There's no way in hell that is going to happen now, but what if there is an F8, F9, or F10? Would you buy an electric powered Camaro? I would, if it was powerful enough. No emmisions BS, no gas!

The only thing I am going to miss about gas cars is the sound of the exhaust: A 5.0 with an X-pipe and Flows, an revving LT1, the sound of a Civic with a far...well, maybe it won't be too bad

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--David--
1995 white Firebird 3.4 V6 A4 w/ T-tops
Mods:Kenwood KDC516S stereo, front and rear Alpine speakers, Flowmaster 80 series, Firebat and Autografics decals, Moroso CAI, Rally Foglights, Painted interior (Silver Metallic), 3 10" MTX Thunder 6000 subs, BMR STB, Zaino, !speed, !horsepower Help CT get a dragstrip!

 

If GM could solve the power storage problems that everyone has with electric cars, I think a sports car with an induction motor on each wheel would be a blast. No gears, and the torque peak availible from 0rpm.

Just dont call it a Camaro.

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1994 Z-28 A4
160° Thermostat, TB Bypass, Cutout, 1LE elbow, LT4 KM, bad tires.

14.24@97.7 - 2.1x 60' - 100° and 80%+ humidity.

 

This brings up an interesting point. I have often thought electric/hybrid cars would really increase in popularity if something resembling a sporty car were created. The first step would be to make the cars look like something you would want to own and drive. I don't see why aerodynamics can't be sacrificed for a more eye-appealing car, even if it gets 5mpg less than the 50-60 it's capable of. Even with the technology as it stands today, I don't see why something light weight and with Miata-esque performance (Solstice?) couldn't be produced to help diminish the stigma associated with these cars.

Now, would this make a good Camaro? Who knows, maybe the entire lineup for GM will be of this variety by the time the F9, etc rolls out. Should the entire lineup be renamed? What if advancements are made to the point that it would outperform today's Camaro in every capacity, and even had a look that embodied the personality of the Camaro? At some point in time there is going to be a change and movement away from typical, fuel-burning engines.

What I see as disappointing is that GM and a lot of other manufactures don't even have any cars of this variety already in their lineup. No hybrid/electric Cavaliers, Metros, or Sunfires. Why not be inovators instead of playing catch up to the foreign competition like Honda and Toyota? I understand the Autonomy project, but why not try easing your way into this before 2015? Perhaps not in the name "Camaro", but a car resembling this look and performance would go a long way to opening people's minds to this type of alternative transportation.

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-JERRY-
'02 Impreza WRX
'88 Fiero Formula
'90 Sunbird LE For Sale
Formerly owned: '93 Firebird Formula

 

How would we get that V8 thunder we all know and love?

So I say screw fuel cells. Instead, have it be nuclear (fusion - potentially much, much cleaner than fission) powered. Super heated steam which which drives a nice, noisy a$$ turbine which in-turn has an o/p shaft to the the tranny.

How you solve the heat dissipation problem and also fit all that in a small enough package I don't know .

 

You guys are thinking about it all wrong. If a technology like DoD or Hybrid/Electric can give you 20% better MPG, then you should also be able to get the same MPG, but with 20% more HP.


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If it breaks, it wasn't high performance enough.

2001 Mustang Bullitt GT
2000 Jetta M5

 

Well, if it had 300+ HP, could go 300 miles on a charge under full electric load, and recharge in under 30 minutes, i would be sold. Till then it's all pipe dreams

 

You know, I'd rather that all vehicles go electric way before we run out of oil, because I'd like to still be able to drive a big block musclecar a few times when I'm retired (I'm 18, so that's a long time from now).

If you want to build an electric or even hybrid sports car, great, but don't call it Camaro, Firebird, GTO, Corvette, Mustang, Cobra, Charger, or Viper. Those names don't deserve to be treated like that. There will come a time when the sports cars we've all come to know and love will have to fade into the past to make room for the electric cars, but they shouldn't be confused with each other. Part of the fun of these cars is hearing the engine roar to life, the exhaust screaming at WOT, and the deep rumbling idle of a big block. Electric can eventually match the looks and power, but it won't be able to quite capture the feel of the muscle car.

 

I can see it now...
The ad for the F8 or 9

"Introducing the all new 2060 Camaro, now with 350 cubic inches of battery space. For over 90 years, nothing has said muscle like Camaro."

Actually, I think that the future of autos lie in hydrogen power instead of electric cars. Hydrogen seems to be more promising right now.

[This message has been edited by Burmite (edited August 01, 2002).]

 

Exactly! If you can get an electric car to gasoline specs, and cost the same, with lotsa recharge stations everywhere, then I will CONSIDER getting one.

 

The only reason I brought this up is because I was reading something about the Toyota Prius and how environmentalists love it. I can't stand environmentalists! I hate how everything is evil in their eyes if it pollutes! I would love to take away reasons for them to bitch:
"Camaros are big polluters!"
"They're coming out with an hydro car next year."
"Oh yeah, well they are still...umm...uhh...well... GM tests there carpets on animals, BOOO!!"

 

Its possible, but i don't see it happening for awhile. At present it still costs more energy to break hydrogen free from water. There is no distribution system or infrastructure for hydrogen power either. Once these issues are addressed, i suppose its possible.

At the same time, electric cars aren't feasible either, the electic power has to come from somewhere. Most electricity is still produced at fossil fuel burning generation plants, which won't solve the pollution problem. The current crop of batteries and electric motors aren't efficient enough either.

For electric or hydrogen powered cars to move from novelty to widespread reality, a few things need to happen:

1. Find and exploit large reserves of naturally occuring hydrogen, which might be possible.

2. Create a cheap source of electricity, Fusion technology would most likely fit the requirements, assuming the US guberment starts funding those R & D programs better.

Anyway, our driving joy will most likely be of the high octane sort for the next few decades, whether theirs a future Fbody or not.