Before you call me automotive sacrilege for suggesting such a thing, it’s pretty easy to see the end of V8 engines in some vehicles looming over our heads. Toyota already switched to a turbocharged V6 in the Tundra, Ford has a twin-turbo V6 in the Expedition, and it’s only a matter of time before GM follows suit. These boosted V6s and the onslaught of electric vehicles aren’t the first signs of the end of V8 engines.
When did the end of V8 engines begin?
Strange as it may seem, the beginning of the end for the venerable V8 engine began in 1973. That’s when the first oil embargo hit and gas-guzzling engines made it much less affordable for some units.
Before that, the V8 engine was very popular. Look back to the 50s and 60s and you’ll see plenty of cars packing big honkin’ V8s under the hood. At the time, “there was no replacement or displacement,” and automakers tried to build bigger and bigger engines. Cadillac actually offered a V8 with 500 cubic inches shortly before the OPEC embargo hit.
That’s when it all went downhill for the V8 engines.
Are electric vehicles contributing to the end of V8s?
If the end of V8 engines began fifty years ago, this particular power plant is experiencing a slow death. That said, the recent growth and movement towards electric vehicles is just another sword in the coffin of V8s. As ABC News reported in 2021, General Motors announced that at least 40 percent of its American models would be battery electric vehicles by the end of 2025.
This ad, although now a bit dated, is still true. We know of several new GM electric vehicles coming to market by 2024, including the Chevrolet Blazer, Silverado, and Equinox. Cadillac has already given us the Lyriq, Buick is moving to an all-electric lineup, and the GMC Hummer EV truck and SUV are just the beginning.
Isn’t GM investing heavily in the future of V8 engines?
Flip the coin and you’ll see a completely different face. General Motors is one of the largest car manufacturers in the world and it has to be practical when it comes to the vehicles it offers. GM recently announced a major investment in future V8 engine technology. This happened after the new Chevy Corvette Z06 and its incredibly powerful, but more compact V8 engine.
Although the Corvette Z06 is not the practical vehicle for future engine development, GM will continue to build and develop V8 engines for its line of trucks and large SUVs to ensure consumers have alternatives. It’s not practical to expect all Silverado owners to switch to electric vehicles with questions about towing range and charging times. Many GM truck owners use their trucks to haul livestock, hay bales and equipment, for which EV trucks are not yet ready.
Will we see the end of V8 muscle cars?
Most likely, the end of V8 engines will come first in the world of muscle cars. The first to do so is Dodge with the end of the Hellcat Hemi V8 that has been at the heart of everything Stellantis (formerly FCA) could introduce this engine. The recent move away from the Hellcat-powered Dodge Challenger and Charger could signal a similar move for the Chevy Camaro and Ford Mustang.
The end of V8 engines is getting closer and closer, but we’re not in a doomsday scenario just yet. Unlike the people on the courthouse steps with a sandwich sign that says “The End is Near,” we can see continued value in these engines. Still, once electric vehicles start to hit the heavy-duty truck market, it could be the end of this venerable engine configuration.
