Just an FYI, GM "LS" or "LSx" engines typically refer to the modern small block chevy V8 engines.

As others have said above, you're comparing apples to oranges. You're looking at new, modern engines designed in the past few years with technologies such as variable cam timing and lift, direct fuel injection, coil on plug ignition, DOHC, 4 valves per cylinder, etc etc. Then you're comparing that to an all iron, 2 valve per cylinder, OHV engine which loosely dates back to the 60's with very comparable ancestors in the late 80's and early 90's. If you look at some of the modern GM I4's and V6's released in recent years, you'll see some stuff of relatively comparable power levels to competitors.

You also need to realize that you're missing a lot of the picture by just look at HP numbers. HP RPM is important, as is the torque number, RPM, and curve shape. Next, you need to keep in mind one of the main goals was to design a long lasting, durable engine- and all of these added components could've easily jeopardized that- especially adding them back in the mid 90's when they were still untested. If you look at the cars the 3100's, 3400's, 3800's, etc came in- they were used as either the base engine of a sporty car- or as the high line engine in daily driver cars. You don't want your sports car's base engine to compete with the high line engines, and you don't want to put super high power engines in daily driver cars since that is not the driving factor in that segment (as oppposed to say a corvette).

Also, keep in mind- higher power and torque strains the transmission and driveline more, and having peak power at 8000+ RPM isn't great for engine longevity either- keeping engine rpm down means less movement and wear in all the moving components.

As I said above, horsepower isn't everything- only one small part of the formula. Making big power commuter cars doesn't make much sense, reliability takes precedence every time in something people expect to drive every day. Also, its not like you can't get decent power in a GM vehicle- you could get a camaro, vette, G8, gto, cts v, TBSS, etc- or you could get something like a GP GXP, monte SS, etc if you want a mid power family car (300 hp is plenty for a fwd DD anyways).

Specifically what? How much horsepower do you think GM should be making with its 4 cylinders and V6's?

The camaro has a 300+ hp V6, as do some other GM vehicles.

 

Keep another thing in mind with weight comparison of these cars (and this is NOT a justification for all the heavier weight).... Cars today are being packaged with a lot more stuff then before! More air bags, more "computer" equipment for navigation/XM/iPod/Bluetooth OH and OnStar. Just to name a couple.
I'm sure there is more that I'm not thinking about, but these extra goodies weigh a little something and some of them we did not have 15 years ago.

 

Both of the posts from Bumpin96monte and The Maniac are spot on.

Also, I would take high torque over high horsepower any day! I find it odd that horsepower gets all of the credit!

 

Me too, torque is what gets you that pin you to your seat acceleration I've driven some high horsepower, lower torque European cars and its not nearly as fun as driving a high torque American car

 

I wish I knew how your car was getting 28-30 mpg on the highway, when the best my Dale Jr has gotten on the hwy was 25.67 mpg and this is with a full tuneup. This has been one of my biggest disappointments with this car because I expected to get mileage like you have. My 98 GP GT I used to have got the same mileage yours gets.

Wayne

 

remember this torqu gets you there hp keeps you there in performance aspect. if you didnt have decent torqu the car wouldent get out og its way. but it would be like a deisle high torqu low horse power. but most v6 i4 have moderet torqu and hp now compared to 15 20 years ago. so now if you can look at the hp and torqu rating from then and now engins. but i do agre with bumpin where you have a daily reliable car why tear in to it fitting in a big engine if it is a only dd.

 

all good points...