Cool Viper Engine Ideas

Source: enginelabs

As I learned last year, Fiat Chrysler killed the SRT car brand--leaving the one of a kind Viper back to its Dodge division.

So what?

Well, Automotive News announced last week through their Web site that the UAW union voted on not continuing to produce the Viper after 2017.

So, a replacement then? Or something? Anything?

No. No replacement for the V-10 powered sports car.

After first being introduced at an auto show by Carroll Shelby in 1989, the car began production not entirely long after in 1992. It ran steady until 2010, after Chrysler basically got divorced and screwed over by Mercedes-Benz's parent company, then picking back up again for 2013.

Other than its Dodge Ram-based, Lamborghini-modified V-10 engine, the car never really took off. Here, I would love to include some fun engine ideas for the car as a Last Hurrah of sorts.

1. current Supercharged "Hellcat" V-8. Output: 707 horses

The Hellcat 6.2 is a mean but logical engine that is probably a lot cheaper to build than the Viper's literally unique, variable timing V-10 engine. It even eclipses

2. Base 6.4 liter Hemi. Output: 485 horses

Well, the mighty SRT Hemi engine from the Challenger, Charger and Grand Cherokee I also thought would be an excellent idea for under the hood. Cheap, too!

3. Pentastar 3.6-liter V-6, fully modified, turbos, direct injection, variable valve timing lift and control

Ok, so this engine does not really exist. But it would be frugal, interesting, and probably make it competitive something like the $80,000 Mercedes-Benz SL400, which as a base car, also has a twin turbo V-6.

Volvo T6 four cylinder nabs Wards Engines

Volvo T6 wins Wards Engine Award

By Zach Filtz for BOTFG

Posted 7 January 2016

For those of you who think your classic BMW straight-six is the royalty of premium cars, Volvo has put your mindsets on high alert. Volvo Cars’ T6 Drive-E engine has been named one of Ward’s 10 Best Engines.

Editors called it “arguably the new benchmark for high-output 4-cyl engines.”

For those unfamiliar with Volvo Car’s engine, the T6 Drive-E is a lightweight 4 cylinder engine that uses both a turbocharger and a supercharger to not only boost power, but to bring up its gas mileage. In other words, a performance and environmentalist’s dream brought to reality.

The T6 Drive-E engine can be found in the all-new XC90 SUV and S90 luxury sedan, which has not started production.

“Achieving an effective level of balance across comfort, efficiency and power has been the ultimate goal for our creation of the Drive-E engine family across our global model range,” said Michael Fleiss, Vice President of Powertrain at Volvo Car Group.

“The T6 Drive-E’s use of both supercharging and turbocharging, which is also being utilized in the new XC90, delivers a lively, compelling result,” Fleiss said.

WardsAuto editors selected the winners after spending October and November studying and driving all 31 nominees. There is no instrumented testing for their competition, per se. 

Editors score each engine based on horsepower, torque, comparative specs, noise attenuation, fuel economy and the application of new technology. The guiding principles: Does the engine or electric propulsion system truly sell the car or raise the bar for its competitive set?

While this is not an enthusiast-minded engine, it does produce a healthy 316 horsepower.

While the T6 has won the award now, this raises the question if the new T8 Drive-E—a super-hybrid powered version of the T6—would also win the Hybrid category for engines.

Truck choice post! Chevy or Chevy!

Hello, Filtz Guy car blog readers! As always, thanks for reading.

I have not been paying as much attention to this blog in recent months, because I had (past tense) picked up a blogging gig with another site.

Without further adieu, I have a truck choice for you: Chevy trucks against each other!

I am sure it is no secret that, since the full-size Silverado 1500 USA market truck was redesigned for the 2014 model year, Chevrolet upgraded their big V-6 all the way to 285 horsepower. That is quite a bit for a basic engine, thanks to all the technical doodads and new injection system that the engine received.

Credit: edmunds.com

And of course, Chevrolet brought back the Colorado back with 305 horsepower and $34,000, which is only a few thousand away when you compare it to fairly base Silverado V-6 (at $31,000 long bed 4x4). Check out the trucks!

What is your favorite Chevy truck--midsize or full-size?