The Godsil Manhattan V16: Another LS-Based V16 Engine

Looks like the Devel Sixteen won’t be the only LS-Based V16 engine coming to market. Founder and CEO of Godsil Motorcars, Jason Godsil, has released images of the Manhattan V16 engine.

For an engine that is so looked down upon by luxury mark fans, custom builders seem to really like the design. Let’s see what makes this engine different from the Devel and talk a little more about the Manhattan V16 super-coupe.

Currently, the V16 is still in its prototype stage with heads and valve covers milled and polished for photographic perfection. So, there isn’t much but at the same time we can see some interesting features.

The very first and most interesting off the bat is that this engine is based on the V16 prototype engine that was originally used in the Cadillac Sixteen designed by Stephen Chue. He was the president and technical director of Katech for many years, including the time that the Cadillac Sixteen was in development.

You want the best in LS-engine builders; you’re going to go for someone from Katech. If it’s custom engines with more or less cylinders and based on the LS, then you find Stephen Chue.

The cylinder head, when compared to the Steve Morris Engines based Devel Sixteen pictured above, looks more purposed built rather than two LS heads mocked together. You don’t see the obvious gap like in the Devel, so this is far more thought out and will probably result in a shorter engine.

Not knocking the Steve Morris Engine design or power, but it just looks far better from an aesthetic and probably costs more to develop over the Devel. The intake side of the head hasn’t been released yet so we don’t know what that will end up being, but money is on the LS3 rectangular port.

The Manhattan V16 is also a CNG-fueled car rather than Gasoline. The idea, according to Godsil, is that it’s a better choice over Electric because of its limited range and better than gasoline since it’s a lower polluting vehicle. Though, you have to wonder if his thoughts are changing thanks to the major and massive natural gas leak over L.A. right now.

It’s also not be touted as the next Tesla or even the next Corvette. Instead, he is approaching it as a coach built car much like the Rolls-Royce Phantom Coupe or slightly smaller than a Wraith and taking their time as they develop it. The projected timeframe for release is 2019 to 2020 for the two-plus-two coupe.