500 hp at the crank NO LESS!

 

Speaking of which I've heard that Ford may have scuttled a Bullitt and Mach, leaving only the Shelby, a vinly package designed to endear itself outside of California with the rest of the faithful (California Special), and maybe a Boss mustang. Along with this great news is the possibility of SVT going the way of the dodo.

 

Don't keep up with Ford much but coming home from Greensboro yesterday I did get beside of a Brand new Mustang in kind of a dark green color nice wheels on it and on the rear or the left side in crome letters it said Bullit and did sound good going through the gears as he left the light

 

There are may misconceptions regarding horsepower. First of all what affects the acceleration of a vehicles is actually the the torque curve. By widening the torque curve it is possible to have a 430 HP Camaro accelerate faster than a 460 HP cobra mudstang. If the Torque curve of the Camaro's engine is wide enough. The transition to HP affecting the acceleration usually occurs after the torque curve has reached its peak. A great example of this woild be a porche 911. This is a very fast car that tops out at 170+ MPH, yet its it not that quick off of the line because the engine has a narrow torque curve. The LS2 vette smokes this car form a dead stop. Why becuase of torque the GM V8's make. HP comes into play only the big end in most street cars. The purpose of varialble cam timing is to widen the torque band and this affects accleration more than simple HP ratings.

 

A C6 LS2 Vette will smoke a Porsche 911 because it makes around 50 horsepower than the Porsche. Torque curves are important, but Porsche's torque curves don't suck. You don't feel horsepower when you are accelerating, you are feeling torque, but ultimately horsepower is an indication of the work being done by the particular vehicle, and the car with the higher hp (weight being equal) will typically win, although this is not always the case, due to things like gearing and aero.

HP carries you on the big end, but it also carries you down low at the lower speeds and lower revs. More precisely would be to say a peak torque higher in the rev range will carry you on the big end.

 

Yeah porches are really slow, especially when you got a hillbilly and a hound dog taking a nap on one

 

Power to weight ratio. Lotus is a prime example. They make big speed with small motors due to a lightweight high-strength chassis design. However that requires exotic materials which increases the price. You need to balance costs of additional horsepower vs. expensive lightweight materials and make a business decision as to which way to go.

I think we need to actually see what a production Camaro would weigh before determining how much power is enough power.

 

Since we're on the topic of 911's....

Anyone here ever drive a 911 turbo or old 930? It's like you're just putsing around until you hit about 3,500 RPM, and then BAM!!!....an explosion of horsepower. It's quite exhilarating. But not exactly how I'd want my 5th gen Z/28 to feel.

Anyone here ever drive a SC'd '03/'04 SVT Cobra? Power builds gradually to a full head of steam, kind of like a run-away locomotive. It's shocking how fast you're going, but it doesn't seem that fast until you're there. Pretty cool. But not exactly how I'd want my 5th gen Z/28 to feel.

 

No, but having owned and driven a '96 4.6L GT with an aftermarket supercharger I can honestly say my NA '95 Z/28 pulls a heck of a lot harder, but then neither has the 1st/2nd gear grunt of my '67 with 3.73s and a TKO-500.

 

Never driven the Porsche, but I have been on an 03/04 Cobra, and I know what you are talking about. Power delivery in those cars is something else.

 

GM needs the camaro to sell well, if it has 600+ hp and cost in the six figures and you have monthly insurance premiums 700.00 and up the car will not be a success and it will not sell (funny figures I know). I think GM would rather sell 100k cars at 2k or 3k profit than not sell any and go way in the hole with a car that is priced out of its range. Camaro doesn't need to compete with cobras and Ford Gt's let the corvette do that. Let GM make a car that is affordable, fun, easy to work on, upgradeable, good after market, long lasting or durable and be happy.

 

I'd glady give up some low end tire shredding torque, for some extended rpm's up top...
More important than the max power output, to me, is a well set up gearbox/running gear/tire combination. I'll always add power to mine, it's an addiction.
I want it to hook up well, and pull rock solid to the rev limit...

edit: Oh, tho I have never had the pleasure, yet, of driving a 911 Turbo, I have owned a few turbo cars...and some seemed to come on rather violently after 3500 rpm...below that they were dull drivers.