The entire motoring world turned on its head recently as Toyota mentioned that they’re scrapping the iconic petrol Landcruiser V8 from the 2020 lineup. While this was a strategic decision by Toyota, it does place the relevance of the V6 and V8 engines under the spotlight. From emissions taxes to four-stroke engines that are proving themselves on the roads and on the track, this might be the last generation to hear the epic purr of those cylinders. But technological progress is paramount to sustainability, and sheer driving pleasure doesn’t have to suffer.
Get Yourself Ready For A Turbocharge
While turbocharged engines aren’t new to the motoring world, they may suffer from reputational damage. You’re forgiven if you still remember the old and rickety turbocharged engines that sputtered and choked when you needed them most. Thanks to technological advancements, these engines are fast starting to replace V6 engines on the production lines. Car manufacturers are slowly replacing their naturally aspirated V6s for turbocharged fours, and reliability is now one of the top reasons for the change.
High-End Luxury Brands Following Suit
Another iconic brand that’s giving the golden handshake to V6 and V8 petrol engines is luxury car manufacturer, Jaguar Land Rover. Ford had a contract with Jaguar to provide them with their V6 and V8 models, and Jaguar has since given notice on their contracts. While they haven’t made any press announcements to give the motoring world an idea of where they’re heading, the market leans towards a modular inline-six to replace the V6 and turbocharged 3.0L engines to replace V8s. Sports cars will still rank high on performance as some of the new inline-four and inline-six engines are pushing out higher torque and horsepower.
Is The 4-Cylinder A Realistic Replacement?
If you’re looking to do your bit for the environment, the 4-cylinder is a better option, as these engines are lauded for their efficiency. While many motorists have turned up their noses at the 4-cylinder, it was mainly because performance figures suffered. The great equalizer to get those figures a bit more competitive with the V6 options is a turbocharger. This provides the extra oomph the engine needs to still be relevant, while not forsaking speed. V6 engines are, however, still more powerful, which could be handy for those who deal with heavy hauls and loads.
While aftermarket engines will still be available to V6 and V8 enthusiasts, regulations, technological advancements, and manufacturing costs are slowly moving towards 4-cylinder and other more efficient options.
