Here is an article from yesterday: http://www.caranddriver.com/dailyaut...lac-cts-v.html

The LS7 seems almost definite, but it seems the door is still open for another possibility. GM already has a Northstar replacement being developed - a high performance version will be needed for the next XLR-V - I'm thinking 550+hp and supercharged.

 

Nice torque curve, IMO. The only time you're below 3000 RPM is in 1st gear standing still or on the highway with the cruise set, so that's pretty moot. What I find funny is how many of you worship the E46 M3 (333 HP, 262 lb-ft, 3400 lbs) but are whining that the E90 (E92?) M3 (420 HP, 295 lb-ft, 3600 lbs) is going to be slow. Any way you slice it, the new car has a better power:weight ratio which is the only thing that really matters in acceleration.

For what (little) it's worth, the M3 isn't even a sports car anymore. The E36 M3 will probably be the last really sporty M car. The E46 was a transition to grand touring, and the new M3 is a full on GT. The market for lightweight high powered cars is very small, and people buying $60k roundels will want every gadget and feature that the $60k Audis and Benzes have - and thus they'll weigh more than we (the enthusiasts) really want them to weigh. Will people take them to track days? Sure. But if they want a track car, there are much better alternatives for much less. But if you want a nice car to tour the countryside at a high rate, go golfing in, and be seen in, it's going to be hard to beat the M3 at this price point.

 

Also, since I don't really want to split this thread... the CTS-V has a 50% displacement advantage. It should have more torque (in theory, about 50% more).

 

this was one of the original arguments and I suppose it really comes down to BMW wanting to force their F1 techonology to help displace some of those costs for BMW racing... but they could have easily gone with a high displacement motor that had got better MPG then a high tech motor that cost the same. Basically everything comes down to budgeting and price point. What do you do with a 10K budget for a motor? I dont think the CTS-V should be handicapped because they GM decided to go the route of a garunteed performer in the LS7.

The BMW Z4 M is a real sports car on the other hand...and with the addition of this motor It will be a contender, however the price needs to stay where its at. It cannot go surging. I cannot see BMW continuing to produce the old i6 after the new m3 goes into production, so hopefully this will be the last model year before this change happens.

 

That's been BMW's DNA for a long time, much like Honda - smaller, higher technology motors. There are downsides to large displacement motors, not surprisingly, the biggest of which is that it takes more room to shoehorn the engine into the engine bay. Getting an LS2 into the front of a 3 series would cause as many problems as making a 4 liter V8 that had comparable horsepower.

 

ahh.. good point about fiting and engine like that in the car...

 

One of the reasons for the seeming oddly low torque is that they cant engineer ZSG (the dual clutch transmission that will be available beginning march 08) to handle alot of torque. Apparently DSG cant handle it either.

 

That's the car I'm waiting for I can't wait until they come out with the 500 hp version of the V. Unfortunately I read that GM has halted all new RWD platforms due to the new CAFE regulations. (Excluding the new Camaro and Vette) According to Bob Lutz the General may not build any new RWD cars because the MPG rules are becoming more stringent.

 

CAFE hasn't changed. If GM can figure out how to sell a small car, they can make desirable (read: Profitable) big cars too.