For those enthuists that hated the idea of an AWD Camaro, how about a hybrid?

GM Two-mode hybrid Tahoe comes out next year http://www.gm.com/company/gmability/...s/two_mode.pdf

..and since it works with a standard Gen IV V8 and DCX is using there version in a performance Mercedes, it probably would be doable.

I don't know how many people would opt for 5.3L Hybrid camaro that is heavier, automatic only, and $3000 more expensive, but it would be great to show that GM performance cars get great fuel economy. I most likely wouldn't buy one but it would stir up some great press for GM and the Camaro.

 

it'll probably be a 10% increase in fuel ecconomy, and the way most of us drive, it couldnt hurt

but it would add extra weight that most of us wouldnt want... soo, probably not in the z28 model maybe the v6...

 

I personally wouldn't opt for something like that, but then again my needs for a Camaro are different then those of others. I drive my Camaro maybe once or twice a month, six months out of the year, so fuel economy is the least of my worries. I probably go through 2 or 3 tanks of gas in a year.

 

woo... i probably go throguh a tank a week... but i still dont want it...

 

I wouldn't mind it in a daily driver. Remember, on a v6 or v8, it is more than just an economy booster, it is also a performance enhancer.

The accord v6 hybrid is one such example. It not only gets better fuel economy than the regular v6 accord, it is also noticably quicker in both 0-60 and quarter mile times. Same with the Lexus RX SUV with the hybrid version being much quicker than the nonhybrid.

So i wouldn't be opposed to the idea of a 415hp Ls2 hybrid with a fuel economy rating of around 25city and 35highway. It would be quicker than a regular non-hybrid ls2 camaro and get better fuel economy numbers.

I probably would pay 3k for that (performance boost and better fuel economy). I'm opposed to the traditional non-performance hybrids, but welcome performance hybrids with open arms. And Camaro would be the perfect car for a performance hybrid application.

I think GM should seriously consider this and try beating Ford/DCX to the punch. This would also be a unique marketing tool to get word of the 5th gens out too.

So as an option, this would be great. I don't think there would be any weight penelty or anything if you opted for a non-hybrid version so it wouldn't affect those who wouldn't want it.

 

Well-said! I would welcome a hybrid option/trim on a Camaro. I use, tradtionally used, and will continue to use, my f-bod as a daily driver. There's nothing more I would like than to have a great-performing car that's a little more forgiving on the gas.

 

Don't like it. Course, if I bought one I'd be getting the high-po V8 anyways. On a smaller V8 or base V6, I guess. I'd rather have DoD than an electric hybrid.

 

I would take it... I fill the tank up with $25 every single morning before I go to work. 90 miles each way

 

What a Hybrid Camaro might gain in acceleration, it could also lose in handling and braking, due to the added weight of the system. On the other hand, it is probably only a matter of time before the pony cars get a version of it, so maybe it would be a good thing for GM to be an innovator for a change and be the first one out with a system in their Camaro. People bitched about fuel injection too in the 80s. Seems like everyone got over that.

 

Big displacement high HP stuff needs to stick to DOD for MPG gains.

if we're talking full hybrid it would be a massive waste to have a 5.3L V8 running the generator motor. If you're talking semi-hybrid with traditional direct drive like the Silverado hybrid or the Accord Hybrid then there's very little MPG gain at all.

 

it would be the smartest thing they could do.

 

Accord hybrid and Silverado hybrid are not the same. The silverado's does NOT power the truck while it is moving. It is a very simple (and near useless really) system. All it does is shuts the engine down when vehicle is idling and restarts engine when the throttle is pressed. That's all it does. It's a simple Stop-n-Go system. It does not assist the gas engine in any way while vehicle is in motion.

The accord system on the other hand is useful, assists in powering/running the vehicle, and owners realize noticable mpg gains. It provides the stop/start feature but also assists the gas motor when vehicle is in motion minimizing the gas engines fuel consumption. Honda's IMA hybrid also sees use on the civic and Insight. It's their bread and butter hybrid system and it works fairly well as far as improving fuel economy.

Both are mild hybrids but they work in very different ways. The Honda system actually sees noticable fuel economy gains.

Accord v6: 20city/29 highway
Accord v6 hybrid: 29city/37 highway

That's more than a "little mpg gain".

Silverado only sees a 1mpg increase over the non-hybrid. It's system does see little gain.

But who is to say that a full hybrid application can't be used on a performance vehicle or with a large motor? I don't see why it would be a complete waste. Toyota plans on adding it to their upcoming v8's. I think their flagship LS sedans will soon have a hybrid v8 that is said to deliver the performance and power of a v10, but with much better fuel economy. Better than anything you'd see out of a simple DoD application. The v6's in the Highlander and RX400H hybrids are a full hybrid system and while the 3.3L v6's in them doesn't exactly qualify as a "large" motor, it is larger than what we have traditionally seen in full hybrid applications. These SUV's are freaken quick!! and their fuel economy numbers are very impressive....EVEN if you don't realize the EPA ratings, the mpg increase that you would notice would still be big.

For some reason, i really do want to see a performance hybrid from GM. Maybe camaro is not the right application (i think it is the perfect application due to volume/popularity), but if not camaro than maybe GTO. Maybe MC if it ever goes Rwd.

 

5.3+DoD+6L80E+hybrid=

 

= complexity
I'm still worried about the long term costs and reliability of DoD and hybrid systems.

 

^ ^ ^ agreed .

Maybe its performance would be a little less than a non-Hybrid model, but still, how much power is a ~325 HP motor gonna lose, yet look at the positive effect on fuel mileage. GM needs to lead the way on technology like this if they want to stay at the top of the playing field.