who said anything about there only being a 325hp and a 500hp V8? Its been said a number of times that it looks like there will be a 400+hp V8, and it wont be costing 40k. This discussion is on the engines below that.

 

It has been mentioned that there will be a GT500 competitor and the top Camaro will have to have 475-500hp to be competitive in that arena. Why go back in horsepower, the LS1 4th gens might have been rated at 310 but it was no small secret that they put out around 340-350 at the crank.

I feel as Russtang does, I dont want to be hamstrung with a "wimpy" V8 in terms of 2009 hp levels when I know they could have put in a pretty stout V8 for about the same cost.

Perfect scenario would be a 265ish hp V6, with a 320hp V8 option, a 400hp V8, and then the 500hp GT500 competitor motor. I can dream cant I.

I will just be really disappointed if the mainstream V8 is 325hp and then you have to shell out 40+ grand to get the uplevel 500hp motor.

 

Well, what I am concerned with is the $28k(ballpark) v8 car, as it will easily be the volume car as far as v8s go. I don't want to see a 325hp v8 in a car at that price. If GM can drop a v8 into the car costing less than that, then more power to them. Alot of people can't afford, or don't want to spend over $30k on a car. Why should they be punished by having an underperforming car be their only option? A 325hp v8 in a car that could be 3600lbs (or more) is not going to run down a 4th gen LS1 car, and I don't really want to see a newer car being ripped apart by an older model. This is what happened in 94 and 95 (and 96,97 and 98) Mustang GTs. They gained weight, but not any more power. They sold well, but look how long the "Mustang is a girl's car" stigma has endured. It still endures today, regardless of how many Mustangs are actually purchased by women.

 

There has to be a mid-level V8 model (not called Z28 BTW) for this car to be successful. It would reach so many more potential buyers that way.

 

Using today's engine lineup, this is what I'm hoping for:

Camaro - 3.9 V6
Camaro RS - LS4
Camaro Z28 - LS2
Camaro SS - LS7

 

The mid-level engine should *NOT* be a V6. Why? GM doesn't have any V6s worth a hoot. Take a look at GMs powertrain lineup, and you'll see that the little 2 Litre Ecotec Turbo puts out more horsepower and torque than all GM's V6 power plants - and one of the V6s is even turbocharged !! It would be pretty embarrassing indeed if the mid-level Camaro was beat by a Cobalt SS.

GM produces 32 engines - 19 of which are bested by the little 2L Turbo Ecotec. That little Ecotec, by the way, even bests some of GM's V8s.

I don't see the 5.3 litre going into a Camaro at all. I see a V6, an LS2, and when the top dog comes out, an LS3.

 

V8 should be a given for a mid-entry....we can't have 2 V6s models and one V8.... given equal power and less cost for the V6..I still wouldn't hesitate on the 8..more tq most likely anyway still

 

Get real. No woman who wants a sharp looking grocery getter is going to get a V8 Camaro. It has to have a V6. Follow the Mustang's lead. Inexpensive V6 Camaro will be the bread and butter car. That's a command of the market. Ignore it and fail.

 

Your point is good, which is why the entry level with a V6 is perfect for the "grocery getter" market.

I do admit though, that sofar, the Mustang GTs that I've seen, have all bee driven by women. I predicted that model would be a man's market with the 300hp V8 and all. But to date, I have seen nothing but women driving GTs.

 

That's interesting, because almost all of the drivers I've seen of the Mustang GT's have been men. But I don't think it means anything, either way. I just think that women are more likely to buy the V6, or a married couple, than men. Some of the reason may be peer pressure, but from what I've seen, most guys like the highest power car they can get!

 

Ill add my .02 this way...

This is a Camaro, and Camaro has appealed to different type of people, ususaly ones that want V8's. It is easy to just jump and say V8, BUT...is this 5th gen a chance to bring in a different type of buyer? Is it time to widen the audiance for Camaro? Sure would help sell a lot of the mid level cars, and keep Camaro in good shape for a while. Having a hi pop 300hp V6 could position the Camaro head to head with the 350z with a high revving V6 making a lot of power, fun to drive factor, and still give it an affordable price.
But would a 300hp V6 be enough to bring people out of there 350's AS WELL as Mustang and other sport coupes? Would it matter? Would people just be turned off against the Camaro no matter what?
Here is my input. By the time Camaro comes out, the market will have shifted a little bit more in hp as well as design and desire. A 300hp V6 will NOT be enough to attract the people looking at a similarly priced 320-350hp V8 Mustang, which is the core of what Camaro will draw its sales off of. I think that its gunna come down to a 250hp V6, 320hp V8, and then one or two more engines above that to please the enthuisats. Hell, Mustang will have 4 engines by the time Camaro comes out, from the 3.5 V6 making 250ish hp, the 4.6 making north of 300, 5.4 making 360+hp, and then the GT500 making 475hp.

 

I believe there's a pretty good split where I am in NJ. Men and Women drive GT's. V6's seem to be pretty split as well between female, young male, and the occasional middleaged male that only wants the looks of the car and isn't out to win races (I work with one of these actually).

 

Camaro's SOUL isn't in a V6....a 300-320hp....sorry but that sounds:

1) too expensive for the base car...meaning poor sales
2) too much like an import wannabe and not a CAMARO.

I realize there are V6 fans out there and even enthusiasts, but the name CAMARO was built on V8s, and any "performance" variant should be V8 equipped.

High output V6s should be heressey to Camaro faithful. Anything in the lineup with significant hp should have 2 more cylinders.

 

If there is no 5.3, this is going to suck...period. Why have 2 V6s in a muscle car? It just seems completely asinine to even think it...as asinine as having a 425hp engine at a Mustang GT price.

Mark my words...back in 2002, from my experience, people flocked to Mustang GTs after looking at my Formulas because "hey, its a V8, it has enough power, and its $4k less."

We need a V8 at Mustang GT power levels at a Mustang GT price...PERIOD.

 

Exactly, they need to compete in the segment, not create an entirely new one based on pure performance. Thats what killed it last time. Take a proven successful formula and make it better.....not just by making the 0 to 60 time in the low 4 second range.