Our Two Cents: Vehicles That Never Got the Engine They Deserved
What vehicle never got the engine it deserved? That’s the question we asked the staff here at Hagerty Media. Our love of cars goes back decades, or centuries if you combined us into one superhero of an automotive journalist, and we’ve all wondered how much better certain cars would be if they had a different engine …
… Or a better engine, something that truly spoke to the rest of the car. Let’s see what alternate realities we have created!
A Standard V-8 for Every Cadillac
For me, it’s the fact that all Cadillac cars (cars—Escalade excluded) from the last 20 or so years lack a standard V-8 engine. GM has an excellent LS motor, and a baby Caddy with a modest 4.8-liter small-block would give buyers more reason to avoid a thirsty BMW for a slightly more thirsty Caddy.
As the Caddy becomes larger, the V-8 engine follows suit (5.3-liter CTS, 6.2-liter CT-6, etc.) with increased displacement, and forced induction for the V-series examples. The inherent torque and simplicity of a pushrod V-8 complements the minimalist architecture of GM’s new EV powertrains, and exclusively pairing those two in a luxury car brand will make Cadillac more appealing than any of its competition. — Sajeev Mehta
As under-the-radar-good (and as mod-friendly) as the ATS-V’s LF4 V-6 is, I agree. After having spent over ten thousand miles with the smaller of the Alpha-chassis Caddys, the ATS should have gotten the 455-horse LT1 from the Camaro, and the ATS-V should have gotten the LT4. — Eddy Eckart
V-8 Bronco Raptor/ Ford GT
Ford Bronco Raptor. Lack of a V-8 is … yeaaaaah. For the record, I am fully aware that you can’t easily fit that V-8 into Ford’s T-6 frame. Actually, here’s the same opinion again: This also applies to the most recent Ford GT. — Matt Tuccillo
For sure, the Ford GT shoulda had a V-8. — Larry Webster
I think I’ll also jump on the Ford GT bandwagon, as I don’t care for the reasoning of why it got the EcoBoost V-6. That car deserved a V-8 based on heritage alone. – Greg Ingold
Yes, please! Kill the flying buttress, make room for a 900+ horsepower Coyote with a twin-screw supercharger. — Sajeev Mehta
V-8 Prowler
The Plymouth Prowler comes to mind. Chrysler Corporation came up with a car that was a modern nod to the classic hot rod but forgot the one factor that people want from a hot rod: A V-8 engine. You have to actively try to miss that detail. I don’t think anyone would’ve minded seeing a 318 Magnum out of a Ram pickup in the Prowler, as long as it came with eight cylinders. — Greg Ingold
Honda Motors in a Modern Lotus
Any modern-day Lotus fits in this category. They make do with Toyota engines but the chassis deserves the character of a Honda motor. — Larry Webster
Having a Lotus with a K-Series would be excellent! Totally agree with that take. — Greg Ingold
A Straight-Six SLK
Let’s not overlook the original Mercedes SLK. This folding-roof roadster needed Mercedes’ juicy and punchy 2.8-liter straight six. That supercharged four-cylinder engine was disappointing, and the manual gearbox was even worse. — Larry Webster
SHO-inental, If Only
I only thought of this car/engine combo since I yanked my 1989 Continental Signature Series out of storage. Turns out it needed new rubber, and tires from a 1989 Ford Taurus SHO are a smidge wider on the same-sized wheel. Getting a set of those and slapping a set of 1/4-inch spacers on the rear gave it a stance that I can’t stop looking at. And now, curiously, it’s getting a lot more compliments. Even the manager of a local burger joint stopped me from giving my order so he could compliment me on it.
He thought it was a Town Car, but that’s not the point. These moments get this Lincoln-restomodding fool thinking about one thing: Ford needed an automatic transmission ready for the Taurus SHO sooner, and should have slapped it all into the 1989 Continental. Such a tragedy! — Sajeev Mehta
Citroën DS
The Citroën DS was so unconventional and interesting that it’s easy to forget there was only ever an old-fashioned, underwhelming OHV four under the hood. The later SM got a Maserati V-6, but the DS was never so lucky. — Andrew Newton
The Sky Shoulda Been the Limit
GM flogged its Ecotec four-banger, and I know they made crazy power for drag racing. But I thought the Pontiac Solstice and Saturn Sky deserved a more refined motor. — Larry Webster
They needed an LS, maybe just a small-displacement 4.8-liter, to keep Chevrolet appeased with their Corvette’s dominance. But I am sure that was discussed in some conference room at GM, and it was quickly shot down. — Sajeev Mehta
Hagerty Gang – please, oh please don’t combine yourselves into “into one superhero of an automotive journalist”! I love you all as your individual selves, with all of your individual tastes, experiences, viewpoints, and writing styles. You’re all individual parts of the Hagerty Superhero Universe and are much better as such than rolled into one.
My vote goes to the Fiat 850 Sedan – why that thing never got an 850 cubic inch engine is beyond me! 😁
The GM Kappa cars should have had the 2.0 Turbo standard. The V8 would never happen due to the Corvette.
Mallet made the LS available and it was expensive so not sure it was really going to do well.
Solstice/Sky could have had the contemporary “High Value” LZ9 3.9L V6 as well to keep it a rung down from the Corvette.
Well that would have been more weight and the Turbo with the GM performance tune could put out 300 HP and 345 FT LBS.
I drove that tune daily for 10 years and 23 PSI of boost.
The HV was a 3.6 like I have in my truck. Ok engine with no bottom end. Make power only from 3000 RPM up. The 2.0 would make full torque below 2000 RPM.
The Fiero really didn’t get the engine it deserved, even with the upgraded engine it finally received. Build issues aside, the DMC-12 deserved a small displacement V8, and (hear me out) the Pacer might not be disparaged so much if it had actually received the motor planned for it. When GM stiffed them for a rotary, they should have approached Mazda. I can’t agree on putting a V8 in the Ford GT, as it was designed as a performer and the EcoBoost 6 is more than adequate, for size, weight, and output.
The Fiero needed a better engine but at the time there really was not many great small engines at GM. The V8 was tested but Chevy killed it. They did play with a 2.9 Turbo but in todays numbers it was not powerful. If the 3800 SC was around 10 years sooner.
The Delorean just needed a better small engine V8 weight sticking that far out back is not good for handling
The Ford GM needed an Update of a SC V8 for the price they were charging.
There were many cars in history that could and should have had better engines. But supply and the time the car was built often played a big roll. Most of the cars of the early 80’s had really bad engines but it was all about MPG then and FI was just getting into some cars.
Then we saw engines that could and should have been better. Like the Olds Quad 4. The Cadillac DOHC V8, the Ford OHC V8 engines and just about most V6 engines till the 90’s. Only the Buick Turbo got it right but it took years in 1985 when they finally used a water cooled turbo.