Automation/BeamNG Drive testing

As it finally became possible to actually drive the cars that we make in BeamNG Drive I set out to test a thing that has bothered some of us since 70’s, and are the cars that I really happen to like.
Natrually I’m talking about american cars of that era, especially the “malise era” barges with huge V8’s that struggle to make 200hp and arent really that economical. Therefore it’s clearly time to make a test would there have been more efficient way to move those cars.

Before we get any further I have to remind you about something. At early At late 70’s and early 80’s 300HP was “supercar” territory, and average car was making 50-150hp some high end cars were making up to 200hp, which by todays standard isnt much at all.

70’s USA car with large low tuned, low power pushrod V8, and exactly the same car with high revving, high tune twin cam I6.
As we all probably know, at the time USA was struggling due oil crisis, and the cars they mostly made were the luxury barges (If you cant go fast at least you go luxuriously)
As all companies at the time were struggling with money, they couldnt really afford to design new engine, so I set out to test which would have been more beneficial.
Downtuning a V8, or designing new more economical engine, which would still be able to move those barges.
The test car has been set to year -77

According to automation the I6 is slightly more econimical, althuogh not nearly as reliable, but now we shall test how they drive.
The i6 is actually bit more powerful, althuogh their nature is completely different
Also to get that I6 to compete in some manner it uses notably more expensive parts, and higher octane fuel, and at the time US government had demanded that all new domestic cars should use low octane fuel.

And the results

Difference on automation test track on laptime, V8 is 2 seconds faster, despite long straight where the 30hp more powerful I6 pulls nearly 8kmh better top speed. (164hp vs 194hp)
The difference comes from V8’s torque on low end. most noticable in off the line. While V8 chirps the tires for first few meters, I6 struggles to get moving (Driven on realistic automatic as that what most US cars were at the time,)
also 0-100-0kmh (or 0-60-0mph) Well the V8 has stopped well before the point where I6 starts braking
According to automation the difference is only 2l/100km on fuel consumption, that’s for the I6, but it does use higher octane fuel. (At the time US goverment demanded that all domestic manufacturers use low octane fuel)
So the 4900 redlining 5.2 litre V8 wins over the 7400 redlingin 3.1 litre I6

Also we have to note that…
I did not adjust suspension to lower weight of the I6
I did not adjust the gearing for the lower torque of the I6 as that would have possibly needed completely new gearbox, and that would have become even more expensive.
I did the cars as US cars were built that time, Luxurious, but relatively cheap. Not touching the quality sliders, but all used parts were fromthe cheapest end. (I6 had forged pistons, crankshaft and pistonrods while V8 was everything on cast iron)

Other things noticed.
V8 being heavier then the I6 The car plows to the corners slightly more, but I could rotate it with throttle on exit which was impossible with the I6
V8 is relatively silent (Luxury) while the I6 is screaming almost all the time.