V-8 engine on way out in new cars

Published: Aug. 26, 2008 at 10:17 AM

NEW YORK, Aug. 26 (UPI) -- The powerful, legendary V-8 engine is pretty much being relegated to history except for a few cases, U.S. auto industry reports say.

Most automakers are no longer putting the V-8 under the hoods of family cars, USA Today said in a New York report. Even the V-6's are reported to be losing popularity as more people opt for the V-4. Observers see the V-8 in particular as no longer politically correct.

Automakers introducing new V-8s are said to be confining them to a few premium cars or high-performance sports models and trailer-towing trucks.

Among new models still to be equipped with the V-8 are the Cadillac CTS-V, the Dodge Challenger and Hyundai Genesis. Automakers are stressing that the new V-8s are more fuel efficient.

But, General Motors is dumping the eight-cylinder engine from its 2010 Cadillac SRX crossover next year and Ford says it won't offer a V-8 in its Lincoln MKS sedan.

© 2008 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Order reprints



Additional News Stories
School bans word: 'meep' (2 min)
Dodd presents financial regulatory bill (3 min)
Ice cream becoming a 'funtional food' (15 min)
Scientists use lasers to shine metal molds (24 min)
Fur ruffles over escaped service dog (24 min)
UPI NewsTrack Entertainment News (43 min)
Chrysler switches electric front-runner (49 min)
fark
Evidence found of plot to kill cartoonist, but details are sketchy
♫The best part of waking up is a CTA bus crashing into the side of your house♫
The president calls him..."The Crustmaster"
Hello, insurance company, yeah a grizzly bear ate my airplane
Man charged with sexually assaulting 14-year-old girl over several months, even though he paid her...
If you're a cop it's probably best not to wait three days to send a runaway home. You might just...