I've got to admit I was a little bummed about the fuel economy rating on the V8 model at first until some one stated that the way MPG is now calculated is different from when the LS1 was around. The LS3 Corvette is rated at 26 MPG and the LS3 Camaro is estimated to be 23 MPG. Obviously weight, aerodynamics, etc. play a factor in fuel economy but, those factors not withstanding, does anyone know if the 26 MPG for the Vette is under the newer standards? I would think it is, but I have no idea when the new standards were put in place. Also, does anyone know if there are any plans for E85 compatibility? I know the pros and cons to ethanol, but I'm just curious.

 

the 2009 Vette, which is under the new standards, is rated at 15 / 25 mpg (auto), 16 / 26 mpg (manual), 15 / 24 mpg (Z06)..

so yeah, the city mileage is about the same as a camaro.. surprising cause that's where the weight would really effect the mileage...

highway mileage is a bit lower, probably due to the Camaro having a drag coefficient of 0.35-0.36 vs 0.28-0.29 for the vette.. not to mention the larger frontal area of the camaro

 

Yeah, makes sense. I figured that was probably the cause of the decrease. Guess I didn't realize how much of an effect drag coefficient really has on MPG.

 

Man, if i saw a flex fuel badge on the back of a Camaro...

Well I think I'd be on the border of switching from being a GM fanboy to Chrysler. But thank god GM isn't stupid like that.

 

And why would that make you go to Chrysler? So what if the Camaro could run on E85 or "normal" gas? That's a good thing. Hell, a buddy of mine with a heavily modified 03 Cobra can't wait for us to get E85 pumps over here so that he can take advantage of the higher octane.

Just take a heat gun and remove the badge if you had to .

 

i am really bummed out that gm didn't design ls3s and l99s that use e85. i thought it would be a clever way to endorse e85 for gm. "driven fast and loosening the grip of foreign oil"

e85 is the future for race fuel. the c6r team uses e85 as there fuel. like ron said lots of people are using the higher octane e85 to their advantage.

i guess maybe the infrastructure is ready yet. maybe gm its money issues. hopefully we'll see a di e85 v8 in the near future.

on a side note, who uses e85??

 

Yeah, I'm kinda surprised that the LS3 wasn't made E85 compatible too. With the way GM has endorsed E85, you'd think that they would have engineered the 5th gen for it. Tex you make a good point about the infrastructure. I wonder if GM is waiting for cellulosic ethanol to become produced on a large scale before they offer every vehicle with E85 compatibility.

 

i think gm pulled the trigger to quick with the e85 v8s and v6s with the lack of an stable infrastructure. but at least they are heavily promoting e85 for foreign oil dependence. the big 3 is americas economy. i guess gm's focus is on high volume cars and trucks for e85. Ex impy and gmt-900 trucks and suvs. not the camaro.

e85 will be very successful in a few years. research and development takes time.

the z06 indy pace car this year ran on e85. i know that gm engineers make sure that the indy pace car is in 110% perfect running condition. no hiccups or malfunctions. if they trust e85 that much to present gm's halo car in front of millions of viewers there is no way we wont see e85 performance v8s in the future.

now my prediction...

i believe gm isnt screwing around with e85 performance. high octane and american made fuel. as soon as we get a very stable e85 infrastructure we are going to see some bad bowtie motors. gen 5 motor??? high compression, high revving, di, 2 spark plug/cylinder, ohv v8 with no emissions. al gore would drive one. also, maybe possibly a xv8 design for cadillac. v-series and/or cien concept anyone??? gas performance will be a thing of the past but not e85.

 

Preach on brotha! Can't wait for E85 to hit the sports car design tables. Turbo jockey's have been running it for years with decent gains. Get some big N/A power out of that corn-on-the-cob...

 

You guys have got to trust me the e85 makes a whole world of a difference in the engine. I have a 07 Impala flex fuel, and that baby runs like a charm. Its got 110,000 miles on it and not a single problem. That corn fuel, is estamated to make your engine run nearly 200,000 miles longer because its that much cleaner.

GM doesn't need to be cocky and put the flex fuel badges all over the car, cause that would make it look worse. But they just need to tell the owners about it and let the owners make there own decision between using reg. gas or e85.

BTW: running on e85 averages 3.5hp increase per every 100hp. So with 400hp it would be a 14hp increase.