Some Viper guys might disagree.

But for the mass produced vehicles, I think that statement is correct.

 

Well, the LS7 makes as much mumbo as the bigger engined Viper V10... that says plenty about GM's technical nous in engine design.

Anyway, love the DC/Hemi engines... both pee all over Ford.

 

Yup, probably. And I'm not really sure how I feel about that.

 

Why PacerX and MonkeyBoy, you two do have a civil side! And while I won't be joining you two on a "Brokeback Mountain" tour or anything , I already find you amusing.

I am excited about the 5th gen and,therefore, I am not likely to go away as this seems to be a great place for news. And, though cool by nature , I will not hesitate to BURN the nasty either. Ignorance does not bother me, that can be easily dealt with through education. And while you guys probably know more about the 4th gen than I ever could hope to, I, on the other hand, have probably forgotten more about the first gen than either of you kids will ever know. What does bother me is idiots who don't know how to contribute to a discussion calmly and intelligently. But, maybe I misjudged you boys somewhat.

So, a truce of sorts maybe. And maybe, between all of us, we can "educate" enough of these newbies so that they get behind the new Camaro. I hate to break it to you, but there will need to be A LOT of newbies BUYING for this thing to fly. A lot of folks who have never before owned a Camaro and will know nothing about them. The more we get behind it, the more likely those of us who are serious about the car are to realize our dreams of owning a real one.

Willz, founding member, "Newbie EDUCATION Squad"

 

My bet as to the engine choices:
250hp-ish V6
390hp LS2
425hp LS3

 

Mine is similar, but the numbers are a little different.

265-ish V6
*** GM has a slew of V6 combinations they
*** can use to outperform the low end
*** competition. Will cost marginally more
*** than base model Stang. GM will profit
*** handsomely.

325-ish small bore V8
*** Makes more HP than the GT,
*** which is a selling point. But
*** also makes more torque, which
*** is a performance point. Conservatively
*** beating the competition. Costs are similar
*** to GT. Marginal profits.

450-ish large bore V8
*** Competes with Cobra class mustang.
*** Its a drivers race. Half of the car
*** magazines choose Camaro over Cobra,
*** the other half say different. Camaro's
*** weight advantage makes up for its
*** small HP deficit. The price point is BELOW
*** that of the Cobra class. GM profits are
*** huge for this model.

I'd really like for PacerX to be right, in that the LS3 ends up pushing the 500hp envelope.

 

I do have to wonder about something regarding the LS7. The LS3 and LS9 have been rumored to find their way into the Vette by the end of the decade. No suprise to anyone here. According to some of the info on digitialcorvettes.com I have read though, the LS7 is due to be produced and used until at least 2011. If this information has any accuracy to it, I wonder why the LS7 will continue to be built after the Vette has stopped utilizing it? Again, if the information is correct, I could see perhaps an LS7 finding home in the CTS-V and maybe a higher dollar variant of the Camaro.

Just more LS7 speculation.

 

I seriously doubt that Camaro would be limited to the LS3 just because the top Vette gets the LS9. GM could always play with the numbers or detune the exhaust so the LS9 in the Vette would outperform the LS9 in a Camaro.

If indeed the LS2 and LS7 will be phased out by 2008; then we're probably looking at the LS3 in Camaro SS and the LS9 in Camaro Z/28. Just speculation on my part though.

Besides, even if the Camaro is limited to the LS3, what's it going to take to go to GM Performance Parts and buy a conversion kit to upgrade it to LS9 specs? (You know they'll do it.) I wonder if we could even have it dealer installed with a warranty.

 

Gonna have to pay to play with the big guns... and while Camaro and Corvette don't have any history with forced induction... GM certainly does.

 

There.

Fixed it for you.

 

Keep dreaming!

 

It's not a matter of having to pay to play. I simply prefer the crackle of a sharply tuned, eager to rev, high compression, normally aspirated smallblock.
A blown motor has sort of a different driving experience. In a way almost muted or filtered. That's just me though. Plus, a blower, intercooler, plumbing, add more weight and complexity and cost. Would it end up being an aluminum block or would greater cylinder pressure require an iron block for a blown motor? We don't know. Probably iron I think.

There may be some emissions advantages to a high powered blown motor versus N/A one....but all other things being equal, I'd rather have 500 normally aspirated horsepower than 500 supercharged horsepower. But like I said, that's just me.

 

Bottom line is, the camaro is gonna get OFF THE SHELF engines. What will
be off the shelf in 2008 I guess is somewhat debatable.

I ***highly*** doubt GM is going to make a special series of
low cube/high rpm or big cube/high torque engines for F5.

I wouldn't be surprised to see the base V8 be the 5.3L 320hp Tahoe motor.

 

Plus, if a supercharger is absolutely necessary for some people, it can always be added onto the 500hp N/A engine for an ENOURMOUS power gain. If the engine comes from the factory supercharged, I almost feel limited with what can be done to the engine as far as modding goes.

 

What would your theory be if the small V8 were not made available? The BASE performance V8 was the LS3 by then, and then above that...what?

I'll use 2 sources of information, 1 is the Lutz quote about the 2 V8's, and specifically mentioning 500hp. And 2 is the unnamed guy at the GM Heritage center who is helping design the car, and his quote directly to me that the car is being designed to handle in excess of 500 hp. Take it for what it's worth, but when one of the guys who's actually designing the car, and Superbob say 500hp, I'm sorry, but I go with them.

However I will say that I do like your scenario w/ one change. Make the smalll cube V8 the base V8, but we'll need more than 450hp that by then out of the top dog, I mean 450 is down to TODAY's Shelby, and rumor is there's more to come out of that bad boy by the end of the decade. If the wife got her wish, she would take the 325ish V8 you describe.