While Nothing New for Mercedes-Benz, GM Looks Back to the Future to Improve Fuel Economy
Do you remember Cadillac's V-8-6-4 engine from the early 1980s? If it didn't show off the brand's forward thinking engineering skills it probably would be best to leave its memory hiding in some dark recess of automotive history as just another mechanical nightmare.
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| Although cars stalled in the middle of busy freeway traffic or while climbing steep hills, Cadillac's V-8-6-4 engine from the early 1980s was ahead of its time. (Photo: General Motors) |
The engine shut off fuel to specific cylinders when maximum power wasn't needed to curb usage, and then fed fuel to all cylinders when the driver got on the gas. While the idea was conceptually brilliant, technical gremlins made its execution less so and it was quickly discontinued.
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| With the advancements in computerized technology, Cadillac is giving its innovative cylinder deactivation system a second chance. (Photo: General Motors) |
But Cadillac's innovative cylinder deactivation system had merit, and now with today's reliable computerized technology this best-of-both-worlds combination of 4-cylinder fuel efficiency and V8 power is about to make a serious comeback.
GM is bringing its Delphi developed Displacement on Demand (DOD) system to market later this year, first in its gasoline powered pushrod and overhead cam (OHC) port-fuel-injected V8 engines, and then after in its midsize six-cylinder engines.