GM Hints Chevy Camaro Could Catch Ford Mustang V-6's Horsepower Rating for 2011
03-24-2010 | 12:24 PM
#16
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Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 118
We are so lucky to live in an age where 500hp+ is so easy to come by. Does anyone remember when the kick *** brand new LT1 was 275 crank hp?
03-24-2010 | 12:52 PM
#18
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Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 16,179
From: Chicagoland IL
Wow, we actually get a horsepower war between GM and Ford and a bunch of wet blankets have to come out? Tough room. Do you have any concept how good this is for the performance car industry in general? This is good stuff - even on the base engine. Because seriously, when Ford announces it beat GM by 1 HP, that is a shot across the bow, or a slap in the face with the glove. GM had to respond, and they will, and Ford will most likely respond too. This is great stuff!
The fact that we are even talking about horsepower in an era where the government has nearly un-meetable MPG targets coming our way just makes me think how lucky we are. Nice to know that there are some people out there, though, that can always find a darkside to the best news! I personally think that GM saying they will beat Ford makes for great cars on both sides, and we should be glad that each side cares enough about the competition to one-up them - even it if it is on the most mundane thing.
So have a great day today, unless all you can see is that cloud on the horizon.
-Geoff
The fact that we are even talking about horsepower in an era where the government has nearly un-meetable MPG targets coming our way just makes me think how lucky we are. Nice to know that there are some people out there, though, that can always find a darkside to the best news! I personally think that GM saying they will beat Ford makes for great cars on both sides, and we should be glad that each side cares enough about the competition to one-up them - even it if it is on the most mundane thing.
So have a great day today, unless all you can see is that cloud on the horizon.
-Geoff
03-24-2010 | 02:58 PM
#19
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Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 3,463
From: SoCal
If I'm not mistaken GM engines are still SAE Certified so just bumping up the HP on the 3.6L will be more than just a marketing ploy. I agree the real selling feature would be to leave the HP the same but get the MPG to 30 or even 31. That would be a story. But as we know even recertifying an engine for a few more HP is easier and cheaper than gaining MPG.
03-24-2010 | 03:51 PM
#20
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Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 1,179
From: Ballwin, MO
Wow, we actually get a horsepower war between GM and Ford and a bunch of wet blankets have to come out? Tough room. Do you have any concept how good this is for the performance car industry in general? This is good stuff - even on the base engine. Because seriously, when Ford announces it beat GM by 1 HP, that is a shot across the bow, or a slap in the face with the glove. GM had to respond, and they will, and Ford will most likely respond too. This is great stuff!
03-25-2010 | 11:00 AM
#22
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Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 9,710
From: Oakland, California
I think most here are missing the positive aspect of this.
Let's say GM comes out with a 2011 Camaro V6 that gets 1-2 hp and 1-2 mpg better than Mustang. Then in 2012 Ford squeezes the Mustang V6 1-2 hp and 1-2 mpg more. Back and forth, year after year, each tries to best the other's base model by a few more hp and a few more mpg. If you're a true ponycar enthusiast this should excite you as it is the type of competition that will allow this class of vehicle to survive for years to come.
Let's say GM comes out with a 2011 Camaro V6 that gets 1-2 hp and 1-2 mpg better than Mustang. Then in 2012 Ford squeezes the Mustang V6 1-2 hp and 1-2 mpg more. Back and forth, year after year, each tries to best the other's base model by a few more hp and a few more mpg. If you're a true ponycar enthusiast this should excite you as it is the type of competition that will allow this class of vehicle to survive for years to come.
03-26-2010 | 10:31 AM
#24
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Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 2,979
It doesn't address the mass problem, and the low end of the engine scale isn't where the concentration should be... not the least because the concentration there should be fuel economy and pushing down pricing.
Further, it's the HIGH end that the problem will exist at with Ford's new 5.0 and GM's significant power deficit between the GT500 and the SS.
03-26-2010 | 11:04 AM
#25
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Posts: 9,710
From: Oakland, California
03-26-2010 | 11:27 AM
#26
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Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 1,049
From: Confederate States of America
If you buy into the theory that GM needs to sell a lot more V6 Camaros to maintain its survival then it makes a lot of sense. The type of buyers that quibble over 1-2 hp or 1-2 mpg here or there are not concerned with mass.
Agreed 100%. GM needs to get the GenV DI V8 to market yesterday. The only problem is you just know Corvette will see it before Camaro ever does. It's a shame they can't go back to 1967, when the Camaro got the 350-cid V8 before any other Chevrolet, including Corvette.
Agreed 100%. GM needs to get the GenV DI V8 to market yesterday. The only problem is you just know Corvette will see it before Camaro ever does. It's a shame they can't go back to 1967, when the Camaro got the 350-cid V8 before any other Chevrolet, including Corvette.
03-26-2010 | 12:32 PM
#27
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 6,165
From: Sterling Heights, MI
Corvette will always be the first to debut new V8 engine technology. Old GM or "New" GM, I think you're fooling yourself if you think they won't save Gen V for C7 first. Incremental improvements to the LS3 are more likely.
03-28-2010 | 09:48 AM
#29
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Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 2,688
From: Middle of Kansas
