Well, that remains to be seen. It's not that I'm protective of the Corvette or anything. I'm a Camaro guy - specifically a Camaro Z/28 guy. But even with a 100+ horsepower advantage over the base Corvette, the Z/28 will be carrying an extra ~ 1,000 pounds. That mass difference will be insurmountable.

I'll be watching with interest which $50K gives the best performance bang for the buck.

 

I love Camaro and Corvette both equally. And I dont really think its a big deal if the Z28 is faster than the base Vette. You still have Z06 and ZR1 ahead of it. The Cobalt SS is faster than the base Camaro, I see it the same way.

 

I simply said "what if" to generate some thought in regards to the selling point of horsepower.

I didn't offer the idea as an invitation for people to continue to bitch about the car's weight and crap up yet another thread. Do that on another site.

 

The fact that there's nothing above the GT500 in Ford's stable means approximately nothing to me in a conversation about whether a 50k Z28 would be worth it.

At the 50K price point, plenty of people buy Corvettes, and plenty of people buy GT500s. Both are great cars in their own respects (especially when looking at the '11 GT500 ). I don't see how anyone could seriously make the argument that there isn't room for a 50K Camaro.

 

Base Corvette = 3200 lbs.
SS Camaro = 3860 lbs.

I wouldn't be surprised if the Z28 had some weight savings measures that more than offset the LSA's extra weight. That would mean only ~600 lbs difference. Therefore, I wouldn't we surprised if the Camaro gave the Vette a run for its money.

 

Well they've certainly been comparable in Grand Am GT class events...

http://www.grand-am.com/schedule/res...ies=r&eid=1491

 

truth be told, until the C5 Z06 was released, the 4th gen FCars could and did hang with C5s. John Heinricey's best time around the track at Milford was FASTER in an SS in full SLP trim than it was in a C5.

 

I am so conflicted over this. This takes Camaro into new and uncharted waters. Maybe treacherous waters. What does this represent for the Z/28 brand? Will the next, (as in 6th gen), Z/28 have to cost $50,000 or more now? Will the Z/28 now be associated with large, supercharged engines, instead of a rich and legendary road race heritage? Will the very essence of what a Z/28 is, now inexorably change? It worries me, to be completely honest.

On the other hand, the Z/28 is once again, undeniably, at the top of the Camaro performance food chain. Anyone who knows me, knows how long I've been lobbying for that. Not just here, but for years, decades, one on one with anyone from GM who'd listen. Everyone there has heard my schpeel. From Bob Lutz, to John Heinricy, to Gene Stefynyshun, to most members of the Camaro Team, both current and previous, and dozens in between. So there's that I guess - but it feels like a hollow victory to me personally.

 

Welp, I have to admire your optimism...

 

FWIW, Z/28 hasn't represented its road race heritage since the early 1970s. Sure the IROC-Z was a nice package, however as all the IROC events were on ovals, it did nothing for any "road race" bloodlines. However, while I agree with you in part about a Z/28 needing to be the best handling in its class, let alone the best handling Camaro; I also want it to be the fastest and the most powerful Camaro. I guess, like so many other Camaro enthusiasts, I want the best of both worlds. (Which is why my 2012 Z/28 will have the automatic transmission. )

 

Nothing compares to the effort, publicity, folklore and glory the first gen Z/28's got in the SCCA Trans Am series. But privateers continued with the 2nd gen with some back door support from GM. That's both in Trans Am and later IMSA.

The 3rd gen Z/28 bloodied all comers in Showroom Stock racing. Mustang was crushed, and so was Mitsubishi (anyone remember the turbo Starion??), just like all of the other "also rans". By 1984, the only manufacturer which hadn't thrown in the towel against the Z/28 was Porsche. They withdrew the year after that, when the factory tired of having the Z/28 hand the the 944 it's *** on track after track, week after week. After that, with no one left willing to play, it was Camaro/Firebird only series like the Canadian Players Challenge and IMSA Firehawk. GM didn't develop the 1LE pkg just for fun, (well I'm sure some had fun ), it was serious business.

Anyway, bottom line is that there's plenty of road race lineage for the Z/28, beyond the early Trans Am glory days, to build a marketing legend around. That is, if someone were interested in protecting and feeding said legend.

I hope GM respects that.

 

A base C6 will do 60 in about 4 seconds/4.1 seconds. The best time for the current CTS-V is around 3.9/4. I am not taking anything away from the upcoming Z28, I think it will be an incredible car and it will sell well. The thing that concerns me also is that the first year or two will not only be MSRP for the car but a lot of dealers selling for $10K or more above sticker. Either way both the Camaro and Z28 are excellent cars and are vital to GMs existance and image.

 

We also have to remember that the lastest on the C7 will be out in about years, 1 year after the Z28 is rumored to begin being built. The C7 is supposed to lighter than the current C6 and gain DI with an increase HP, most likely in the upper 400s, maybe even low 500s. Yes the z28 will be an awesome car, just hope that GM prices it correctly. Like I said before, in my opinion $50K for a Z28 is too high...especially when an SS can be bought for low $30Ks, that is about a $20K difference.

 

Yeah, I expect the Z/28 to be roughly equal to a base C6 Corvette in a straight line and slower around a road course. But like you mentioned, the C7 is right around the corner.

In fact, it would interesting if some magazine could take a Z/28, a GT500, a Boss Mustang and a base Corvette to a track like Laguna Seca and see how they compare. Maybe bring along a Z06 as well, while they're at it.

 

I fully expect a Z28 to be faster than a base Corvette in a straight line.
Base C6 does around 115 in the 1/4. And the CTSV coupe was tested at around 118 by motor trend I think. Im guessing the Z28 will be a bit lighter and have more power than it.