But... but that's 39.44% not 40%.

 

Okay, thanks. Didn't Camaro production reach 100,000 units in the first week of March?

Anyway, lets call it 40% V6 sales - that's low compared to what GM needs this car to sell percentage wise.

 

The LS is oh so popular, not so much. To be fair though, I've only seen one base car. Every other Camaro on a lot that I've seen was at least 2LT on up to 2SS/RS. Which is quite a change, I've seen more 2010 Camaros on GM lots than I saw Camaros for the entire 4th gen -even going back to 91 and 92 for that matter! Don't get too excited though, I've still only seen about a dozen Camaros - on the lot. I've seen almost that number again on the road.

I'm not overly taken with the steel wheels myself. The car I saw was black and it was ok....it sat on the lot for 2 or 3 weeks and then it was gone. Personally if I was in the buying mindset and it had to be a v6 car, I'd hold out for the 2LT/RS - it just looks so much nicer than the LS - more expensive, yes, but.....

 

I don't believe that -- it looks like an arbitrary requirement on your part.

In any case, V6 sales should continue increasing as a percentage, now that much of the pent up demand has been sated.

 

I agree with your second point.

On the first point, the requirement is far from arbitrary on my part or anyone elses. More than one person from GM told me that selling mostly V6's was/is a big part of the CAFE plan for Camaro. Whether you choose to believe it or not is completely your business.

 

I saw a Cyber Gray Camaro LS with steel wheels. I thought it looked ok. If I were one to buy aftermarket wheels it would be a no brainer.

 

I must be the only one who likes the steel wheels.....

 

I've not seen any concern from GM on the issue of Camaro V8/V6 sales, probably due to the second point. Increasing the mileage of high volume models like Cobalt/Cruze, Malibu, Impala, and especially the trucks, will have a bigger payoff than a 10% swing in V6/V8 sales.

I think Epsilon II is more a problem when cars like the FWD Regal 4 cylinder weigh 3600 pounds, the FWD LaCrosse weighs over 4000.

 

cough! weight! cough!

 

Btw, I wasn't joking with my comments that if Camaro V6/V8 ratios became a CAFE/EPA issue, GM could produce equal numbers of V6s/V8s and offload some V8s overseas, which, in theory, should translate to increased V6 sales for domestic consumption.

However, I don't understand how CAFE/EPA concerns would change buyers preferences for the V8? It is a muscle car by definition, therefore, predominant sales should be with the V8.

Anyway, isn't the V6 EPA+ by a good margin? At the current 40/60 split, the Camaro doesn't appear to be too far from being EPA neutral. I don't know how this would pan out with the advent of even tighter EPA standards, however, which sounds like a real can of worms.

 

The USA epa numbers are suppose to be 36mpg by 2020. But that is for cars and I admit I don't know how the classification goes. The 36mpg numbers might be for small cars that wouldn't include the camaro.

 

Those numbers are sales not production.

 

Now that you mention it, if GM were really serious about EPA numbers, they haven't done themselves any favors with the new crop of cars they're bringing out - CTS, Camaro, Cruze, Regal etc...

I don't know how people could possibly place that much faith in Alpha given every car from GM over the past few years is on the heavy side (especially in comparison to rival products).

I'm all in favor of a lighter performance car (say 3400 lbs) with a V8 but I just don't have any faith in GM delivering that vehicle. And it pains me to say it as a GM fan.

If people know otherwise, where's the credible source for your information? I just can't see where it can be parred down to that weight level.

 

SSbaby this is for you.

This is a car and driver review of the 2010 Lingenfelter Camaro vs a Roush Mustang.

Look at the one con listed for the IRS equipped Camaro in this link :

http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/...maro_ss_page_2

Here is a hint. " Lows: The suspension doesn’t like fast going on rough roads."

Now look at what it says for the Roush Stang with SRA, " The Roush chassis, on the other hand, is very well calibrated. Even though it lacks the independent rear suspension of the Camaro, the ride is smooth and settled, even on the bumpy back roads that confound the Lingenfelter car."

http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/...stage_3_page_3

 

Thanks but they are both modified cars and any aftermarket tuner shop can make the stock car get up and dance... so we'll end the discussion there.

Thanks.

I'm more interested in finding snippets of info on how the Alpha will achieve its weight reduction targets. So far we just have messages of hope and nothing more definitive.