[Number 3]

Originally Posted by syr74

Then prepare to be shocked, because a V-6 is currently in the cards. I think the hangup here is when people assume that a turbo four would have to replace rather than supplement a big six. Think about it; even a lightly revised, direct injection 3.7L is going to be an easy 325hp car and should knock down at least 30mpg highway without much fuss. Still good fuel economy without doubt, but the standout feature here is that the car would be a real scorcher in terms of performance. A Fusion so equipped would be a high 13 second car almost without question.

A 2.0L EB could be in the 245hp range or so and deliver fuel economy in the mid to high 30's while still giving a very good feeling of power due to the flat torque curve these low pressure engines put out. It wouldn't be as fast as the V-6, but it would still be quite a bit more fleet of foot than the base I-4 and would deliver virtually the same fuel economy as that base I-4.

This would present a scenario where Ford tries to bookend the majority of the competition. The answer to the strategy being 'yeah, our 3.7L doesn't quite knock down the same fuel economy as their turbo fours, but it spanks them all is as smooth as glass and still gets better than 30mpg highway. And of course, if fuel economy is really what you are worried about try our 2.0L EB which isn't quite as stout as their turbo fours but which is still plenty punchy and which knocks down better fuel economy than any of them'.

Would such an approach be 'better' than just going with a turbo four that splits the difference between those two approaches? I think the market will answer that for us, but without doubt it's going to be an interesting fight.The advantages to GM's approach are simplicity, simplicity, and simplicity. I may be going overboard here but I learned all too well that, when you make something more complicated, you had better be very, very right regarding your assumptions. Without doubt, if Ford follows through with the V-6, they are taking more of a gamble than is GM. In contrast I think GM is, to a lesser extent, gambling that there isn't as much variety in wants here, and that the majority of folks who want more power still really want much better fuel economy than a six can provide as well. The nice thing to see there is that there is some obvious logic to their strategy, and when you couple that with the fact that the next Malibu appears to be a real looker it can only serve to help GM and the US auto industry in general.

Sadly, the market is going to have very little say as we move forward. CAFE will determine what powertrain choices you have, not the price of gas or even your willingness to pay. The Buick Regal without a V6 represents the new world order.