Best 8 cylinder engine in the world

So you want something more relevant. Ok.

Mercedes Benz E55 5.4L V8 Fuel Consumption - 13.1L/100Km CO2 - 314gm/km power - 350kw torque - 700Nm Weight - 1800kg
HSV Clubsport R8 6.0L V8 Fuel Consumption - 15.2L/100Km CO2 - 324gm/km power - 297 torque - 530Nm Weight - 1700kg

Now, the 5.4 in the MB has a hell of a lot of aftermarket support, look at Brabus, Kleemann and Koenig to name just a few and see how many off the shelf items they have for this engine. For costs, look at the cars in their home market. The E class occupies the same position in Germany as the HSV R8 does here in terms of both cost and target audience. The only reason an MB E55 costs so much here is that it is imported for the EU where the Euro shits all over our dollar and because it is marketed as a luxury car. Over there, they are family hacks and taxis. The E55 has only 1 more ratio in its gearbox - seems pretty well on par to me. Yes, the E55 is supercharged but that doesn't make the comparison irrelevant. It still makes more power and more torque while using less fuel and putting out fewer nasties. It's also a of a comparable physical size to the LS2 which is, by the way, the hand built pinicle of small block motors in the same way the the AMG 5.4L in the MB is.

And don't insult me by saying I'm preaching and telling me I should drive a prius or ride the bus, that makes you look dumb, not me. I'm looking at the concept of a good engine from all standpoints, not just from the hardcore tuner's standpoint. Why do you think the LS1 and LS2 have never won a gong from the annual Engine Of The Year awards, could it be because the judges are doing the same?

from that pearler, i've established that you don't actually read what you're responding to. unless those figures were made on an engine dyno, they mean diddly squat in this discussion. one last time- car economy and efficiency testing has too many variables to give any conclusive evidence as to which motor is more or less efficient. let alone which one is better...

the engine of the year award is a big fuss over nothing. basically, a bunch of motoring hacks get together and vote on what they think constitutes the best of the new motors. sorry, but i find those sorts of awards very hard to take seriously. they're basically good for a read and show nothing of the potential and/or limitations of any of the motors. i guess it's fine as a guide for people interested in how things are when they leave the factory.

as for insults- people who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones. you can expect to recieve thinly veiled insults when you start pontificating about responsibilities towards emissions. if you hadn't implied that i am in some way irresponsible for having a soft spot for pushrod v8's, i'd never have pointed out that using your logic, you were irresponsible for not relying on public transport.

to think, all this started because i dared say that the ls1 and ls2 motors were actually good things. in fact, i'm not even trying to say that they're superior, to ohc designs, i'm just pointing out that they should not be written off as inferior when they do present some compelling advantages for v-configured motors.

edit-> i should probably add that i am talking about these motors as a building block for performance applications, although i think that was clear from the beginning. what that means is taking the basic unit, and giving someone a free reign with modification and applications... i'll never really be one to look at a motor "from all standpoints" as i find them in their factory state to be totally boring.

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Oh, and all hail the V8 Hemi in the Chrysler 300C. It has 'Variable Displacement' as every big capacity engine should. It shuts down 2 or 4 cylinders when the demands on the engine are low to save fuel and cut emissions.. one of the few 8s to meet and exceed euro 4 emissions standards.

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Sorry to bring up old threads but the Hemi V8 engine in the Chrysler is not really a hemispherical engine.
http://www.automobilemag.com/news/04...ad_old_800.jpg
Half of an original Hemi cylinder head - note the dome-shaped chamber and relatively great depth.

http://www.automobilemag.com/news/04...ad_new_800.jpg
5.7-liter Hemi Magnum V-8 cylinder head - nothing hemispherical about it. Note the irregular shape.

On another note Holden will introduce their new 6L pushrod V8 next year (gen 4 - which inculdes the LS2), this replaces the older gen 3 engines like the LS1. Base trim for the new holden engine would be 260kw and 510Nm. This engine would also have VVT and also DOD technology (Displacement on Demand). From what I heard this engine along with a new 6sp transmission would be over 7% more economical and also 7% more powerful than the outgoing model.

German engineering vs Australian pushrod engineering.
I know which one i'd be putting my money on ;)

The gen 4 engines i.e. ls2 found in holdens and HSV's are one of the best engines, I would not say the best. Ill just put in some pros:
1) light (about as light as an MX5 engine)
2) small and compact (again around the same size as an MX5 engine)
3) powerful ls2 are around 297kw stock
4) economical for the power and torque it produces
5) parts are widely and cheaply available
6) less parts than other engines
and 7) can be made cheaply - better for the consumers $$$$$$$$.

sorry to burst your bubble.. but they are made cheaply as well.

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German engineering vs Australian pushrod engineering.
I know which one i'd be putting my money on

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The germans are good at engines, no doubt about that.

However lets look at it from a buyers perspective:
aust cars are cheaper, more parts (performance or otherwise), more mechanics (better rates), reliable, comfortable and powerful.

Also do you know that Holden supplies engines to SAAB. Holden supplies their 2.8L engine delivering 250 horsepower at 5500 rpm and 258 lb-ft of torque from 1800 – 4500 rpm. This particular engine was also rated as one of the 10 best engines for 2006 (Wards Communications). Holden has also designed a word class chassis (Zeta or VE), look for the upcoming commodore. In addition Holden is now GM's centre of R&D for RWD medium to large cars as well as having the third largest design facility in GM (arguably one of the top 3 auto company in the world).

I think you are biased and too emotionally attached with Holdens mate.

The original subject was entitle "Best V8 engine in the world"
As it was ironically posted by a Holden owner and driver, his intentions for posting such a thread could be considered ironic and possibly as light humour for our Honda community.

I have driven many Holdens, HSV's and alike and i recall a new Statesman we borrowed for a road trip from Canberra to Batemans Bay recently. The aircon garnishes fell off, some other interior cosmetics were loose and on one occasion, a bonet release lever snapped off in our hands. Yes this car was only a few months old and to me thats Holden. But this thread is about Engines - not car makes ;)

Holdens engine knowledge is not holdens knowledge

it's scooped from the yanks aka GM
Holden has improved alot compared to 10 years ago.
but still holden has alot to learn.
holden is up against big international manufacturers that supply there products to the world.
whilst holdens main makret is it's local market.

ls1,2,3,4's or what ever will be are good engines. but there are better engines out there.
so i think it is pretty useless to argue about it...

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sorry to burst your bubble.. but they are made cheaply as well.

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Name me another engine that can easily handle over 6-700hp stock, that has as much development and ## running over 1000hp.

this is from another forum (a gto forum), from peter (aps) himself

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You might be right about that though the drive train has proven to be more robust that first thought. Here's a power and torque graph of the LS2 twin turbo, hope you enjoy. Now at 530 WHP at 6.5 psi, more power to come in the near future.

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http://www.airpowersystems.com.au/ls...hp_power_t.gif
They were also using the stock tires and engine just to test its limits.

This number has since been surpassed their LS2 has now showen to be capable of a 10.29 @133 quarter mile and delivers 615RWHP or 460RWKW, just from the twin turbo.

Many guys in america (gto owners) and australia have both bored out engines and turbo kits on their cars producing way over 700hp.

OK have a look at the top drag cars in the world, many of those use the LSx engine i.e. vette, camaro, TA, GTO and basically all holden V8s. Also have a look at the fastest production cars around the nuremberg track in germany, one of those stands out from the rest (the Zo6 C6 corvette). Not only is the car one of the fastest but was also one of the few non racecar/supercar and one of the cheapest. The vette z06 uses the LS7 engine (prob used by the next HSV GTS) and stock form produces over 500hp and low 11sec quarter.

Get it right it's Chevy V8 not Holden V8

and theres more to a fast car than an engine

and also some of the best drag cars a 6 cylinders
and the best 8 is the toyota V8 twin turbo soarer

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I think you are biased and too emotionally attached with Holdens mate.

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In some ways I am :) but im also very attached to my jap cars especially my 300zxTT.

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ls1,2,3,4's or what ever will be are good engines. but there are better engines out there.
so i think it is pretty useless to argue about it...

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I agree with you, they are up against larger companies with better exporting capabilities and some with even better engines and manufacturing procedures. However I dont agree with the common theme of Holdens = cr@p, low quality blah blah blah. Everyone has differing experiences with local products. Personally my ford and holden cars have been the more reliable (still running strong with my holden well over 500,000 km on the clock), while my nissans and toyotas (sold the toyota already but still have a soft spot) have required more maintainance.

Also note that holden now owns daewoo and have just started to design them (current cars are still daewoo). Have a look at the s3X, or as some people have called it, the sex car. The zeta platform holden designed will be used throughout the world and uses similar suspension to top BMW's.