http://www.autoweek.com/news.cms?newsId=101811

 

Is it just me, or does the thought of turbocharged four-bangers only cheapen SVT's image?

 

Not really. I saw the Fusion at the Chicago show last week. The SVT version will get AWD and a turbo 4, approaching 300hp.

I think it'll be worthy of the SVT badge.

 

How so? I can recall a lot of vehicles that have turbocharged 4's that are quite appealing. One of them happens to be the Cosworth Escorts, the current crop of EVO's, WRX's, and STi's, Mazdaspeed6 and so on. If they want to use turbo 4's in their lower end models (Fusion, possible focus, etc...) that really won't hurt their image. Now if they decide to put in a little bitty turbo 2.3L into a mustang and badge it as a flagship Cobra....they've got problems...image wise and mental wise.

Turbo 4's are just an alternative to v6 and v8 power. Personally, i think a N/A 6cyl cheapens an image more on a high performance car than a turbo 4 on most lower end models. Highly tuned I-6's and flat 6's are an exception, but regular N/A v6's do almost nothing for me performance wise. Turbo 4's get my heart beating faster personally.

Good to hear they're not only alive, but EXPANDING in terms of staff and products and i can't even wait for the debut of the next gen Cobra come march and NY auto show.

 

I was playing Devils advocate gang. Remember all the flack about a certain supercharged FWD 4-cylinder coupe getting "SS" badges?

 

40K for a car w/ a live axle? That's gotta take some *****. Perhaps they'll offer 2 cobras, an IRS and a live axle. But judging from that article, they sure were hinting at a live axle '07 cobra.

I think turbo 4 sedans rule! (I am an owner of a 1.8T Passat after all.... ) And one with 300 horses, a 6 speed gearbox (hopefully), AWD, and a crapload of room, all at under what an audi A6 sells for. sounds like a kick *** car to me. (Although I'd like to see them match the quality, blah blah blah, different discussion altogether...) If anyone can do it right, I'm sure SVT can.

What a slap in the face to Chevy.

First they release the all new (and for sure improved) mustang a year after the demise of our beloved fbodys.

Now they're going after the Corvette Crowd w/ both a 450 hp Cobra, and the GT. (I know, the GT is way more expensive)

Maybe they can just stop making corvette's cause the beancounters deemed it unprofitable.....

I've owned 3 fbodys in my lifetime, an L98, an LT1, and an LS1, I use to think chevy/pontiac was the place to go for hot cars with fast engines. Not so much anymore. The new mustang gives me a case of the "I wants". I do plan on owning a new model mustang, sometime in the distant future. By that time chevy will have most likely released the new camaro, so who knows what the future brings. My point is people who were in the market for a new mustang/camaro car now have their minds made up for them. It doesn't hurt that the '05 stang is HOTT.

sorry, I got off topic. newbie post, pent up anger.....I feel better.

 

you guys are gonna have a hoot when you see the cobras hood.

 

No more so than it took to put $32,000 price tags on live axle Trans Ams and Camaros 3 years ago (it's been that long already?!). Especially when you could get the same powertrains in versions that cost a mere $23,000!


Where were you a few years ago when the supercharged Cobra came out? You ARE aware they DID put out more horsepower than the Corvette Z06 at the time, right?



Welcome to the site. Not picking on you, just bringing you up top date:
CORVETTES ARE PROFITABLE! Don't worry about Corvette. GM wouyld cut off their arm before Corvette nowadays.

I see.

GM has a few cars that fall into the "I want" catagory. GTO, Colbalt SS, and GXP comp group Grand Prix come quickly to mind. If you want to wait, then you have the Saturn Sky, Pontiac Solstice, & the Impala-Monte Carlo SS with the LS4. The Ecotec 4s are going to have alot of factory pieces (including a supercharger that doesn't void the warranty) and if GM keeps the computer nanny at bay, the Impy & Monte should do very well in acceleration.

I also love the new Mustang, but at the moment that's the only performance model at Ford. Chrysler, on the other hand has performance bursting at the seams. GM may be missing the mark all over the place, but I'll give them credit for making the best of a bad situation.

 

Yeah, but there's still a major difference between 32K and 40K!! I see your point thought...

I was fully aware the cobra made more power, I was talking in regards to the "new" mustang. To be honest I was never a fan of the previoius model stangs (although I do give props to the SC Cobras, which ARE sweet)

I know vette's are profitable, I was just salty that GM didn't stick to their heritage with the camaro. Chevy killing the vette is like swingline killing the stapler, you don't get rid of what you're best known for (I just compared a vette to a stapler......forgive me....)

Realistically speaking, none of those cars give me a case of the "I wants". I'm talking something that the moment you see it, you gotta have it (like a WS6 trans am) Pontiacs are ugly to me (fbodys excluded), the GTO is HELLA boring. Why put 400 horses in a car that gives me as much visual excitement as a cavalier??

Cobalt SS? I'd take an SRT4 if I'm in the market for such a car.... 25 more horses AND a broader torque curve w/ it's turbo. I don't care what people say, a turbo car (to me) is TONS more fun than a SC one. Don't get me wrong, I like the Cobalt SS just fine as it is, but compared to it's competition, I think it falls short.

I want RWD, 2 doors, and a V8. who can give it to me NOW for under 28K??

 

....including 5 model years between the 32k car and the 40k car.

 

Yeah, if you like your performance in heavy, boxy-upright sedan style. No thanks.

 

Speaking of which, its amazing how hard it is to get people to make a TWO DOOR anymore. Maybe I'm just lucky I love GM, and GM still embraces coupes. On a side note, my fiance's '93 Probe is a great little car, and I was just thinking the other day how it would be great to have a modern version of it. Sporty styling, great MPG, sufficient power to be fun to drive, comfy interior...but who makes one anymore? Aside from an Eclipse and a Scion tC, there are ZERO cars like it. A shame, especially when you consider all the old Probes I still see running around...

Not to mention all the new Scion tCs I see. The coupe market isn't dead yet, and I hope in the future more automakers start making sportier small coupes again. Hatchbacks would be even better, thanks Sorry to go off topic.