Edmunds Feature - GM's LS7 427 Chevrolet Camaro SS (2009 Camaro SS Preview)
06-05-2007, 05:51 PM
#16
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06-05-2007, 11:41 PM
#19
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06-06-2007, 02:08 AM
#20
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06-06-2007, 09:57 AM
#22
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06-06-2007, 10:06 AM
#24
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Nevertheless, even loose talk of a 1/4 ton more mass for the 5th gen is disturbing. IF true, there is no way one would find it's way into my garage.
06-06-2007, 10:17 AM
#25
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06-06-2007, 12:42 PM
#26
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That being said, the GT500 has an iron block and a blower, so the Camaro should be lighter and better balanced -- even with the IRS.
06-06-2007, 04:32 PM
#28
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A few random thoughts (other than IRS-related).
1. More power implies stronger everything-that-touches-the-driveline. Right? Stronger rear end, stronger engine mounts, frame reinforcements, transmission. Thinking way back to 1998, when the Holden Commodore switched from the Iron block 5.0 Holden engine to the LS1, the weight stayed about the same, even though the engine was something like 100 pounds lighter. And that was only increasing the power from around 240 to around 300.
2. The new car has updated NVH, safety, equipment demands. People want options like NAV. The market demands a quieter, more solid feel. The gov't wants tire pressure systems, more airbags, stability control.
3. The new car will be based on a 4000 pound sedan and will be targeted at a relatively low price point. For some reason, chopping 6 inches out of the wheelbase and deleting a couple of doors doesn't result in a massive weight reduction when other companies do it, unless a lot of effort is spent (read time and engineering and perhaps manufacturing $$) and exotic materials are used (more $$). If GM could develop the platform specifically for the purpose, and had a price point of $75K, then they could afford to do the same sorts of things that were done for the Z06 Corvette, which by all accounts is quite an engineering accomplishment.
4. With a 3 year general and 5 year powertrain warranty, GM will have to make sure that the parts are solid and durable -- something it doesn't need to do for a one-off engineering mule.
So, I don't expect a putative 500hp new Camaro to be a lightweight.
1. More power implies stronger everything-that-touches-the-driveline. Right? Stronger rear end, stronger engine mounts, frame reinforcements, transmission. Thinking way back to 1998, when the Holden Commodore switched from the Iron block 5.0 Holden engine to the LS1, the weight stayed about the same, even though the engine was something like 100 pounds lighter. And that was only increasing the power from around 240 to around 300.
2. The new car has updated NVH, safety, equipment demands. People want options like NAV. The market demands a quieter, more solid feel. The gov't wants tire pressure systems, more airbags, stability control.
3. The new car will be based on a 4000 pound sedan and will be targeted at a relatively low price point. For some reason, chopping 6 inches out of the wheelbase and deleting a couple of doors doesn't result in a massive weight reduction when other companies do it, unless a lot of effort is spent (read time and engineering and perhaps manufacturing $$) and exotic materials are used (more $$). If GM could develop the platform specifically for the purpose, and had a price point of $75K, then they could afford to do the same sorts of things that were done for the Z06 Corvette, which by all accounts is quite an engineering accomplishment.
4. With a 3 year general and 5 year powertrain warranty, GM will have to make sure that the parts are solid and durable -- something it doesn't need to do for a one-off engineering mule.
So, I don't expect a putative 500hp new Camaro to be a lightweight.
06-06-2007, 09:27 PM
#29
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Audi dropped something like 200 pounds on the new TT (using the exact same driveline) by using AL in parts of its subframes. But, more importantly, kept the price within $1,000 of the outgoing model.
That is progress in my book. And, it has proven to have a dramatic positive effect on the performance (and, more importantly, fun) of the car.
It goes to show it is possible.
I would gladly pay $1k to drop 200 pounds from the factory. It is INCREDIBLY difficult to do that in the aftermarket -- especially considering how easy it is to add power.
It might make for a nice addition to the Z28 or a special edition. But, I would love to see it even in the SS model.
However, I seriously doubt we will get a 3500# or less V8 Camaro, but it sure would be nice.
That is progress in my book. And, it has proven to have a dramatic positive effect on the performance (and, more importantly, fun) of the car.
It goes to show it is possible.
I would gladly pay $1k to drop 200 pounds from the factory. It is INCREDIBLY difficult to do that in the aftermarket -- especially considering how easy it is to add power.
It might make for a nice addition to the Z28 or a special edition. But, I would love to see it even in the SS model.
However, I seriously doubt we will get a 3500# or less V8 Camaro, but it sure would be nice.
06-06-2007, 09:56 PM
#30
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I suppose there is a point to it for some. For me though, a better point is made by a base Corvette, which carries a lower transaction price, 100 less horsepower, 700 fewer pounds, and pretty much cleans the GT500's clock on virtually any performance metric that you can think of.