So, Chevy makes a V-8, front-drive Impala (which I will admit is
fast).
People want a HEMI Charger, but they don't want to pay for more fuel.
The answer?
Cylinder Deactivation. LOTS of cake, and eating it until you're sick. Good idea. Poor implementation.
I've driven each of these applications, hooked up the
SG, and found minimal advantages: 5% at best. The base engine in both examples have plenty of power and achieve much better FE. The Impala 3.5L pushes 30 mpg with mostly highway driving.
There has to be a paradigm shift in engine size perception. A 4-banger with a turbo is a good solution, but much of America still sees V-8 as "I've made it". That's where the manufacturers are. I wish I could have manually cut the cylinders -- it would have helped in-town driving for sure, but how much? Dunno.
I wish the best to those testing this experiment -- just make sure to perform ample research.
RH77