Did GM's Retro look kill top speed?
03-19-2007, 09:06 PM
#1
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Did GM's Retro look kill top speed?
I was looking at some pictures and thought about the aerodynamics of the car, even with 400 hp I wonder if it'd be as fast as an ls1 camaro with its much more aerodynamic nose.
I know, you'll probably never see top speed in your street car but is nice to know it can do it.
pat
I know, you'll probably never see top speed in your street car but is nice to know it can do it.
pat
03-19-2007, 09:59 PM
#3
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Aerodynamics has less to do with the "smooth piontyness" of the body then you think.
From what I understand, and engineers correct me if Im wrong, but I think it has more to do with the front profile, how the air comes off the back of the car and the smoothness of the underside.
From what I understand, and engineers correct me if Im wrong, but I think it has more to do with the front profile, how the air comes off the back of the car and the smoothness of the underside.
03-19-2007, 10:07 PM
#4
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It might be a little less because the profile of the 4th gens will be so much lower than the 5th.
Top speed's biggest enemy is drag when you get deep into triple digits. The amount of power required to go faster increases exponentially at those speeds.
IIRC, the SLP Canada guys got a 99 Hawk into the 170s on a banked track.
Top speed's biggest enemy is drag when you get deep into triple digits. The amount of power required to go faster increases exponentially at those speeds.
IIRC, the SLP Canada guys got a 99 Hawk into the 170s on a banked track.
03-20-2007, 12:03 AM
#5
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It might be a little less because the profile of the 4th gens will be so much lower than the 5th.
Top speed's biggest enemy is drag when you get deep into triple digits. The amount of power required to go faster increases exponentially at those speeds.
IIRC, the SLP Canada guys got a 99 Hawk into the 170s on a banked track.
Top speed's biggest enemy is drag when you get deep into triple digits. The amount of power required to go faster increases exponentially at those speeds.
IIRC, the SLP Canada guys got a 99 Hawk into the 170s on a banked track.
03-20-2007, 05:57 AM
#6
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Aerodynamics has less to do with the "smooth piontyness" of the body then you think.
From what I understand, and engineers correct me if Im wrong, but I think it has more to do with the front profile, how the air comes off the back of the car and the smoothness of the underside.
From what I understand, and engineers correct me if Im wrong, but I think it has more to do with the front profile, how the air comes off the back of the car and the smoothness of the underside.
03-20-2007, 06:01 AM
#7
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I've met Umberto Bonfa a number of different times (former sales manager for SLP Canada) during our club's tours of the Ste Therese plant and the old SLP facility in Lasalle, Quebec and he definitely confirmed this information shortly after the test took place at the Blaineville, Quebec banked oval. Yes. the speed limiter had been removed from the Hawk. Somewhere in my collection is the actual magazine. If I ever get my hands on it, I'll scan it and post it.
Best regardSS,
Elie
03-20-2007, 10:44 AM
#8
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The third gen had a cd of .36, 4th gen .34. Shocked me when i read the 1998 Cadillac Seville had a lower cd than the Camaro. Still, the 5th gen has a much taller front end. It'll be interesting to find out. I don't get the car magazines; sometimes they tell cd, sometimes they don't.
03-20-2007, 11:26 AM
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03-20-2007, 11:34 AM
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The article used to be available on the internet, but the link has been removed from the magazine's site - I believe the name of the publication was Canadian Motoring and the article was a top speed comparo between an F150 Lightning and a '99 Hawk.
I've met Umberto Bonfa a number of different times (former sales manager for SLP Canada) during our club's tours of the Ste Therese plant and the old SLP facility in Lasalle, Quebec and he definitely confirmed this information shortly after the test took place at the Blaineville, Quebec banked oval. Yes. the speed limiter had been removed from the Hawk. Somewhere in my collection is the actual magazine. If I ever get my hands on it, I'll scan it and post it.
Best regardSS,
Elie
I've met Umberto Bonfa a number of different times (former sales manager for SLP Canada) during our club's tours of the Ste Therese plant and the old SLP facility in Lasalle, Quebec and he definitely confirmed this information shortly after the test took place at the Blaineville, Quebec banked oval. Yes. the speed limiter had been removed from the Hawk. Somewhere in my collection is the actual magazine. If I ever get my hands on it, I'll scan it and post it.
Best regardSS,
Elie
03-20-2007, 04:08 PM
#14
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Your memory is a lot better than mine is!
03-20-2007, 10:45 PM
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I'm no engineer, but the Cd is just one number. Total frontal area is the other.
So even though the new Silverado may have a lower Cd than the C4 it still has more drag.
If the 5th gen is taller and just as wide as the 4th, it would need to have an even lower Cd to match the drag, and top speed with the same HP. I tend to agree with Z28PAT that the Camaro team is giving up some aerodynamics for styling considerations. However, it would not surprise me if crash standards, and European pedestrian crash rules aren't also playing into the equation.
So even though the new Silverado may have a lower Cd than the C4 it still has more drag.
If the 5th gen is taller and just as wide as the 4th, it would need to have an even lower Cd to match the drag, and top speed with the same HP. I tend to agree with Z28PAT that the Camaro team is giving up some aerodynamics for styling considerations. However, it would not surprise me if crash standards, and European pedestrian crash rules aren't also playing into the equation.