Are V8 Engines a Dying Breed?

Are we seeing the end of V8 engines in the automotive world? The push for electric vehicles to run in silence signals the end of these iconic engines.

For decades, a V8 under the hoof of a muscle car meant sheer, raw, unaltered power. Before automakers began squeezing more power with the use of turbocharging, supercharging, or hybrid systems, these powerful cars showed up and offered all the muscle we desired. Today, we’re seeing the end of an era with V8s heading the way of the dinosaur and on the road to extinction.

As each new model changes generations, more V8s are lost

Some automakers might hold onto these eight-cylinder engines for longer than others. GM recently announced continued development and investment in these engines, but they seem to be an outlier. Toyota switched to turbocharged V6 engines as soon as the 2022 model of the Tundra arrived for its new generation. More and more, we see cars without eight-cylinder engines that had them before. Although we lament this change, we can’t really argue with the results. Toyota trucks now have more power than they did with the V8s under the hood.

The final victim could be the Hellcat engine

The 6.2-liter supercharged Hemi V8 that resides under every Stellantis vehicle with a Hellcat-derived name could be the last to go. Of course, that might not entirely be the case with GM’s investment, but the next few years will tell the tale. We’ve already seen the final celebrations of the Dodge Challenger and Charger muscle cars that use the Hellcat engine, but a few other models, including the Ram 1500 TRX, might not go as loudly into the goodnight. It will be interesting to see which V8 is the last to go.

Why are V8s dying?

Unfortunately, these large engines aren’t as efficient, light, or as environmentally friendly as their smaller counterparts. Smaller, more efficient four and six-cylinder engines with turbocharging have become more powerful and more useful. As the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards tighten, automakers must delete the engines that don’t help them meet these standards. Unfortunately, that means the small-block V8s will be gone before you know it. Some vehicles that have traditionally used V8s will move to an electric-only layout, which is a huge change from the norm for many drivers. Unfortunately, V8s are dying.

Is this change a sudden move?

The movement away from V8 engines isn’t anything new at all. You might not realize this, but this movement began as far back as the first fuel crisis in 1973. When this happened, consumers began looking for more efficient vehicles to carry their families around. No longer were shoppers searching for the big family wagon or sedan with the massive V8 in the front. They wanted more efficient cars that wouldn’t require as much gas to operate. From this first fuel crisis, automakers have turned toward more efficiency in the search for the right blend, and V8s have been dying out ever since.

More electrics and fewer V8s

Since that first fuel crisis, every time gas prices jumped to higher prices; consumers went running to find the next most efficient vehicle they could. Along came the hybrids, led by the Toyota Prius, to show us that an electric motor could make things even more efficient. The tiny engine and small electric motor made it easy for some drivers to avoid the gas pump for several weeks, which was a relief for them. Unfortunately for the V8s, this means they were on the shelf collecting dust.

Electric vehicles spell the end for V8 engines

It should come as no surprise that the movement toward fully electric vehicles in the auto market will eventually spell the end of V8s altogether. Hybrid vehicles, even trucks, utilize V6 engines or small four-cylinder models, which means they don’t need eight cylinders for power. Some automakers have already moved away from these big engines in favor of more efficient small modes. As we see more EVs hit the market and world governments require automakers to sell higher percentages of EVs each year, we will eventually see the end of an era and will no longer have V8s in the mix.

The only vehicles that haven’t been impacted by this change thus far are heavy-duty trucks, but they are on the list and could eventually lose their gas and diesel engines in favor of cleaner models that meet new industry standards.