The new fwd v8 cars from GM (impala SS, bonneville GXP, monte carlo something or other I think) are really just novelty cars. It's a good 5.3L 300hp v8 coupled to a very weak automatic transmission and crippled by the computer so as to not blow up the transmission. You do get 300hp, you do get the v8 rumble, but the performance numbers are just not where they should be for a 300hp car of that weight. The displacement on demand cylinder deactication works as advertised and returns pretty decent highway mileage. They should have used the northstar 4T80 trans or sourced a different automatic, but from what I've heard from an inside source at GM, the project did not have the funding to change the transmission, which involves major changes to the chassis.
Pushrods don't exist in modern performance V8 engines either, real car manufacturers use overhead cam technology. GM tried that with the ZR-1 Corvette with great results, but somehow they must've forgotten about it. Get a Ford.
Oh boy, we could debate this one for days. I'd argue the opposite, that for street vehicles a 2-valve engine is perfectly adequate for all but the highest end of sports cars. GM has done some really excellent work in airflow of 2-valve heads and their recent engines are good performing, reliable, and friendly (from an NVH standpoint) engines. Pushrod engines are simple, cheaper to make, cheaper to service, and with proper head and camshaft design can have excellent performance. >2 valve per head engines have lots of extra complication. Ford's new 3 valve 5.4L v8 is a good example, they're having tons of problems with it. Can't even change the spark plugs without removing the heads cause they break off when you try to take them out. Nice.
