If it hasn’t yet come to your attention that V8s are fast disappearing not only from our roads but also the assembly and showrooms, you’re clearly unique – and quite possibly, the last of your kind.
Article Outline
Toyota, for instance, has ditched the V8 in their full-size trucks and SUVs, instead opting for a turbocharged V6. In the same vein, the V6 is fast disappearing in sedans and the 2024 Camry will be the last to bear a V6. Instead, a hybrid inline 4 will be standard.
Ford, BMW, Chrysler, Nissan, and a host of other automakers are towing the same path which means one thing: the V8 is getting axed and the future of the V6, as it stands, is very uncertain.
By why is this so?
Why V8s Are Fast Disappearing
Traditional, large, naturally aspirated V8s are fast disappearing from the roads majorly for two reasons: environmental concerns and fuel efficiency.
V8s impact the environment more harshly especially when compared to lower displacement engines, especially, inline 4s.
That aside, there’s also the issue of fuel efficiency which the larger engines aren’t particularly good with.
This ‘unique’ trait of the V8 has got the attention of the government and it’s not in favor of the ‘V’ engine configuration.
The Biden administration, for example, through an Executive Order in 2021, outlined that the target of the US government is to ensure “that 50 percent of all new passenger cars and light trucks sold in 2030 be zero-emission vehicles, including battery electric, plug-in hybrid electric, or fuel cell electric vehicles.“
With such policies, pressure for a greener earth, the rising fuel costs and the need to drive more miles per gallon, it’s no surprise really that old, brawny V8s are not just becoming niche vehicles, but are simply dying off and fading from the roads faster than anyone anticipated.
But, there’s more to the argument and there are a lot more issues to consider beyond the environment and miles per gallon.
Fuel Gains vs. Vehicle Longevity
Everyone knows that inline-four engines, turbos, and hybrids are generally less harsh on the environment, greenhouse emission-wise (their production process is talk for another day).
It’s also common knowledge that these vehicle types, generally, return better fuel economy than their large, V8 cousins.
However, what isn’t known is that the smaller engines, the charged units, and the hybrids also pack up a lot sooner than their larger V8 siblings, which is a valid cause for concern especially with the rising inflation and equally rising cost of new vehicles.
As a DIY mechanic and an automotive freelance writer, I’m wedged between two similar but different worlds and the first-hand insight this affords me is quite unique.
A Tale of Guaranteed Longevity and Subtle Failure
I once took a look at a 2012 Camry i4 SE trim that a friend owned, notorious for burning oil. His case was unique and I was confused because the vehicle wasn’t smoking nor did the engine powering the unit, the 2AR, have any history of defects from the factory causing oil burn (like the older 2AZ).
The solution, as we wrapped up, was to get him to switch his engine oil viscosity to something thicker. This slowed down the oil burn – but didn’t completely solve the issue.
Eventually, this vehicle was sold to an older lady who didn’t have a heavy foot and drove very carefully. ‘Magically’, the oil burn issue vaporized, even with the original, thinner oil that the lady reverted to.
My friend opted for a more powerful V6 engine, the 2GR in the RX, and to this day, he has never experienced any oil burn, though his driving pattern hasn’t changed.
What’s the point of this tale?
Larger displacement engines as found in V8 engines and some V6 engines are difficult to stress out and as a result, last longer – with minimal maintenance. The motor also works less, generally outputting far less power than it’s capable of.
On the other hand, squeezing north of 300 horses in a 3-4 cylinder vehicle, slamming turbos, and getting ‘respectable’ power and MPG is a recipe for disaster, just waiting to happen.
Choose Your Poison…Carefully
There’s no such thing as ‘something for nothing’: for every ‘give’, there’s always a ‘take’. For every ‘gain’ made, there’s usually a ‘sacrifice’, a ‘price’ to pay.
The price to pay for more power, tucked into smaller displacement engines that also happen to return ‘great’ miles per gallon is that new vehicle buyers will have to be shopping for replacement vehicles much more frequently than they’re used to…
…which will negate the cost savings at the pump and the ‘environmental concerns’ driving the ‘hybrid’ vehicle economy in the first place (manufacturing more vehicles negatively impacts the environment and disposing of used vehicles no longer needed also negatively impacts the environment).
It’s a case of going around in cycles without making any real progress, if you look at it, critically.
With why V8s are fast disappearing from the roads made manifestly clear, the issue is one of choosing one’s poison, carefully (not that you’ll have that option for long enough, though).
The sweet spot, it’s clear, has always been the middle course: the V6. But, while we debate the logic of the ‘hybrid auto economy’, it makes perfect sense to grab an excellent copy of a NA and ultra-reliable V8 and reserve same. There are tasks nothing but a NA V8 is excellent at and when it comes to those, you shouldn’t be (or feel) stranded.