Only partially. Assuming that 6th in the M6 is 0.56:1, 2000rpm in 6th gives you 88mph. 2000 rpm in 6th in the automatic only gives you 78mph. That's more than 10% different.

And if the TR6060 has the lower 0.5:1 6th gear, the difference is even bigger: 99mph!

What this boils down to is that DOD and VVT in the L99 makes up for a significant gearing disadvantage in terms of fuel economy. At the same time, the 6L80E offers a significantly shorter overall first gear (tops out around 42mph compared to 52mph with the TR6060), which should be even better for off-the-line acceleration.

 

I agree! I'm very happy that the Camaro got AFM and VVT to offset the gearing in the auto.

And I disagree with the end of the V8 being near...

Well, I was going to make a comment about how Direct Injection creates a much more efficient engine, but a look at the fuel economy numbers of the V6 CTS seems to disagree...

http://www.cadillac.com/cadillacjsp/...ion=Powertrain

How the heck does the Camaro get so much better fuel economy? The curb weight isn't THAT far apart.

Maybe somebody messed on on the Cadillac site?

 

I hope you are right!!!!! Long Live the V8!!!!!

 

As long as people are buying trucks and Corvettes there will be V8 engines.

 

you just figure the auto would get better mpg on the highway since half the cylinders shut off. i thought maybe 2-4 more at least.

 

WOW! Those numbers are phenominal! If I lived somewhere that didn't have lousy winters, I could easily see a 2010 V6 camaro being a year-round daily driver! No compromise on style, performance or gas milage! If only I didn't live in the Northeast

 

The auto's gearing is significantly worse for highway fuel economy. You have to subtract that before you add the 2-4.

 

the auto is probably less efficient at transferring power also

 

When the torque converter is locked up (like it would be when cruising on the highway), the difference should be minimal.

 

Comparing the V6 Camaro to the Camry, Accord, Mustang and Challenger on Edmunds (because this is the one that really needs to sell well for the model to be successful):

(Edmunds only had the manuals as an option for the Mustang and Camaro)

Camaro has more hp and tq than all (not surprising)
Camaro has a lower price point for the base model than all except Mustang and is equal to Challenger
Has majority of same if not more features than most models (most notably the Challenger has a 4spd auto trans)
Camry is only other model with DOHC
Camaro is only model with DI
Camaro is right in the middle with turning radius
At 18/29, Camaro has median city mileage and the highest/best highway mileage
Camaro also has the largest range with the largest fuel capacity
Front headroom is lowest but equal to the Accord
Rear headroom is in the middle beating the Accord and Mustang
Front legroom beats all except the Mustang
Rear legroom is the least in the Camaro with the Camry at a whopping 8" more
Camaro has the smallest luggage capacity but is very close to the Accord

I just think these are some if not most of the things that Chevy should push in their advertising. I'm sure they've thought of that already, but it would be very good for dealers to have a Camaro and an Accord next to each other with the specs for everyone to see, especially the price which is a $6k difference for the base models.