Infiniti Phasing Out V8 Engines
 

Infiniti Phasing Out V8 Engines, Exec Says
Jason Siu | Sep 03, 2:12 PM Add a Comment




Infiniti has confirmed that future development of V8 engines will come to an end, thanks to stricter fuel economy and CO2 restrictions. That’s not to say that we’ll see V8s disappear immediately from the Japanese automaker’s lineup, however.


Johan de Nysschen, Infiniti global president, explained that powertrains have a much longer life cycle than the actual vehicle model, which means for now we’ll continue to see the current stable of V8s under the hood of select Infiniti models. But future generations of the lineup will cease to have a V8 option. Currently V8s are found in the FX and M sedan models, along with the QX SUV.

Chances are, future generations of those models will see either turbocharged four- or six-cylinder engines to replace the V8, offering similar performance but much better fuel efficiency. Hybrid powerplants and even EVs may also found their ways as replacements as the Japanese automaker will shift its efforts into finding more efficient ways to reduce weight and improve aerodynamics on its vehicles.

“I don’t think any car that is on Infiniti drawing boards from here onwards we should expect a V8 to be included in that plan,” de Nysschen said in a recent interview.

Cautiously though, the Japanese automaker even went so far as to say that “real top performance cars right now – will become extinct.” An ominous statement of course, but with such a strong focus on fuel efficiency and emissions, it’s hard to imagine that performance won’t take a back seat to engine development.
Infiniti Phasing Out V8 Engines, Exec Says | AutoGuide.com News

I think this is good news.

Acura played in that game but...
 

...feeling they missed out in the executive class, rumors have them thinking of going back in that Vee-8 game. Honda to feature a V8 engine at last? - Petrol Head

I can see how, when looking at all the different Mercedes V8 models and BMW V8 models that another company MIGHT think there is a demand. And if anybody can build a smooth and quite V8, Honda certainly can. But imho, I think they have missed the window of opprotunity.

this article was published in 2008 and i havent seen any V8s from them...

Standing corrected. Misread Petrol Head's Honda V8 article.
Honda have indeed axed their RWD & V8 program, since 2009.

Wishful thinking of many Honda/Acura (NSX powerplant) fans.

...erase, erase.