I would consider 3500 lbs a great achievement based upon the the platform being used, new federal crash standard mandates, and the price point that these cars sell at. I'll be doing cartwheels if it somehow came in at less than 3500.

Would I love a 2800 lb Z28? Sure, but that's not realistic. 3300 lbs probably isn't even realistic anymore. (I'd LOVE to be wrong...) I strongly feel that 3500 lbs is very doable at a very reasonable price point with an attention to detail that was last seen in the C5 / C6 development.

Well then in that case, the CTS-V and C6R race teams come immediately to mind. Other manufacturers such as Audi, Porsche, Maserati, etc. still play. It's just very often lost in the seemingly 24 hour Nascar Marketing Cup coverage.

 

considering this new zeta has not even had one car come out yet, I don't know what it should weigh.

Will 2 door car plans play a heavy role in how it (zeta) gets designed? I hope so. But they will probably be an afterthought.

There are ways to meet safety standards and keep weight down. Thicker steel in some places, fiberglass or even plastic body parts, as have been used on F-bodies before.

Also keeping in mind that my 1993 Mustang weighs in under 2900 lbs, I know it is a flex machine, but it's fairly light (by todays standards). But with improvements such as Subframes and braces, it totally changes the character of the car, and adds less than 50 lbs, therefore keeping it well under 3000 lbs.

I understand that they have to work with what they are given, but who knows how much variation there will be in Zeta, and what models will be based off it. High volume 4 doors will most likely dominate, but will they be midsize or large? Midsize, we have a chance, large, no way.

A nice set of RWD V6 to V8 midsize (3000 -3500lb) sedans with real sports models would be a welcome addition to Chevrolet. A series of Large RWD sedans could compete in the Taxi cab/police car market, a large market. Consumer wise it will cater to the old folks.

I think it depends heavily on what they are planning. Who really knows with GM though. They've messed up before.

I agree a 2800 lb Z is not realistic. I think a 3200 lb Z is, and completely do-able. But how many parts that could have been aluminum will end up being stamped steel to save money?

 

Quoted curb weights for Mustangs of that era were more like 3200-3300 pounds. How did yours get down to 2900?


Based on what? I can't think of any current RWD V8 four seater that's anywhere close to that? Come to think of it, I can't think of a V6 that hits that number. The closest I can come is the V6 model of the Mustang.
The RX8 is only a little over 3000 pounds, but it has a lightweight, low torque rotary.

The new Jaguar XK, which is a four seat V8 coupe with an aluminum body and about the same size as the old Camaro is about the same weight as the 2006 Mustang GT.

Perhaps you're thinking of a lightweight special with no insulation, radio, A/C, etc. Mitsubishi has an Evo model like that, but I don't think they save that much weight -- I want to say around 150 pounds. It's probably just under your 3200 pound number, but it's a transverse engine AWD turbo 4.