Green Daily

2007 saw energy prices (like gasoline) climb to all-time recent highs along with food prices increasing and the overall inflation rate being the highest in 17 years. Consumers are becoming more skittish with their money and compact cars are selling at a rapid clip compared to gas-guzzling SUVs.

The penchant Americans have for the muscular V8 engine could b e waning as a result. Detroit's large three automakers are making smaller engines and promoting alternative fuels and propulsion methods (like electric vehicles) at an unprecedented rate. Is the gas-hogging V8 engine doomed after many decades as the showpiece for horsepower in the domestic vehicle market? Perhaps.

There will be a need for V8-powered vehicles for quite a while in my opinion, but over the short-term, the engine design may be used in an ever-decreasing amount of vehicles. Normally, larger cars, trucks and full-size SUVs contain these larger V8 engines. Customer sentiment for lower gas costs, though, will probably overpower horsepower bragging rights to your neighbor.

Ford's recent CEO and current chairman, Bill Ford, Jr., even said that "It's pretty clear that the V-8 is on its way out of the mainstream." Add that to the fact GM recently canceled a $300 million V8 development project, and large engines may never return to the American consumer vehicle market in any large way.