But it's a different thing all together... it easier to pull out 200 lbs out of a Cruze to make a eco model because you are not adding any hevy duty components to make up for the fact that you are adding more power as well...

Meaning... you take weight off for the sake of saving gas...

in the case of a z28... you are trying to take weight off AND adding heavy duty components to deal with more horsepower... save weight in wheels or interior materials, or CF parts, but then bigger engine, bigger drivetrain components are more weight...

Weight - Cheap - Performance

You can only pick 2...

 

True to an extent, but, for one thing, I didn't say it would be free to get the changes. I would assume it would be priced above the SS but below the ZL1, much like the Boss fits in the Mustang lineup.

And why would it be a bigger engine? The LS7 isn't any bigger than the LS3, and they could also just use a higher-tune LS3 (like the Boss uses a higher output 5.0L). The stock Brembos should be fine as well, so you would not need to add weight in the brake department. Switch to wheels similar to the ZL1's (lighter and stronger than the stock SS wheels), leave the brakes alone, go with a lighter hood, remove some sound proofing (within reason), etc. Might not want to reduce the size of the weld flanges (like they did in the Eco) in a car meant for high performance driving, but they could switch to thinner steel in places (like the Eco) and / or CF in some areas. Hood, front fenders, doors, etc.

The point of the Z/28 would be that it doesn't NEED a lot more power (like the Boss), so most of the existing driveline hardware would likely be usable.

The ZL1 obviously picks up some weight in the engine department by going to the LSA, but a naturally aspirated, lower output Z/28 wouldn't have that problem. It also wouldn't have to deal with a 550 lb-ft engine. the LS7 produces 470 lb-ft of torque, only about 50 more than the stock SS LS3. I'm not really sure how much "beefing up" the stock driveline would need.

Even 150 lbs would be helpful. A 3700 lb Z/28 would line up pretty well against a 3600 lb Boss, especially since the Camaro distributes that weight more evenly. If the LS7 were in the picture (probably a pipe dream, but if the volumes were low enough, then maybe... after all, Z06 sales are way down, so they could make up that engine volume this way), it would have no trouble dispatching a Boss.

 

I don't think the LS7 will make it into the Camaro. Maybe a de-contented version that happens to be 7L, but I have a hard time believing it will be in a Camaro unless that Camaro costs at least as much as a GT500.

 

Just get the Hot Cam LS3 (LS 376/480) certified for a production Camaro...

http://www.jegs.com/p/GM-Performance...27485/10002/-1