Sad news or not surprising? Perhaps both.
As fuel emissions standards become stricter and battery-electric powertrain technologies become more common and less expensive, there seems to be one consistent victim within mainstream automakers, the V8 engine. According to Car and Driver, another major automaker has decided it's time to permanently retire the V8 and that brand is Genesis. Hyundai's new luxury brand has confirmed it will drop its highly regarded Tau 5.0-liter V8 currently offered in both the G80 and G90 luxury sedans. The redesigned G80 is due to arrive this September, sans V8.
"The G80 range will be topped off by the V6," Genesis CEO Manfred Fitzgerald confirmed to Car and Driver. "We will have a brand-new G80 coming out this September in Korea and subsequently on global markets. With that car, you will see the next evolution of our design language."
That design language has already been previewed with 2016's New York concept (pictured above). There was earlier speculation the upcoming Genesis GV80 SUV would have V8 power, but that will definitely not be happening now. Meanwhile, the G90 has just received a significant facelift and will, therefore, keep the V8 for another few model years. However, once that last batch of G90s is sold, that'll be it for the Tau V8.
Fitzgerald made clear the Tau V8 will not be upgraded with, say, turbochargers or a hybrid boost system. "We really have to pay close attention to markets and legislation and hedge our bets" he added. "Don't expect another evolution of the V8."
The new G90 is already on sale in Korea and its naturally aspirated V8 produces a respectable 420 hp. The Tau V8 made its debut on the then first generation Hyundai Genesis in 2011. It has been updated since then but Genesis and its Hyundai parent company feel its time is about up.
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