V8 H3 Alpha

[Alan06SUT]

Originally Posted by Steve - SanJose

I see the point about the possibility of a marginal improvement in highway only mileage with a V8. But the AWD Escalade probably running premium gets 13/19 EPA mpg vs. H3 3.5 16/19 EPA mpg (comparing apples to apples). so the possibility looks somewhat bleak. Of course the Escalade is heavier but it's much more aero, running street tires, tall gearing, etc.

I'm sure GM is trying to figure what (if any) incremental sales volume increase would result from a V8 option since this really is a business decision. But I would like to hope...

Under powered = more rpms = ineficcient=suffering mileage. Adequate power = less rpms, yada yada.

Originally Posted by Alan06SUT

Under powered = more rpms = ineficcient=suffering mileage. Adequate power = less rpms, yada yada.

I wish it was that simple....

[Alan06SUT]

Originally Posted by Steve - SanJose

I wish it was that simple....

You are making it too complicated. Weight is the biggest thing. Aero only comes into play at higher speeds (hwy mileage). Its all about getting the right motor for the right vehicle. The torque and horsepower curves need to jive with the everyday use/reqirements of the vehicle. An underpowered vehilcle is constantly working to keep up, and adequately powered vehilce remains in the engine's sweets spots longer.

[PARAGON]

Originally Posted by Alan06SUT

You are making it too complicated. Weight is the biggest thing. Aero only comes into play at higher speeds (hwy mileage). Its all about getting the right motor for the right vehicle. The torque and horsepower curves need to jive with the everyday use/reqirements of the vehicle. An underpowered vehilcle is constantly working to keep up, and adequately powered vehilce remains in the engine's sweets spots longer.

ditto....

E F F I C I E N C Y

it's all about the ability to produce the power with the given amount of fuel.... all other factors remaining the same. Obviously there has to be a breakover point in the design of a engine to reach the best efficiency to utilize all the fuel and gulp enough air to burn with it as it forces it's power against the forces of the vehicle that want to make it remain stopped.

If you simply assumed the smaller you go the better, a motorcycle engine would be the best, but it won't since it would be at full throttle all the time just to keep the vehicle from stopping.

Small engines don't belong in trucks.

Originally Posted by Alan06SUT

You are making it too complicated. Weight is the biggest thing. Aero only comes into play at higher speeds (hwy mileage). Its all about getting the right motor for the right vehicle. The torque and horsepower curves need to jive with the everyday use/reqirements of the vehicle. An underpowered vehilcle is constantly working to keep up, and adequately powered vehilce remains in the engine's sweets spots longer.

Agreed, right motor for right vehicle makes a lot of sense. When GM picked the I5 for the H3, mileage was a big consideration. Other engines had advantages in the power department but not better mileage. All Hummers are underpowered for aggressive road driving by American standards, but they are optimized by design to have serious offroad capability. It's all relative, compare the mediocre mileage of the H3 to the really low mileage of an H2 and the difference is significant (20-25% difference). A Hummer is not an Element, but I've heard some have cross-shopped both.

[Sewie]

Originally Posted by Steve - SanJose

When GM picked the I5 for the H3, mileage was a big consideration.

I don't think the mileage was as much an issue in choosing the I5 as the fact that it was already available. Why plonk all the money into R&D when you already have an engine that is capable enough and that you can drop right in.

Now that the H3 is released and successful, and enough people are complaining about power, it makes sense for GM to look at other options.

[PARAGON]

Originally Posted by Sewie

I don't think the mileage was as much an issue in choosing the I5 as the fact that it was already available. Why plonk all the money into R&D when you already have an engine that is capable enough and that you can drop right in.

Now that the H3 is released and successful, and enough people are complaining about power, it makes sense for GM to look at other options.

agreed....

had nothing to do with the fact that it was already in the colo/canyon

[H3 Builder]

When you talk about any vehicle you always hear the same thing, "IT NEEDS MORE POWER". Now I agree that extra power is always better, but GM had to make a choice and went with the same power plant as the Colorado engine. If you noticed, GM has been bringing new products to market at a reasonable price. If you start adding this and that, it can bring the price up. If GM thinks there is a market and sell plenty of product to be worth while, then the buisness case is made, then things happen.