Topic: Should full size luxury vehicles get V6s?

[JSCC]

300HP A8 3.6L V6/ 3.0L V6 supercharged
300HP 735i 3.0L I6 turbocharged
300HP S350 3.5L V6
300HP LS350 3.5L V6

Any worthwhile business cases up there?
The previous generation V8s in these vehicles had around only 300HP if not less.
Is putting a V6 in these vehicles really that much of an image breaker?

I am sure a lot of customers would like the size and comfort of these vehicles but don't need the 350HP+ power.

[rrocket]

You have to remember though...many of these cars put on the pork since their first/2nd gen designs with 300HP.  In addition, the TQ of the V8 is important to consider instead of outright HP.

That said, I drove a GS350 AWD and it flat out hauled (0-60 in 5.3 to 4.9 depending on which magazine).  I'd be perfectly content in one of those.

[initial_D]

Big V8s are one reason to justify the big asking prices of those cars. people spending $60,000+ on a car don't usually worry about fuel mileage.

[JSCC]

The savings are in the cost of the vehicle when down sizing from V8 to V6 not the fuel cost.
$20K off MSRP? Starting at around $80K (V6) instead of $100K (V8)?

Most of these vehicles are driven in Downtown finacial districts anyways.
Is V8 torque really that import at the red lights?

[initial_D]

I don't see the purpose of lowering the prices. When people are buying them, why make less money?

[JSCC]

Not less money, but lower entry prices with similar % markups.

[HeliDriver]

It sure makes sense to me.

I've always found it funny that over in Germany you can buy a 7-Series or S-Class with a wimpy small six, but over here, only a big V8 is enough for our 110km/h-limited highways.

There may not be a business case for it, but I'm sure there's demand for a 730i or S350 over here. Might have to sell fake 750i and S600 badges to slap on the back of them, though. 

[tpl]

SirC it would be a 735 I expect with the 335 engine. Plenty of Torque and there is a 730D that they could bring in of course.

The only thing I'd worry about is that a lot of the current 90Degree V6s are not intrinsically smooth like a V8 or a straight 6

[Spheric]

What's the difference between an inline 6 and a V6 ? 

[tpl]

Balance.    Inline 6s are intrinsically in balance as are 60 deg V6s  but the more common 90 deg V6 ( made from V8 tooling usually)  needs balance shafts and a strange firing order to be in balance.

Equally important for manufacturers is that a V6 is a lot shorter than an inline 6 for a given capacity although it is wider.   The VW  VR6 engine being an exception... its is a sort of inline V6 and is short and narrow.

[Snowman]

I’m not overly concerned on the power train configuration as long as the power to weight ratio is adequate.

[tpl]

Me neither but real  Luxury Cars must be really smooth in operation .

[HeliDriver]

SirC it would be a 735 I expect with the 335 engine. Plenty of Torque and there is a 730D that they could bring in of course.

According to the BMW UK website, there is in fact a 730i with a 258HP gasoline engine. Torque is rated at 300 Newton Meters, however much that is. It does 0-62 in 7.8 seconds.

EDIT: Just did the conversion, and 300NM is only 221 lb*ft of torque.

[johngenx]

Once in a while when I took the MB in for service, they had to pull a car off the used lot for a service loaner.  On one occasion I had an S320, which is the S-Class chassis with the 3.2L six from the E-Class line.  What a car!!  It was massive inside and luxurious to a fault, but the chassis felt lighter and much more agile than the V-8 cars. (which I'd driven quite a few times at MBCA events)

Though it had "only" 228hp, it was still pretty quick and had I been an S-Class buyer and drove both the I-6 and V-8 versions, the I-6 would have come home with me.