Has anyone seen the article about the Pontiac G8 GXP? 6.2L V8 LS3 powerplant producing 402hp.

I mean, if this sedan is getting the LS3, why wouldnt the V8 Camaro?

opinions?

LS3 in the G8, LS3 in the Vette, LS3 in the camaro? sounds logical.

 

sounds logical. and if its like the G8, sounds like they'll charge a premium for it as well.

 

I'm a little bummed that it's "only" 402hp (boy, that seems pretty dang stupid to be saddened about)

WIth the SAE certified ratings now I don't think they can really heavily underrate stuff anymore like they used to, so that would have to be fairly accurate for the power if that rating ends up the actual rating. Hopefully it's choked w/ a less than ideal intake/exhaust setup compared to the Vette and not a different cam/other internals. That would just yield bigger gains from bolts-ons than the already great gains the LS3 Vettes are posting...

 

I'd be curious to know where it loses 30 hp.

 

Probably the same way they did the LT1 and LS1 in the Camaros and birds. By restricting the intake and exhaust.

 

It could also be to run 87 octane gas w/ no power decrease. In my vette`s manual, premium is recomended and it says some loss of performance ca occur w/ low grade duel. I`m sure it pulls timing. I suspect the tuners will be getting 30 hp from a tune only w/ that Ls3. The SSR a freind has, its a bonestock LS2, picked up exactly 30rwhp from a tune only.

 

I can't imagine the G8 getting a LS3 and the Camaro not...I think it's just a matter of which Camaro will get it.

MPG may have something to do with the less HP, maybe it's 'detuned' for a few extra MPG...gas tax, CAFE or whatever.

 

I wonder if it's underrated like the LS1 F-bodies were. 28hp worth of exhaust restriction is a LOT.

Does the G8 have true duals? We already know that at least one variant of 5th gen Camaro does...

 

it will very likely by SAE certified meaning it wont be underrated.

 

I thought that the new SAE certification program only prevented overrating.

 

maybe, its kind of confusing. i thought SAE came up with the HP rating as well.

 

The SAE testing spec and SAE certified are two separate things. Is the G8 GXP SAE certified?

I wonder if you also can't cheat and publish the ratings at an RPM that it does not see max power?

 

Very logical indeed. It's what a few of us have been pointing to for some time that the LS3 would be in the Camaro. It just makes the most sense from GM's perspective to use an engine that is fully capable of getting the Camaro to it's performance goals and is already in service in the C6 and now G8. The Camaro and Vette have been sharing engines for as long as both have been around so why stop now.

 

I think it's underrated for marketing like the LT1 and the LS1 were in the F-bodies. GM still wants the Vette to have the higher HP number to justify the sticker price even if we know the engines are the same. It's one of those winky things

It's also interesting to think that the Camaro with true duals is now much closer in exhaust profile to the Vette than in the last 2 Camaro generations when they shared V8's. The Camaro also has an IRS and I could see the Vette and Camaro put down some very similar RWHP numbers.

I would not be surprised if the C6 LS3 is still rated at 430/436 hp next year when the Camaro arrives (feels good to say that ) it will get a LS3 rated at 400 or 402 like the G8.

 

Nope. A third party is there to see the dyno, and the company is allowed to advertise within 3 percent (I believe) of the witnessed brake horsepower.