The V8 Is Coming Back!

Issue #121

Happy Saturday!

The V8 is back, and today, we're explaining what happened. Plus, is the Celica making a comeback?

Market News

• A cargo ship carrying EVs catches fire. It's a crisis that shows one particular weakness of EVs.

• We discussed how Toyota could cannibalize its market share. Well, it's happening with these two models. 

• Ford and GM want to break up with China and produce this critical component by themselves.

• This was once Volkswagen's iconic car. Now, it's fading away. Here's why.

• Speaking of Volkswagen, it has partnered with Rivian, but many myths are going around. Here's the truth.

• The Stellantis design boss says Chrysler isn't going away. Instead, it's coming with a bang. Here's what he means.

• Honda killed off this iconic car in Europe, another victim of EU regulations.

• Hyundai is facing a massive class action lawsuit. Here are the details.

• This Japanese automaker is making strides in the US but had bad sales in May. 

• Here's how much a Fisker Ocean depreciates. Ouch.

Safety and Recalls

• Another week, another Ford recall. This time, almost 500,000 Explorers are recalled for this reason. 

• Kia recalls more than 80,000 vehicles for this reason.

• Mazda recalls more than 183,000 cars for these two issues.

Car Culture

• Is the Toyota Celica making a comeback? Here's everything to know!

• These are the best cars for short people.

• Is Tesla more about Musk than the cars themselves? Check out what this industry expert says. 

• Cars keep tumbling down this parking lot in San Diego.

• This is the most powerful SUV in the market, and the brand might surprise you.

• European regulations have killed fun cars. Here's what we mean.

• Do you feel all EVs look the same inside? You're not alone, and here's why it happens.

• Could Mitsubishi's iconic Ralliart make a comeback?

• This mystery in Texas baffles authorities as 10 cars are found in a lake. 

• The 90s were great for Toyota, but how did its sports cars rank by power? Here's the list.

Video Of The Week

Here's what it takes to repair an Audi R8 project car and what you can learn from this build.

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In The Know

The V8 arises from the ashes. 

Not long ago, the V8 engine, the epitome of American automotive engineering, was as good as dead. The cause of death was no single factor but rather a combination of forces too strong for the V8 to contend with. 

For one, the V8 engine isn't the cheapest to build nor the easiest to fit into a car. Not only that, but emission regulations pressured automakers to aim for fuel economy and efficiency instead of performance. These weren't the V8's strongest points. 

The straw that broke the camel's back was a relentless effort to electrify automakers, or at least, transition towards 50% of their fleet being electric. The battle was too lopsided and, one by one, automakers began ditching the V8. 

However, the transition didn't go unnoticed. Industry members and car fans alike criticized the V8's death, with this CEO even calling the move "anti-American."

There was little we could do other than hold on to our V8s if we had them or pay the big bucks for the extremely few new cars that came with this engine. 

One that hit us particularly close to home was Toyota, which ditched the V8 in 2022, as this article remembers. 

To make matters worse, the replacement engine hasn't really lived up to the previous powerplant's expectations. Check out Kern’s opinions on the new Sequoia.  

Ironically, you can still buy a Toyota V8 (kind of). These are the last V8 sedans from Japan, and you can have one. Still, they're becoming increasingly more expensive, so you better hurry. 

They're going to disappear soon. For now. 

Why do we say, "for now"?

There's light at the end of the tunnel for V8 engines, and the news has honestly surprised us. If you've been following this newsletter, you might know that the automotive industry has been upside down in the past two years. 

RAM has just announced that the V8 lives on, as it will offer the RAM 1500 with a V8 Hemi once again for the 2026 model year and, of course, for an additional fee. This is not a bad move by RAM, as it's likely to increase the brand's presence, all the while also offering the 6-cylinder counterparts. 

The very same CEO who said ditching the V8 was un-American recognized that doing so was a big mistake. Here's more on that. 

RAM is responding to many market changes. 

As the government is rolling back EV incentives, emissions regulations, and other aspects, automakers find themselves in a favorable position to produce gasoline engines. This was unheard of a few years back, but times have changed. 

This isn't the only automaker doing this. General Motors has been navigating tough waters with its V8 engines. However, it's still investing nearly $1 billion to keep producing and redesigning its iconic small-block V8. Here’s more on the news. 

If you're a V8 fan, these are exciting times indeed. We might not be returning to the 60s, but there's no doubt that the V8 will live on for a few more years.

Who knows? Perhaps other companies will also sell them. You might end up with something like this.