99SilverSS

OK we all know the Camaro means power and performance and there is no doubt which model most of us here want. Call it Z/28 or SS we want the V8 with all the power. I do too! But the bread and butter sales of the Camaro will need to be the V6 model. Same style, less power, better gas mileage maybe lower insurance premiums. Its what Ford has always been able to cash in on and it keeps the V8 Pony's available. I say why not go further with a 4 cyl or V6 electric hybrid as an option. Again same style with potentially better mileage. Remember this will be 2008 or 2009 how much will gas be then? I hate to use this example but the Lexus GS 450h has 339hp and gets 25 city and 28 highway. Its nothing to brag about and certainly not great for a hybrid, but its a start. I think the option for a hybrid Camaro would open up some sales to people who might want the style but not guzzle the gas. What would you think?

V8 Slayer

The Camaro Hybrid:

It burns Gas and Rubber...


Now THAT I would buy.. Not a hippie green underpowered electric P.O.S...

POWERFREAK

^^^Ditto.

No Thanks. They are claiming that the camaro (LS2) will get around 28mpg, so that's the same as the lexus. How much better would the hybrid really get...32? 35? Not worth it...and I bet gas will be cheaper in 2008/9 than it is now.

number77

I have the most tricked out hybrid design you've ever thought of. Perfect for the Camaro.

RoMaD

I think in 2008/9, you'll be thinking back to the "good ole days" when gas only cost $3/gallon. It's not going down, it's going up.

As to a hybrid Camaro, I think it could be done, but I'm not sure where it would fit in the Camaro lineup. However, if we're only talking a few MPG difference, I'm not sure it would be worth the R&D involved.

Chris 96 WS6

I'd rather see an E85 Camaro before a Hybrid Camaro.

yell-01vette

I hope this is the direction they go in, and from current GM press on E-85 and flex-fuel, it sounds very probable.

Z28x

Price, Price, Price.....how much extra would it cost compared to a 5.3L or 6.0L Camaro and how much gas would it save?

I think if you offerend the Tahoes 5.3L 2 stage hybrid system (the same one BMW will use in performance cars) for $2000 over a regular 5.3L Camaro it could be a hit, but it must also be faster than a regular 5.3L Camaro.

Darth Xed

Also, considering this is a performance/sporty/pony car... in any iteration of the model.... how much dead weight are the electric motors, batteries, etc of a hybrid setup going to add to the car? The batteries would be particulaly heavy, right?

I don't know that this is a giant factor in other hybrid applications, but on a car like Camaro, I think it would matter.

number77

Quick question. What is the most you would pay to have .1 seconds reduced off of the 1/4 mile time? How much would you pay for .2 and .3 second reductions also?

Z28x

$200 per .1 from the factory. It should actually be a sliding scale. that is at 14sec. in the 1/4mi. anything above that and I pay >$200, the closer you get to 12 sec. the more your going to pay.

graham

Hell, no one I talk to seems to understand that an LS1 f-car will get the mileage it does.

People act shock that my 99, loaded out with A4, would get over 20 in the city and over 25 on trips.

Z28x

My LS1 SS M6 got 27mpg at 75mph. I had a lot of people ask me if it was a gas pig.

loki993

i would have to say no, for a few reasons.

1. the extra weight and cost of the hybid stuff would make it a non seller, the fact is that hybrids are expensive if you get a hybrid camaro but its cost as much as a Z/28 whats the point.
2. hybrids dont get the gas milage that they claim, generally its only a few MPG over the car with a normal gas engine, they are not worth the extra cost over the long run.
3. because of the above mentioned issue and the fact the the epa will be revising the MPG tests soon the cat will be out of the bag on hybrids soon enough.
4. with the advances theyve made with cylinder deactivation and things like that you can get great milage with a normal gas motor. yes theyre doing it on v8s, how do you think the milage would be if they put cylinder deactivation on a 4 or a six?

hopefully chevy will eventually make ALL their motor compatible with e85 and have them in all their vehicles, not just ones you have to special order, its not that expensive to do it, its just a different computer program and the hoses that will handle the e85.

if they did anything, i cant believe im about say this, put a DIESEL in it, they have very good and pretty powerful light duty diesels they put in cars in europe that get 35+ mpg. i know it may sould like sacralige, but id rather see them do that than make a hybrid camaro. by 09-10 we will have many more diesel cars on the road, more available at dealers and it probally wont seem like as big a deal then as it does now. good gas milage, decent performace in a sporty package, this is what youre average camaro buyer wants. they will not care about the motor that is user to do it either.

krazzycowgirl

our 99 LS1 Z28 M6 got nearly 30 mpg on our road trip to reno last year