Articles by James Cleary

JD Power, the US-based industry analytics and consumer research specialist, has released its 2026 Initial Quality Study, a much-anticipated (and often feared) annual report looking at the way cars are built and how they operate.And despite a “sharp rise” in overall vehicle quality, this year’s study has highlighted connectivity as a significant stumbling block for manufacturers and consumers.As its name implies, the Initial Quality Study is based on responses from purchasers and lessees of new vehicles (this year 78,514 people) surveyed after 90 days of ownership.The quality audit is split into eight market segments and covers 10 categories - Multimedia, Features, controls & displays, Exterior, Interior, Driving assistance, Seats, Powertrain, Driving experience, Climate and Unspecified (unclassified gripes). Issues are rated according to Problems Per 100 vehicles (PP100).In 2026, fewer problems were cited across nine of the 10 categories, with Multimedia the exception, where “connectivity issues continue to strain customer experience with new-vehicle quality.”Introducing the report, JD Power Senior Director of Auto Benchmarking Frank Hanley said, “As more technology is introduced into vehicles, keeping the experience simple matters more than ever.“The biggest gains in quality come from features that are easy to use - simple controls, less-intrusive driver assistance and software that works the way customers expect.“When technology becomes too complicated, the likelihood of customers experiencing a problem rises considerably,” he said.The total number of reported problems with new vehicles improved to 175 PP100, down from 192 PP100 in 2025, which JD Power said is the best year-on-year improvement since 1997 and the fourth-best performance in the 40-year history of the survey.But Multimedia saw an increase of 1.4 PP100 in reported problems - typically issues with Android Auto/Apple CarPlay connectivity and touchscreen displays - for a total of 44.4 PP100 across mass market segments and 38.3 PP100 in the premium groupings.Porsche was the highest-ranking brand overall with an initial quality score of 138 PP100, ahead of Genesis (151 PP100) and Lexus (156 PP100).Toyota Motor Corporation’s Kyushu 1 plant in Japan, which manufactures the Lexus NX and Lexus UX, received the Platinum Plant Quality Award which is based on detected defects and malfunctions.

Chery has officially launched its Q small, pure-electric hatch in Thailand with pricing starting at the equivalent of around $20,400 and an introductory offer of roughly $19,500.Called QQ3 and priced from ¥68,920 (~$14,000) in the Chinese domestic market, the value-focused small EV will be offered across three tiers in Thailand - the entry-grade Qlick referenced above, mid-level Qool (~$21,700) and top-spec Quint (~$22,500).All but confirmed for local sale, the rear-motor, rear-wheel drive city car has regularly been spotted testing in Australia with CarsGuide invited to a preview drive in China only last month.And if Australian pricing is even close to the Thai Q line-up it will throw a ferocious cat amongst the EV pigeons, undercutting the current electric car price leader, BYD’s Atto 1 Essential at $23,990, before-on-road costs.In China, two powertrains are available – one with 58kW/90Nm and another producing 90kW/115Nm, the latter offered in Thailand, the first confirmed export market for the latest iteration of the car.Again, there are two LFP (Lithium Iron Phosphate) battery options in China, rated at 29.5kWh and 41.3kWh, respectively, but it’s the bigger pack only for Thailand, with range quoted at 400 km (NEDC).It’s safe to assume Australia would follow the Thai market battery and powertrain template.Measuring just under 4.2m long, a fraction more than 1.8m wide and close to 1.6m tall, the Q is shorter (-95mm) but wider (+41mm) than the BYD Dolphin while riding on an identical 2700mm wheelbase.DC fast charging at 85kW translates to a 30-80 per cent fill in 16.5 minutes with 6.6kW AC charging capability onboard. The car is also V2L (vehicle-to-load) capable.Boot capacity is a useful 375 litres with the rear seat upright and an impressive 1450L with it folded. A front boot adds another 70 litres and there’s a 35-litre compartment tucked under the rear seats.The Q is underpinned by Chery’s ‘T12’ battery-electric platform and rides on a strut front multi-link rear suspension set-up with disc brakes all around (ventilated at the front).Equipment highlights on upper grades for the Thai market include auto LED headlights and LED tail-lights, an 8.9-inch instrument display, 15.6-inch multimedia touchscreen, dual-zone climate-control and wireless device charging as well as an electric front boot lid and tailgate.The flagship Q Quint picks up 17-inch alloy rims, ambient lighting, voice recognition, six-speaker audio, auto-parking, a powered driver’s seat and front proximity sensors.Safety includes up to 10 airbags and a suite of 21 ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems) functions including AEB, adaptive cruise, rear cross-traffic alert and automatic parking assist.Interestingly, Thai introductory pricing for the Q includes an eight-year/200,000 km warranty (seven-year/unlimited km in Australia), a lifetime high-voltage battery warranty (eight-year/unlimited km in Oz), five years’ 24-hour roadside assistance (up to seven years conditional here), a year’s “free insurance”, an AC portable charger and a carpet set.When contacted for comment on the car’s likelihood for Australian sale a Chery spokesperson told CarsGuide, “There’s a lot of interest around the Chery QQ3, but at this stage it is not confirmed for Australia.“However, a number of international models are currently under consideration for the local market,” they said.Stay tuned.

You know things are getting serious when a US pick-up style ute’s towing capacity reaches the 8.0-tonne mark.And that’s exactly what’s happened with the introduction of a factory 5th Wheel Hitch option for the MY26 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD.The new feature will be available from Q3 2026 build, offering the choice of a 50mm pin coupling or a 3.0-inch ‘gooseball’.As the name implies, a pin coupling uses a solid vertical pin and is best suited to off-road or agricultural towing, while a gooseneck ball uses a large, heavy-duty ball-and-socket connection in the load bed and is more appropriate for large on-road trailers.The package incorporates a factory air brake system “specifically designed, tested and installed as an integrated package.”It includes a chassis structure and bed attachment plate, added trailer connectors at the front of the load bed, trailer brake airlines and additional interior controls and warning lights for the driver.Once the 5th Wheel Hitch option box is ticked its installation will be included in the Silverado’s local left- to right-hand drive remanufacturing process and covered by GM’s five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty but is not available for purchase separately.Launching the option, GM Australia and New Zealand Managing Director Jess Bala said, “The new Genuine 5th Wheel Hitch option expands what Silverado 2500 can already do, while preserving the premium refinement and heavy-duty performance they expect from the vehicle.”It’s worth noting an 8000kg towing capacity means Silverado’s fitted with the fifth wheel will be NB2-certified so specific licensing requirements apply, and GMSV advises prospective buyers to check in with their relevant state or territory roads authority for further details.Pricing

Renault has introduced an updated version of its pure-electric Megane E-Tech SUV with the aim of delivering “more character, dynamism and technology”.Launched globally in 2022, the Megane EV didn’t hit the local market until early 2024, so while it may feel early for an upgrade of the first-generation model, this is in fact a mid-life facelift.While the 160kW/300Nm synchronous motor is unchanged (as is the car’s 7.6sec 0-100km/h time) the updated Megane is 20 mm taller, in part to accommodate a bigger 67kWh LFP (lithium iron phosphate) battery (up from 60kWh), with a WLTP range of up to 500km (up from 454km).DC fast-charging speed has also increased to 165kW (+35kW) with a 15-80 per cent charge claimed to now take 24 minutes, down from 30min.The previous base 7.4kW AC charge capacity (as specified in Australia) has been boosted to 11kW, with a 22kW bidirectional charger (enabling vehicle-to-load discharge) optional in Europe.Springs and dampers have been retuned in light of the larger battery and the steering has been recalibrated to “deliver a more direct response and greater precision at the wheel, for a more natural feel”.Cosmetic changes include a redesigned front end with only the headlights untouched. A more prominent body-coloured bumper section sits between new light graphics in the form of eight diamond-shaped elements in a chequerboard pattern (replacing previous side intakes). The gloss black grille also incorporates a diamond pattern and repositioned brand logo while at the rear the tail-lights remain full-width but have been given a 3D treatment with no covering lens.Inside, on the entry Techno trim, the dash is trimmed in a textured TEP (Thermo-Expandable Polyolefin) material with trim elements on the doors and dash in wood or a grey patterned finish.The top-spec Esprit Alpine picks up new Spectral Grey door panel trim and LED adaptive mood lighting.In terms of tech, the updated Megane E-Tech now features the openR link system with Google built-in.A dual-screen layout combines a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and 12-inch multimedia screen in a single seamless display.The system includes Google Assistant for voice control of the main in-car functions and Google Maps for navigation.Renault has also claimed early-adopter status in introducing a wireless charger meeting the Qi2 standard (Magsafe on iPhone) for new-gen smartphones, using a magnetic ring to deliver maximum charging power without overheating.Introducing the updated Scenic, Chief Growth Officer & CEO Renault Brand Fabrice Cambolive said, ”As more and more customers turn to electric vehicles our priority is to make this transition simple and attractive. The new Megane E-Tech electric is fully in line with this dynamic.“The introduction of a new LFP battery plays a key role in this evolution, improving range and charging performance,” he said.CarsGuide contacted Renault Australia for comment on the updated Scenic E-Tech's potential for local launch and a spokesperson told us, "The Renault Megane E-Tech facelift is due in Australian showrooms in the first half of 2027. Prices and specifications will be announced closer to showroom arrivals."

It might feel like V2G (Vehicle-to-Grid) functionality for electric vehicles has been ‘coming soon’ to Australia since the dawn of time but the technology looks like it’s finally close to local introduction with Hyundai using its Ioniq 9 pure-electric SUV for a groundbreaking standards-compliant demonstration.V2G is a bi-directional charging system that allows an EV to supply stored energy to a home during blackout emergencies or monetise its export to the electrical grid during peak periods.The company said it has completed Australia’s first V2G discharge, doing so in compliance with the relevant ISO (International Organization for Standardisation) 15118-20 protocol, using a StarCharge Halo 7.4kW bi-directional DC charger.This comes as the federally-funded Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) is pushing EV (electric vehicle) infrastructure development, including large-scale V2G trials. Hyundai said, “This Milestone supports HMCA's commitment to manufacturer-approved, standards-compliant V2G deployment” adding the StarCharge Halo received Clean Energy Council (CEC) listing in March 2026 and is AS/NZS 4777.2 compliant.Like other EV models already on sale in Australia, the Hyundai Ioniq 9’s 800-volt electric architecture allows fast, high-power DC charging and bi-directional energy flows. Australia adopted national V2G and V2H (Vehicle-to-Home) standards in 2024 and ARENA forecasts up to 2.6 million Australian homes could adopt V2G by 2040.But testing, alignment and approval of regulations and hardware (including vehicles) as well as establishing grid standards and gaining network approvals has proved to be a lengthy process. Hyundai said it is “helping establish a standards-based pathway for scalable, manufacturer-supported V2G and V2X (Vehicle-to-Everything) deployment across homes, buildings, energy networks and virtual power plants.”Hyundai Motor Company Australia CEO Don Romano added, “This (V2G discharge) is the result of sustained technical work by Hyundai's R&D teams in Korea and Australia. “Getting this right is essential because V2G will only scale in Australia if consumers, energy providers and governments can trust the technology."Electric cars can do far more than just drive. They can power homes and support the grid. “This first V2G discharge using ISO 15118-20 with the IONIQ 9 demonstrates that we are delivering real innovation, not just talking about it," he said.Hyundai models under evaluation or development for V2G in Australia include the Ioniq 9, Ioniq 5 and Ioniq 6 as well as future Ioniq platforms. Mitsubishi has also been working on V2G capability for some time for its Outlander plug-in hybrid, which has taken part in earlier trials for the technology in South Australia.

Chinese carmakers are on the cusp of overtaking their Japanese rivals in the internal-combustion engine (ICE) technology arms race with rapid AI-driven development their key secret weapon.At least that’s the position described in a new Nikkei Asia report highlighting a series of recent breakthroughs in efficiency, performance and cost-reduction coming from Chinese car brands.Examples include Chery’s ‘KunPeng Sky Optimus’ hybrid powertrain, shown recently in the new Tiggo 9L at the Beijing motor show and Shenzhen Auto Show.Destined for future plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) and extended-range electric vehicles (EREVs), the new engine has achieved thermal efficiency of 48.57 per cent, meaning it converts significantly more fuel into usable power (while minimising wasted heat) than a conventional ICE (at roughly 38 to 45 per cent).While ‘new energy vehicles’ accounted for 48 per cent of Chinese new car sales in 2025, petrol-powered models still represent 70 per cent of Chery’s domestic volume so this type of engine advancement is critical to the brand’s on-going success.At the same time Geely has developed its ‘i-HEV’ engine, already featured in the Xingyue L SUV, with a thermal efficiency claim of 48.41 per cent, using artificial intelligence to enhance its evolution.And Geely Automobile Group CEO Gan Jiayue recently said, “We'll fundamentally overturn the existing hybrid vehicle technology of Japanese autos.”According to the report, Geely is aiming to increase overseas sales by 80 per cent in 2026 to 750,000 units and it’s worth noting ICE accounted for more than half of Geely’s sales volume in 2025.Changan is also on the ICE technology front lines, last month launching its ‘Blue Whale Super Engine’, bound for mass hybrid production, featuring 500-bar fuel-injection, the high pressure enhancing thermal efficiency (through microscopic, uniform atomisation) and providing more power when accelerating. Existing direct-injection systems typically top out at around 200-bar.Projections from GlobalData referenced in the report point to electric vehicles accounting for 49 per cent of global car sales in 2038, a 33 per cent increase from 2025.And although pure-petrol vehicles are expected to shrink by 36 per cent over the same period, hybrids are projected to remain almost unchanged at 15 per cent of global new vehicle sales with plug-in hybrids at eight per cent.Clearly, Japanese automakers have historically been at the forefront of engine technology with Chinese makers focusing predominantly on EV development.And while the report states Japanese companies currently hold 30 per cent of global ICE vehicle sales, surpassing China's 20 per cent, its conclusion states “Chinese companies will reshape the global hybrid vehicle market by developing engines that are more fuel efficient and making vehicles more intelligent”.

Chevrolet has released a substantially upgraded 2027 version of its Silverado 1500 full-size pick-up with the headline change being adoption of the latest, sixth-generation ‘LS6’ version of GM’s small block V8 in 5.7- and 6.6-litre form.GM hasn’t released specs for the 5.7L and 6.6L V8s but dealer and industry reports point to outputs of around 300kW/580Nm and 350kW/680Nm, respectively. Scheduled to hit US showrooms before the end of the year, the new Silverado will continue to offer four powertrain options in North America - the two petrol V8s as well as an “enhanced” version of the 2.7-litre ‘TurboMax’ four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine and the ‘Duramax’ 3.0-litre turbo-diesel inline six-cylinder.The Silverado 1500 is currently sold in Australia in two trim levels - LTZ Premium and ZR2, powered by the now out-moded 6.2-litre ‘EcoTec3’ naturally aspirated petrol V8.In the States the 2027 Silverado will boast seven trims - ZR2, Trail Boss, Custom Trail Boss, Work Truck, Custom, Silverado (formerly LT) and High Country.Introducing the Silverado LS6 engines, GM Executive Chief Engineer Mark Dickens said, “We pushed these engines through an extensive testing and validation process to make sure they deliver the durability, capability and dependability Silverado customers expect.”The LS6 engine debuted in the Corvette earlier this year in 6.7-litre (400kW/705Nm) form and the Silverado powerplants will be produced at GM’s Flint Engine Operations centre in Michigan as well as its Tonawanda Propulsion plant in New York State and the St. Catharines Propulsion facility just over the border in Ontario, Canada.As well as the new under-bonnet hardware the updated Silverado features a revised exterior with a new nose treatment incorporating LED headlights, tweaked LED tail-lights, chunkier wheel arch fenders and rocker panels as well as a standard dual exhaust (on Custom grade and above).Inside, the revised dash is highlighted by a new “edge-to-edge display” comprising a 16.3-inch central media display and a 12.2-inch digital instrument screen.A head-up display and 11.5-inch front passenger screen are standard on the ZR2 and High Country.The Z71 package will now be standard on 4WD models in the US, including skid plates, hill descent control and off-road suspension.When contacted for comment on potential local launch timing for the new Silverado a GM Australia & New Zealand spokesperson told CarsGuide, “Whilst we are excited by the news of the next generation Silverado, currently we have no announcements to make on future models for the ANZ region.”

Stellantis, which owns brand such as Peugeot, Jeep, Alfa Romeo and more, has seemingly abandoned its multi-energy strategy for sub-compact new model entrants in Europe, confirming it will focus exclusively on the ‘E-car’ category, an EV-only classification introduced by the European Union earlier this year.The M1E category (better known as E-car) represents small, fully electric vehicles and is inspired by Japan's Kei car system, with the aim of slowing the proliferation of large SUVs in European cities. There are 14 core brands under the Stellantis umbrella - Abarth, Alfa Romeo, Chrysler, Citroën, Dodge, DS Automobiles, Fiat, Jeep, Lancia, Maserati, Opel, Peugeot, Ram, and Vauxhall. The move effectively sidelines Stellantis light car pure-combustion and hybrid options across the EU.Speaking at the Automotive News Europe Congress in Brussels, Belgium, Stellantis Chief Operating Officer for Enlarged Europe & European Brands Emanuele Cappellano confirmed the group’s future light cars will only be available as battery-electric vehicles.This direction flies in the face of Stellantis’ broader push towards freedom of customer choice and multiple powertrain options across models and categories.It means cars like the Fiat 500, currently available as a battery-electric vehicle or mild hybrid, are headed towards a pure-electric future.Likely alluding to increased competition from emerging Chinese brands, Cappellano added, “With the current price competition level, Stellantis cannot sustain the level of investment we need to advance our technology and product offering.”He said that instead of offering multiple powertrains in every segment, Stellantis will focus on making its small EVs affordable, with the goal of positioning them below the €15,000 (~$25,000) threshold.In reporting Cappellano’s comments Automotive News points out that the price cap target “undercuts nearly all EVs sold in Europe”, pointing out the Renault Twingo Electric’s starting price of just below €20,000 (~$33,000) and the Leapmotor T03’s at about €18,000 (~$29,500).Two M1E compliant minicars, underpinned by a dedicated E-Car platform, have been announced by Stellantis - an as yet undefined Fiat model and a reload of the Citroen 2CV.By comparison, the Stellantis ‘STLA One’ platform, covering small, compact and mid-size cars, accommodates multiple powertrains.To qualify as an M1E model a car’s powertrain must be pure-electric, its overall length must not exceed 4.2 metres and it has to comply with strict safety criteria.The classification provides CO2 ‘Super-Credits’ for manufacturers while opening up the option of government subsidies to underpin purchase incentives as well as multiple owner benefits like discounted or free city parking, reduced insurance and easier access to low-emission zones.

BMW has used this year’s edition of the Le Mans 24 Hour sports car endurance race as the launch pad for its M Concept Neue Klasse, which the German maker says “showcases the new BMW M design language and sets a clear signal for the brand’s all-electric future".The BMW M Hybrid V8 racer may have finished second to Toyota in the gruelling round-the-clock race but the dramatic M Concept Neue Klasse, finished in a newly developed ‘Monza Red’ metallic paint finish, stole the show off-track.Introducing the car, Head of Design BMW Compact Class, Neue Klasse and BMW M Oliver Heilmer said, “The new BMW M design language forms the expressive spearhead of the Neue Klasse – determined and purposeful.“At BMW M, form consistently follows function. Every detail serves performance. This project is truly special to me because it carries the BMW M character into a new era,” he said.Pumped guards over fat rubber evoke BMW M cars of old, while the pure-electric, quad-motor powertrain delivers a suitably powerful performance punch.Exterior design highlights include headlights and signature ‘kidney grille’ in a single unit, a “trimaran-style bumper” (influenced by the form of high-speed sailing boats) and competition-inspired M Yellow Lights which BMW said are “set to become a new signature feature of future BMW M automobiles”.A pronounced front splitter, monster ducktail rear spoiler and red-and-blue coded centre-lock wheels are focused on aero efficiency.Inside, four bucket seats incorporate structural elements made from natural fibre materials and are trimmed in ‘Bathurst Blue’ and ‘Berry Red’ with black nubuck leather on the steering wheel, door panels and roll bar.The floating dashboard is finished in black knit material and features M-specific hexagonal backlighting.BMW said the concept is based on its Neue Klasse ‘Gen6’ technology, developed specifically for all-electric BMW M models.It combines four electric motors with “integrated, wheel-specific control of the drivetrain and braking systems” and 800-volt electric architecture for long-range capability while the high-voltage battery is integrated with the front and rear axles to enhance driving dynamics.

The honour of placing a V8 engine under the bonnet of a production road car for the first time goes to none other than Rolls Royce.In 1905 a 3.5-litre, 90-degree, side-valve V8 powered the modestly titled ‘Landaulette par Excellence’ and the aptly named ‘Legalimit’, the latter famously governed so its driver couldn’t exceed Britain’s 20mph (32km/h) speed limit (although potential thrill-seekers were offered the option of a higher setting for a hair-raising 42km/h Vmax).Sadly, the Legalimit was an unqualified flop and only one was ever sold with the RR factory ultimately buying it back, anyway.But over the intervening 121 years the engine configuration it pioneered has proved to be anything but a failure and regular reports of its imminent demise have so far proved to be unfounded.After some tinkering by De Dion-Bouton in France and Cadillac in the USA it was everyone’s favourite automotive ground-breaker, Henry Ford, that really got things going with the iconic ‘Flathead’ V8 in the 1932 Model B.It remained in production for more than two decades and its compact packaging, and relatively light weight compared to straight-eight engines preceding it, set the template for the V8’s ongoing popularity.GM then took centre stage in 1955 with the evergreen small block V8, an amazing 113 million have since been produced.Back then, the average fuel price in the USA was around 29 cents a gallon (7.7 US cents a litre) and dinosaur juice was a seemingly limitless resource set to power the globe indefinitely.The mad muscle car era in America, Australia and elsewhere escalated to dizzying heights in the late 1960s and early ‘70s with 5.0-, 6.0-, 7.0- and even 8.0-litre engines in the nose of insanely powerful machines. But that all changed in 1973 when Arab members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) began flexing their political muscles, putting pressure on the US and other countries that supported the state of Israel.Oil production was progressively cut, which sent global prices through the roof and at the same time multiple western countries were recognising ‘The Environment’, in this context mainly air quality, as an important issue.Which led to one of the V8’s first obituaries being drafted.Downsizing of cars and engines was seen as a necessary evil and the V8 was widely written off as an out-dated, wasteful device best consigned to the history books.Some, like AMC, took a while to get the hang of it, however, producing the smaller Pacer (aka Wayne and Garth’s Mirthmobile) with a six-cylinder and optional V8 engine.‘Smog Systems’ began to be mandated in multiple jurisdictions, especially California, reducing emissions but strangling performance. Devices like EGR (Exhaust Gas Recirculation) valves, catalytic converters and charcoal canisters became de rigueur.When Cadillac introduced its 500 cubic-inch (8.2-litre) V8 in 1970 it was rated at 400hp (298kW) but by 1976 it was a shadow of its former self at just 190hp (141kW).    However, despite 1979’s Iranian Revolution again causing a significant drop in global oil supply, the V8 remained alive in the shadows while six, and most prominently, four-cylinder machines came to the fore.But by the early 1980s the Middle East had settled down and the V8 began to pop its head up above the parapet.Locally, Ford discontinued the XE Falcon V8 in 1982 to much outrage but it came back in 1991’s EB.Holden thought about dropping the V8 Commodore in 1984 but a public ‘V8s ‘til ‘98’ campaign quickly changed the board’s mind.A V8 death notice that looked ready for publication was once again withdrawn.   Exotic quad-cam designs in multiple models from Aston Martin, BMW and Ferrari and as well as Lamborghini, Lexus, Lotus and others moved the V8 game forward in terms of performance, efficiency and cleanliness.The technology trickle down effect meant even garden variety V8s were a viable option thanks to reduced emissions and acceptable fuel economy.But through the 1980s and ‘90s that environment thing started to gain extra momentum. Long-established scientific observations like a diminishing ozone layer, ‘The Greenhouse Effect’ and ‘Global Warming’, as well as a broader appreciation of human impact on the planet became headline issues.The car’s internal-combustion engine was marked as a high-profile target with the V8 often singled out as public enemy number one.      And as we moved into the current century, quirky, off-beat electric car experiments like the GM EV1, Honda EV Plus and Toyota RAV4 EV morphed into a more concerted battery-electric effort driven largely by Elon Musk buying into Tesla and ramping up its planet-saving aspirations.Fossil fuels were pigeon-holed as a limited, unsustainable resource and soon enough the Tesla Model S became the ‘it’ car of the 2010s.Following the S with the Model X large SUV, smaller Model 3 sedan, Model Y medium SUV and Cybertruck pick-up, Tesla grew into the global phenomenon we know today. Government mandates began to be applied at all points of the globe - ever-tightening emissions standards and target dates for the elimination of new internal-combustion models. Everyone from Ford and GM to Honda and Nissan, BMW and Mercedes-Benz hit the scramble alarm, terrified they were about to miss an EV boat which five minutes ago they didn’t even know was at the wharf.And the Chinese automotive giant began to wake up and push towards pure-electric propulsion.But then… that fundamental element, consumer demand, began to soften. Despite the current conflict in the Middle East, after an initial burst of enthusiasm, the global take up rate for EVs is well down on early predictions.The EU is currently mandating a 90 per cent reduction in average tailpipe emissions for new cars and vans by 2035, rather than a full ban on internal combustion engines (ICE).  The UK’s 2030 ‘ICE Ban’ has been shifted back five years and in the USA zero-emission mandates look to be headed for a more ‘gradual’ application while other countries are making similar moves towards regulatory relaxation.So, again the defibrillator paddles have been applied to the V8 engine’s chest and it continues to breathe in and out.Last year GM reiterated its ongoing commitment to V8 power with a US$918 million upgrade across four US facilities involved in V8 engine production with $US888 million also going to its Tonawanda Propulsion plant in Buffalo, New York. And the latest, sixth-generation ‘LS6’ version of GM’s small block V8 has found its first home between the axles of Chevrolet's updated Corvette supercar, the all-alloy 6.7-litre (409ci) unit producing a sizable 400kW/705Nm.Mercedes-AMG has realised its customers don’t want four-cylinder turbos in its heavy-hitting models and the brand’s stupendous 4.0-litre, twin-turbo V8 lives on.Stunning supercars like the Lamborghini Temerario combine turbo V8 power with electric hybrid punch and its success has spawned the likelihood of a new-generation, V8-powered Audi R8. Bentley, BMW, Ford, Land Rover, McLaren, Porsche and others are also keeping the V8 dream alive. The GWM Tank 800 SUV, set for a mid-2027 Aussie touchdown, is powered by an all-new 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8, working in concert with multiple electric motors.And Formula 1 traditionalists are celebrating FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem’s determination to reinstall V8s in F1 cars from 2030.So, even though it’s been on death’s door for more than half a century, eight cylinders arranged in a vee continues to be the engine configuration of choice for a significant number of global carmakers.Will it be around in another 50 years? Who knows? Let’s make it a date to check back then.