Re: Whats the deal with speed?
I think they should have put the V8 in from the start along with 6-speed manual and auto boxes. Americans are great with V8s, and they should stick with what they are good at. My Corvettes and F-bodies with V8s and 6-speed manuals have been a blast to drive. The sound alone is worth any gas they use. A lot of the V8s in trucks are getting nearly as good mileage as the V6s. Look at a new Tahoe. It gets better highway mileage than the I5 H3, and only one mpg less in the city. That thing weighs nearly 1000 pounds more than an H3, and has more frontal area. The I5 is awfully thrashy, and has a lot of resonance, too.
As far as diesels, it is a maybe. The emissions equipment to reduce NOx and particulates is reducing the mileage benefit somewhat. Meanwhile, new features such as direct injection on the gasoline engines is raising their efficiency.
Michael
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