GM is already seeing lesser V8 demand in its luxury cars. Last year, they were under the hood of about 26% of Cadillac STS sedans sold. This year, V8s accounted for just 17% of STS sales, according to data from Power Information Network.
That shift coincides with the introduction of GM's new V6 engine with direct fuel injection that can produce a maximum of 302 horsepower compared to 320 from the V8.
Cadillac spokesman David Caldwell cites consumer interest in the technology rather than just fuel economy difference as the main reason for the shift. The V6 gets about one mile per gallon more than the V8, according to EPA estimates.
I wish that they wouldn't have messed with the sound of their remaining V8's. Not that it's a big deal in a Cadillac, but the noise at idle and WOT was a much more traditional "V8 sound" on my 2001 SLS versus the 2005.
Another thing I noticed is that the resale value of a V8 is not much better than a V6. This makes the V8 less attractive to buyers that trade for a new car every couple of years. Especially considering the price of admission to purchase the N* in a new STS.
At least the DTS is still a V8 only Caddi...until the next generation???
Well the Catera and CTS started out with the GM 54-degree V6. Of course there was also the Cimarron. Other than that the V6 has been pretty rare in a Cadillac up until now - I think a Buick V6 was an option for the Seville in 1981-82.
I think I missed two in there somewhere. Oh well. These are only ones that where in a Cadillacs.
I guess the move makes sense business wise. Dropping the Northstar means that GM will only be making and developing two variations of engines in the V8 catagory (sbc and bbc). This should cut cost across the bord for them.
What makes me sad is that Cadillac will no longer be a Cadillac. The will just be rebadged somethings from across the world. Not that this is not what they where already doing but rather the nail in the coffin for a true Cadillac.
With the wide spread push of this new HF V6 that is out I guess I am not sure why people would buy a Cadillac. Nice, luxurious but you can/and will be able to get different badged cars with the same thing in the present/future and save quite a bit of money. No more orginality, seems like more slumping sells for Cadillac in the future. Reminds me of Oldsmobile in a way. Guess GM just doesn't learn things the easy way.
I am to lazy to google to find the technical terms but why dont they just set it up so it only uses 6 cyl. unless it needs all 8. Isn't that what the impalas do? Only on a 6 cyl/ 4cyl.?
