Longitudinal engine layouts normally result in a front-engine, rear-wheel-drive (RWD) car, while the lack of a driveshaft means transverse layouts are perfect for front-wheel-drive (FWD) cars.

Most automakers around the world agree: the V8 engine is a fine thing for rear-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive applications. GM, though, never quite agreed on that point, building a whole rash of ...