Chevrolet 4-cylinder U.S. sales at 46% of vehicles, vs. 23% in 2007

[MetroMPG]

Via GCC:

4-cylinder engines now account for 46% of Chevrolet retail sales, up from 23% in 2007

In 2007, four-cylinder models represented 23% of Chevrolet retail sales in the US— less than either V-6 or V-8 equipped models. So far this year, that number has increased to 46%, making fuel-efficient four-cylinder engines the top choice in the Chevrolet lineup, according to GM.

...

Customers are moving out of V-8 powered SUVs into V-6 powered crossovers like the Traverse, and from V-6 powered cars and crossovers into fuel-efficient four-cylinder models, such as Cruze, Malibu, and Equinox.

Source: Green Car Congress: 4-cylinder engines now account for 46% of Chevrolet retail sales, up from 23% in 2007

Related: 2009 stats for Canadian sales of all vehicles:
Canada: 83.3% of new vehicles bought with 4 cylinder engines

[cfg83]

MetroMPG -

Yay!

CarloSW2

[Old Tele man]

...when & where are the 2- and 3-cylinder GM engines?

[Frank Lee]

Originally Posted by Old Tele man

...when & where are the 2- and 3-cylinder GM engines?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pbG0-VDoGjI

[Old Tele man]

...as German-helmeted Arte Johnson of LAUGH-IN used to say: "...VER-REE INT-TER-EST-ING..."

[99LeCouch]

4 cylinders are finally getting the power that V6's used to get. Case in point the new Sonata/Optima 2.4 liter 4-cylinder has just 5 fewer HP than my Buick's 3.8 liter V6. Plus it whups it in EPA averages.

And the V6's are now getting V8 power with old 4 cylinder efficiency. Look at the 2011 Mustang's V6. 305 hp and 30 mpg highway.

[euromodder]

Originally Posted by 99LeCouch

4 cylinders are finally getting the power that V6's used to get.

In the US maybe.
It's more a matter of wether it can be sold to the US public, rather than what power it can make.
This side of the pond we've had high powered 4 cylinder, lower displacement cars for quite a while, as V6s and V8s are really niche products in Europe.
Cars that are mostly sold with 4 in-lines here in Europe, with an optional or even unavailable V6, end up with the V6 as the base engine in the US.

It's a good thing that this trend is finally starting to change.

[Allch Chcar]

Originally Posted by Old Tele man

...when & where are the 2- and 3-cylinder GM engines?

Considering 4 cylinders can be from 1 liter to 2.7 liters the 2-3 cylinders would be mostly for micro cars . And those are not commonly sold in the US .

@ 99LeCouch, the Mustang v6 has gotten comparable EPA mileage to the old Pinto 4 banger from the 80's foxbody. Not something new.

I am encouraged about the 4 cylinder seeing more sales. I'm also interested if this means more usage of layouts than just the standard inline 4. Eg. Subaru and Porsche use flat engines and Porsche was considering a new 4 cylinder car while Subaru hasn't stopped building performance flat-4s. Subaru even has a 1.5 liter with AVCS that they sell in Japan/Europe for their base FE car.

You will know that the 4 banger is dominating when they're building a more expensive 4 banger for their upscale cars instead of 6's or 8's

[MetroMPG]

Originally Posted by Allch Chcar

You will know that the 4 banger is dominating when they're building a more expensive 4 banger for their upscale cars instead of 6's or 8's

Sort of like Hyundai is doing with its Sonata line-up. No six offered. Your choice of 4 cylinder naturally aspirated, 4 cyl turbo, or 4 cyl hybrid.

[Allch Chcar]

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

Sort of like Hyundai is doing with its Sonata line-up. No six offered. Your choice of 4 cylinder naturally aspirated, 4 cyl turbo, or 4 cyl hybrid.

Yes sir. That is one good example . But that is a foreign car company. I'm holding out hope that our domestic companies start getting into smaller engines for their sports cars too .