Originally Posted by optiontrader

^^^ Yes - less weight, better gas mileage. Well then they failed. The GT-R's 608# engine (fully dressed with turbo's) out-weighs the fully dressed LS7 by a whopping 150#.

Bigger engines? Higher displacement at low revs with mad power is achieveable at low price points. Once you start trying to spin that crank faster, high revvin' engines are more expensive to develop (but less so to manufacture - but still $$$). The E92's redline above 8k is a good example. High revvin' supercars with V8/10/12 that rev above 8k are another. The BOSS mustang is getting a 7500rpm 5.0. If the mustang is getting it, it can't be TOO cost prohibitive. Especially for a car like the GT-R/'Vette, etc. Further, the cost of developing the cooling system, piping, turbo's, etc. and then warrantying all those extra parts...

Extending that power band between shifts is a golden rule - the more time you're on the pedal and not swinging that lever, the faster times you'll get. Check out the gearing. It's the same time swinging the lever. Auto manufacturers gear those 8K rpm cars so they can hit the powerband fast. But now with dual-clutch transmissions getting easier and cheaper to manufacture - it's gets less critical. But that's another discussion in itself...