Mike Manley, Fiat Chrysler CEO has stated that the clock is ticking for its Hemi V8s. Specifically, he said, "I think that electrification will certainly be part of the formula that says what is American muscle in the future...What it isn’t going to be is a V-8, supercharged, 700-horsepower engine." https://amp.detroitnews.com/amp/2602054002
Glad I won't be around to "enjoy" the new era of electric cars. I was in HS and College during the late 60's right in the middle of the original muscle car era. Could not believe it when the all the muscle cars returned better than ever. The array of great muscle cars available now is almost unbelievable. IMO, there is nothing like the sound and feel of a V8. I will admit that there are cars with smaller engines that perform very well but they just do not light my fire. For example, my wife's 2017 BMW has a smooth and surprisingly strong performing 4 Cyl turbo. I like the car but it does nothing to generate excitement for me. On the other hand, it is like Christmas every time I drive my Scat Pack. As for FCAs "workhorse" Pentastar V-6, there is nothing wrong with the basic motor but FCA has ruined it with their POS ESS system. I purchased a 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee with the V-6 in Mar 2018. My wife and I hated the ESS system so much, we traded the POS in on a 2018 GC with the 5.7L V-8 after just 3 months and only 1,800 miles. Difference is like night and day. We both love our new GC with the V8.
The ESS system is supposed to save you gas. If you didn't like it, why didn't you just deactivate it every time you drove it by pressing the button?
The amount of gas saved by the system in miniscule at best. The MDS is far superior. Regardless, there are other issues with the system that I did not mention. A lot of owner's, including me, had issues with the "robust" starter associated with the system. Many of the starters demonstrate an intermittent clunk, loud click, or buzz on start up. Since the problem is intermittent, dealers have a hard time duplicating the problem. It got to the point that I dreaded starting the Jeep anticipating what I would hear. I also do not like the complex 2 battery setup associated with the ESS. Both my wife and I would frequently forget to turn off the system every time we started the car and the engine would shut off at the first stop. Supremely irritating at least for us. If the system could be set to default to off as it does on my wife's BMW, then it would not be an issue. There is an aftermarket device that will deactivate the system that I probably would have installed had it not been for the starter issues. https://www.smartstopstart.com/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIp7uMiZz83wIVk47ICh0p_gYBEAAYASAAEgLx2_D_BwE
Since we are talking about ESS systems, here are some links that you and others may find interesting. https://www.smartstopstart.com/general-stop-start-info.html
Glad I do not have the ESS in my 2013 Challenger (3.6 liter Pentastar). I cannot blame Eagle1450 one bit, not one. Each year automakers make changes for the worse, not better. Here's what I read: https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/fo...d-on-3-6l-pentastar-2018-wrangler-engine.661/
Before ESS technology, in Europe where gas is extremely high, drivers would manually shut off their engines at traffic lights and road jams.
I would and have done the same thing for major traffic jams. Makes no sense at all for a quick stop at a stop sign or when trying to ease your car into a garage. Tried to do that with the wife's BMW once with the ESS on. Was alarming and dangerous.