GM Ending Northstar V8 Production; Hello Twin-Turbo V6
General Motors has confirmed that next month it will cease production of the DOHC Northstar V8, one of the most advanced engines the company has ever built. In its place, GM will use stop-gap measures including the current series of direct-injection V6 engines, as well as the company’s small-block V8s which use an archaic overhead-valve system which dates back to 1955.
GM had planned a replacement for the engine, called the Ultra V8 or UV8, but that project was scrapped when GM headed into bankruptcy. According to a report by InsideLine, however, the engine is completely developed and could still be used.
A far more likely alternative, however, is a new twin-turbo V6 motor, designed to rival Ford’s EcoBoost technology. The end of the Northstar V8 is also likely to signal the end for the two models it is used in: the Cadillac STS and DTS.
First launched in the 1993 Cadillac Allante, the 4.6-liter Northstar V8 is currently available as either a 292-hp or 320-hp motor, or when supercharged in cars like the STS-V makes a total of 469-hp.
[Source: InsideLine]
With AutoGuide from its launch, Colum previously acted as Editor-in-Chief of Modified Luxury & Exotics magazine where he became a certifiable car snob driving supercars like the Koenigsegg CCX and racing down the autobahn in anything over 500 hp. He has won numerous automotive journalism awards including the Best Video Journalism Award in 2014 and 2015 from the Automotive Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC). Colum founded Geared Content Studios, VerticalScope's in-house branded content division and works to find ways to integrate brands organically into content.
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Uh, DOHC goes back to 1928 with Alfa Romeo.... the pushrod OHV technology is actually newer than DOHC by about 20 years.
First, Olds. Then Pontiac. Now the Northstar V8 which rescued Cadillac. Think about this......does GM want to stay in the car business?