HP doesn’t sell cars to the general public and how many of you think the average Joe needs a 400hp car?

The mid level should not have more then 350 at the most.

For the people here…either buy the top dog or mod your midlevel.

 

Or wait and see what the midlevel will actually have, because none of us (save for one) actually knows what will be going in it. I could see this going either way.

 

I think the powertrain choices will probably be shuffled around more than once, before release time.

 

Still, there isn't much we can do about what actually goes into the car standing here on the sidelines. All we can do is wait to know for sure.

 

We should suck it up and buy the $14,511.90 500hp LS7 which is a great for a ZL1 for those with the means, and the $5,355.00 400hp LS2 Z28 Road Racer has no place in the Camaro line up?


WHY????

 

Lets look at the Mustang for a second. The GT has a 300 HP engine right now. In a few year it may have 325 but that is about it. I can't see Ford bumping the HP that much. The camaro's entry V8 should start about 10 HP higher with the LS4 and it should be a better value, i.e. at the same price with better features or same features at a lower price. This should be available in both base and RS form. RS should still be cheaper than the GT deluxe package. After that you can have a 400-415 HP SS or Z/28 and then the 500 HP SS or Z/28. Prices going up for each of those with different appearance and suspension packages.

 

Well, no one is mentioning what BL said after the unveiling, but I would expect 400HP for a starter V8 based on that. If that doesn't convince you, then think about what the Z28/SS would have in it right now if it was still being made. It would have an LS2 @ 400HP. I really don't believe there is anything to discuss here and I will be disappointed if a somewhat low-end V8 model is in the works. IMHO, that just takes away from what the car really can be. And no, I don't think it would cost appreciably much more to put a 400HP V8 into the car than a 350HP one.

Think about it, the drivetrain is already in use on both the Vette and GTO. Why invent something new just for the Camaro? I keep hearing from all the "in the know" crowd about how it has to be a smart business case and share things with other cars, well, this is pretty much what you guys are talking about. To me, questions like this make no sense and only muddy the waters.

I really don't see the need for anything other than this:

Entry level = V6 @ ~270-300HP
Z28 = V8 @ 400HP
??? = V8 @ 500HP

No, I don't want an SS of any kind associated with the Camaro name. It's too watered down to be used here. Use ZL1 or something else. Leave the SS to the Nascar wanna-be's.

 

Here, to help things along, I copied this from the horse's mouth in a VERY recent thread. Just read the last sentence please.

http://web.camaross.com/forums/showp...6&postcount=32

 

Good news but it doesn't really hint at weather he is speaking of a top model, mid level, or anything else. Still good to hear.

 

An entry level V8 making less than 400HP would take nothing away from the car, it would actually be getting back to a formula that worked and resulted in more sales. In no way should SS or Z/28 be affiliated with that car but it should be made. Like I said before, the LS4 is great. 325 - 350 hp, AFM, m6 great gas milage and great price...How could that not help sell more Camaros

The LS2 from the GTO and Vette is a great engine for the Camaro just not for the entry level V8. Too much HP and TQ for the average joe that wants a V8 but doesn't want the uber power.
and
the LS4 is a production engine too.

 

Actually, someone correct me if I'm wrong, the LS4 is a FWD engine, yes? So, it really doesn't fit the scenario. Even if it can be fitted for RWD, again, this puts us in the "only doing it for Camaro" ballpark again. Which I think is just NOT going to be the case. And has been proven with the rumored Firebird debate. Anything added, takes away from somewhere else. I don't think a V8 only 50HP shy of another is a good bargain.

Second, I think you missed the point. And yes, the 400HP LS2 is meant to be the initial/starter/base V8 in my scenario. By 2009/10 400HP won't seem that outlandish and I' will bet that more than a few here will wonder if it's enough.

 

Guys...400hp is outlandish, plain and simple. I think its awesome that we are able to talk about it and be certain that the new Camaro will have AT LEAST that much. However, lots and lots of people dont want that much hp, thats where the lower base V8 comes into the picture. It makes the car appeal to a much broader base of people, therefore, increasing sales. To everyone who says that if a new Camaro V8 engine offering doesnt have as much if not more hp than a LS1 Camaro, well, one powerful V8 engine offering didnt do too much for sales(along with many other factors, i know, but still, it didnt help). the new camaro needs a wide array of power levels.

A few years ago, 300hp was alot, and now we are saying that 400hp is just enough for a BASE V8???

 

The LS4 would not be for only Camaro, it would be available to use in any of the Zeta, like the Chevy sedan which will need a sub 400HP V8 to compete with the Chrysler 300C that has 340 HP. Adding a base V8 with power on par with a 4th gen LS1 is more than enough for a entry level V8 for the masses. Chevy needs a sales model that will bring in new Camaro buyers...a 400 HP, entry level V8 WILL NOT bring in new buyers.

Horsepower DOES NOT sell cars, Chevy already learned that lesson. I doubt a successful business case will have the first V8 available at 400 HP, it doesn't make sense.

To an enthusiast, in 2009 400 HP might not seem outlandish. To everyone else, it probably will.


[/soapbox]

 

Just to reiterate...as it stands today, the Mustang offers the entry level V8 with 300 HP

 

While HP does not sell cars, your analogy is lost on me. Since neither horsepower nor sales really had anything to do with the demise of the 4th gen anyway.

We'll see if a sedan does indeed share the drivetrains with a Camaro. The only way I can see your scenario playing out is this way. The sedan having both V6 and V8 (~350HP) available. Then the Camaro coming along with the same V8 as the base engine (no V6 at all). The problem everyone here is having is believing we're going to get all these engines on a car that needs a sedan base for it to even get consideration. That is where I think the main problem lies.

Please, name another current GM car line (trucks don't count) that has more than 3 engine choices... I'm waiting...