay to accept the Tau V8. Had they done so from the beginning, I don't think it would have cost them too much extra money, and it would give them and aftermarket tuners a lot more flexibility with the platform.
#tips
11/20/09
The whole problem is that they failed to use the same platform for the two cars that share a name, so I wouldn't doubt that you could stuff the Tau V8 in the front of a Coupe but when your V6 already makes 300 HP then whats the point especially when the V6 weighs less.
11/20/09
The Camaro just came out, and the base model has an engine just as powerful as the high-end Genesis coupe (although the Camaro is actually a tenth of a second or two slower due to its weight, though it get better mileage), and the Camaro SS leaves the Genesis in the dust.
The 2011 Mustang will have a base engine more powerful than the Genesis coupe's premium engine, and won't have the same weight disadvantage that the Camaro has. And the 2011 Mustang GT? It, too, will leave the Genesis coupe in a cloud of dust and tire smoke.
Granted, the base price for the highest Genesis coupe trim line undercuts the base Camaro SS and Mustang GT price by a grand or two, but for that extra grand or two, you get a hell of a lot.
Where the Genesis coupe makes the least sense is stacked up against the base models of the 2010 Camaro and the 2011 Mustang, which are at the least it's peer in power, get better mileage, and are more refined than the Genesis coupe; all for a price that is in the same ballpark of a base, 4-cyl Genesis coupe.
Had Hyundai designed a little more growth potential into the Genesis coupe platform by designing it to accept the Tau V8, they could have made the platform more competitive in a broader field.
#tips
11/20/09
11/20/09
The Genesis Coupe is a bit smaller than its domestic competition. I'm thinking a V8 model would be very front-heavy.
11/20/09
11/20/09
11/20/09
@Mixtronic: So can the Camaro and the Mustang. The Challenger? Well, not quite as well, but it's far from scary.
11/21/09
#tips
11/21/09
But the truth is, the majority of people in the non-premium sporty, RWD coupe market (in which the Genesis, Mustang, Camaro, Challenger, 370Z, and RX-8 compete) aren't necessarily Mustang people. They are people out to buy a car in that class, and while they may have a short list, they are likely to consider alternatives based on the deals they can get and other similar criteria.
So yes, the Genesis does indeed compete with the Mustang.
#tips
10/14/09
10/14/09
Alfa needs to make the spiritual successor to the Thema 8.32 ASAP and I'll rob a bank for it. Or just plain rob the car!
10/14/09
By "image," I take it you mean "engine."
Also, Alfa denies it.
[www.autoblog.com]