Volvo Wants a New Engine Formula

[Casper]

http://www.drive.com.au/motor-news/v...29-109ttc.html

[GTRMagic]

From a marketing perspective, you can definitely see why Volvo has taken that view.

[TWRv12]

Rogers, Winterbottom insist V8s must stay

http://www.v8xmagazine.com.au/index....ines-must-stay

[Casper]

He who pays the piper plays the tune.

[Smokey Retirement]

So let me get this right....Volvo come into the category and not even before their first season is finished they want V8 Supercars to bend over for them so they can run a different engine. I know that there are some on here that might agree, but its "V8 Supercars". V8 engines...if they, Volvo, want to race hybrids or turbo 4's, maybe they should look at joining the GT or WEC series. If Volvo went NASCAR racing and came out ranting that they want to change the engines in the series Im pretty sure they would be told in not to many words where they can shove their idea......why should our series be told what to do and what to run by a manufacturer that has only been involved for less than a year.....my opinion anyway....

[Casper]

Volvo PAID to come into this category and I would be more than a little surprised if part of their decision making was not based on assurances that V8 engine use was open to discussion. The fans have to realise that manufacturers are no longer interested in V8's and to encourage wider manufacturer participation the exclusive use of the V8 will be open to discussion. I have a better idea, V8's will be a tiny part of the import market after the local manufacturers close down and within a few years will most probably disappear so why don't we instead use a V12 and make it totally ludicrous as it has the same relevance and would make way better racing. I am guessing that in the weigh up between losing a few fans and the introduction of more manufacturers who will bring fans with them and possibly an increase in the spectator base.

[Tourer]

OK - so here's the quote from the Volvo Cars President that is in the article linked in the first post:
"Long-term V8s are not really the cars we will be producing so that's on the negative list, but let's now continue the contract we have," Samuelsson told Drive.

"Long-term it would be more interesting [to] maybe look into a hybrid formula. That's open for discussion but there's nothing I've heard about."

So, Volvo is not "wanting V8s to bend over for them" for a new engine, they are happy to run as they are but what HAS been said is that sometime in the future, it MAYBE interesting to look into hybrid engines.

Beat up.

[Casper]

It won't happen overnight but it will change. If anybody thinks V8 motors have a never ending term of use they are kidding themselves.

[mikuni]

It will change, but I have come around to the concept of a racing car being a racing car. I can kind of understand Formula 1 going to hybrid turbos to try and push technology, but do the V8's really need to do that?

V8 Supercars hasn't actually reflected real world buy-able technology since Group A. How long since Holden sold a 5 litre?

V8 Supercars is about the spectacle and people seeing real racing cars that are fast and exciting. The viewing public can watch WTCC if they want little turbo ricers, and no doubt they will be hybrid soon, but no one watches it. People want a series that is exciting.

[GHOGH]

Volvo rather than mentioning hybrids might mention all cars should run DOHC in the current V8 series.
Time for old American pushrod engines used in the Holden and Fords to go.
GM have a 5.3 litre Ecotec3 Gen 5 production alloy block. Ford have the Coyote 5 litre block to turn into Australian spec touring car engines.

Do DTM still use v8s ?
http://youtu.be/KLTxwpsj3Y4

[mountainstar]

Volvo kind of sounds like a woman that squeezes you into marrying them and once trapped they spend all their time trying to change you. And probably once you make accommodations for them and all that they want, they end up divorcing you and taking all your money.

In regards to this future engine formula I wouldn't be so quick to jump unless these manufacturers are going to make a long term commitment to the series into the 2020's.

[Umai Naa]

It's an expensive development path.

Something that both Holden and Ford wouldn't want to invest in. They'll be around as long as the current engine formula remains, I reckon.

[eduardo1]

The series will need to have some relevance to the cars that are sold for the road. Currently that's via a bodyshell, but at some point the engines will need to come into line.

We're about to enter the transition phase from V8s-only to V8s+something else, which will then become the something else only. What that something else is, and if it's only a single something else, nobody knows.

It may well not even be a single specification something else - might be hybrids v turbo diesels v V8s. Although that's more likely for a future evolution.

But the groundwork will start with the removal of V8s from the brand name, get everyone used to not using the term V8s and so the engine evolution may not be such a jolt for people.

Could be cool - could be disastrous. Won't know till we see.

[bluesport]

If we look at the category now it is really another tier of sports sedan and people like watching sports sedans.........as long as people enjoy watching them and teams are prepared to run them there is no need to disqualify V8s.........what probably needs to be done is to allow other engine specs as well.

[GTRMagic]

If a technically simple V8SC V8 engine costs to buy new at somewhere around $120k... what would a highly stressed, big turbo, big boost 2 litre 4 cylinder hand grenade engine be worth to nail together?

The F1 mob are discovering that being relevant with their environment comes at a cost.. in cash...

[Just Do It!]

What you said, GTRMagic. The crazy, most lunatic part is that those with opinions aren't those putting the coin on the line to implement the change.

The V8 category is spectacular - always has been and always will be. Anyone who tries to change that opens the series to competitive advantage and potentially devalues the contractually obligated/devised from following suit.

Pity the mortals, for they hath not vested

[GTRMagic]

Meantime, the 'power race' in the V8 world is well and truly on...

Here

WP, 888, BJR all with development programs with separate engine builders.. More $$

[Umai Naa]

I know what you're driving at.

The idea of multiple engine builders over a single manufacturer probably should go, if they're interested in cost containment.

Would be a lot easier to manage from a parity perspective.

[one five five]

Originally Posted by Just Do It!

Anyone who tries to change that opens the series to competitive advantage and potentially devalues the contractually obligated/devised from following suit.

Isn't that called motor racing?

Originally Posted by Umai Naa

I know what you're driving at.

The idea of multiple engine builders over a single manufacturer probably should go, if they're interested in cost containment.

Would be a lot easier to manage from a parity perspective.

Doing that might save some money but it also further removes the 'motor racing' contest from the V8Supercar entertainment show.