[DETON8R]

Interesting innovations, nothing really new though. Direct fuel injection into the combustion chamber, which looks to be the reason for the piston head re-design. Cylinder deactivation seems to have been figured out, so nice for the fuel economy, and the Variable Valve Timing helps adjust the Hp vs Torque ratios, and again helps fuel economy. All really cool stuff for automotive engineers and someone that likes to buy a new car and drive the crap out of it......... What about the folks that want to tinker and improve beyond just an engine swap and a GMPP Engine controller?

I didn't see GM tooting their horn that they have produced this new engine and the cost will be significantly less to produce and has extended longevity making its value to the customer substantially greater. Nor was some other breakthrough announced that would make me change my direction in my project build. Innovation is good, not sure I want to pay for innovation at the front end for what I want.

All these innovations are improving fuel economy, driveability and reliability. Awesome, great news from Detroit!! They are raising the bar again!! I'm not sure that these innovations will trickle down into the Hot Rod industry any time soon. The Gen III/IV engines were available for several years and a few people with very technical expertise and proficiency were able to use these for the first 5 to 8 years before they were ever really "retooled" and made available for the average person to install in their hot rods. The fact that there is a ready market for these Gen V engines and there already is a line of business at GM to market these engines to the hot rod community means that this might be available in 3 to 5 years and be competitive with current Gen III/IV options.

I'm not holding my breath, and I'm going to run an LS1. Sure I could open my wallet and get a better LS3, LS7 or an LSX, but why?? I will seldom use the engine to its full potential, and I will have the power, performance, weight savings and driveability of the Gen III engine, which isn't that much different than what the Gen V will offer. All I wanted was a modern handling car, with a modern engine and transmission wrapped in classic iron, and an ability to say I did that myself. For now the Gen V engine just puts a bigger price tag on the engine, and limits the options to modify the power plant. In the future, who knows what will be available and what that engine package will do, but for now it just looks like extra cost for minimal gains in power.