In Reply to: American Car Companies - Turbo Charged, Why don't they...??, Savary [Profile/Gallery] , Sat, 5 May 2001 23:31:26

American car companies haven't figured out anything beyond the basic precept that "more CI = more HP". They're still falling for the fallacy that you have to have a normally aspirated bigass engine to get any kind of respectable HP. Bear in mind, while the Japanese and Europeans were dabbling with turbos, turbodiesels, 20V engines, etc... the American MFRs were still trying to figure out how to design a decent 16V engine.

American manufacturers, IMHO, thrive on being "status quo". Think about American cars with innovative designs over the past 20 years: The Viper (modified truck engine design), PT Cruiser (gutless Neon engine), original Taurus SHO (Yamaha V-6)... If you look for innovative design, it's usually failed by an engine that was an afterthought, or wasn't designed in-house (take the Corvette ZR-1 as another example).

My personal opinion? GM realizes they fail miserably at extracting decent HP or torque from anything but massive amounts of CC's (or CI's ;) ). I think we all realize that the current 9-3 was a quick fix to keep Saab viable, using many existing GM components, and what Saab does best, a nice engine. I believe that GM actually bought Saab more for their engine prowess (something Ford got out of their purchase of Volvo, and something likely to come out of DC, with the fraternizing of Chrysler and M-B engineers). I don't think that Saab was bought at all (or it was only a small consideration) for it's Saabness... I think that Saab will change to fit - I expect the 9-3 to target high-end Jettas, and look a fair amount like them as well. But I think that Saab will continue to be the leader in GM's engine design - and that (hopefully for GM's sake) they'll learn from Saab, and not bastardize Saab to the point that their engines are just average.

• American Car Companies - Turbo Charged, Why don't they...??, Savary , Sat, 5 May 2001 23:31:26
  • also, let us not forget the mighty Grand National. n/m, KL, Mon, 7 May 2001 15:10:39
  • Re: American Car Companies - Turbo Charged, Why don't they...??, Mike 87 900s, Mon, 7 May 2001 12:03:53
  • Chrysler will be turbo charging new PT Cruisers soon n/m, KL, Mon, 7 May 2001 10:11:26
  • Because they know no better (long), Wes Miller, Mon, 7 May 2001 09:58:41 <-- Viewing This Message
  • but Saab fuel economy not that great?, The Heckler, Mon, 7 May 2001 09:45:13
    • You have to compare engines on power and torque, AdamB , Tue, 8 May 2001 11:50:29
    • Re: but Saab fuel economy not that great?, Paul , Mon, 7 May 2001 13:47:57
    • Low Compression, Ricky J, Mon, 7 May 2001 13:34:57
    • Re: but Saab fuel economy not that great?, Keith , Mon, 7 May 2001 11:05:14
      • Got 36mpg hwy in an 89 Olds Delta88 w/3.8l V6 w/120,000 miles n/m, Dinger, Tue, 8 May 2001 08:43:36
      • Not great in my experience..., Bryce, Mon, 7 May 2001 13:03:42
  • Brute force and ignorance....the american way., Dave Westlake, Mon, 7 May 2001 09:05:56
    • Re: Brute force and ignorance....the american way., John, Tue, 8 May 2001 23:38:22
  • Blame Mercedes and Chrysler, Bill McD, Sun, 6 May 2001 16:24:05
  • Path of least resistance, saw, Sun, 6 May 2001 14:31:30
  • Re: American Car Companies - Turbo Charged, Why don't they...??, Keith , Sun, 6 May 2001 12:17:01
    • I think you're exactly right., Aaron Gilbert, Sun, 6 May 2001 20:01:53

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