I think these two cars would be targeting the same buyer.

Consider:

Size:
Both are sporty two door coupes that could potentially be similar in size. A Cobalt is 180" long and 2970lbs. Not really a small, "compact" car in the traditional sense. A Camaro could be 185" long and weigh ~3300lbs. The Cobalt would most likely have more room and a bigger trunk due to it being FWD, but I can't imagine the Camaro being significantly less practical.

Power:
Cobalt has 205 hp, which gives it a power to weight ratio of 14.49 lb/hp. A Camaro with the 3.9 HV V6 with 240 hp would have a power to weight ratio of 13.75 lb/hp. This might not mean anything though if the Cobalt is seriously underrated(which I think it is).

Suspension:
No doubt the Cobalt SS would handle better than a stock suspened V6 Camaro that was tuned more for ride comfort. GM could give the V6 a well sorted sport supsension package with some big, sticky rubber. With a better weight distribution and RWD, the Camaro could potentially outhandle the Cobalt SS.

Price:
A Cobalt SS ranges in price from $21,995 to $24,195. A V6 Camaro would be priced similarly, maybe a little more.

So the Cobalt SS's greatest competition could be sitting right next to it on the showroom floor. And vice versa for the V6 Camaro. Maybe this is the real reason why GM is shying away from building a Camaro, product overlap.

 

Cobalt = FWD tuner car.
Camaro = RWD pony car.

Although they may be priced similar, and perform similar, they're in 2 entirely different markets and so they should have no problem co-existing.

 

I sure hope that isn't the case. Despite similar power and physical dimensions, the Cobalt SS and a new V6 Camaro will likely be two entirely different animals as far as driving experience goes. Firstly, and probably most importantly, is the location of the drive wheels. That fact alone separates them enough to enable both to sell well in the same showroom. After all, the Mustang and SVT Focus (when it was alive) both did pretty well for Ford. And don't forget the legions upon legions of RWD enthusiasts who won't touch a Cobalt with a ten foot pole taped to another ten foot pole.

Apart from that, using your weight estimates I think the Cobalt SS will end up being the quicker, better handling car of the two. Remember, less weight is even better for acceleration than more HP. However, I say the Camaro's overall ride quality will be better and more refined.

 

The cobalt ss will almost definitely outperform the v6. V6 pony cars are made for the "common" person that does not want/need the power but likes the look. I dont think there will be much competition. The cobalt SS is an enthusiast car.

 

Why are we comparing the Camaro to Cobalt??

It's like comparing the SRT-4 to the Charger.....

 

I've seen a dyno graph of a stock Cobalt SS putting down 211 whp. The would lead me to believe that it's doing closer to 235-240 at the flywheel.

 

Price/size.

 

To us enthusiasts it might seem they are two different animals. However, we would all buy the V8.

The average Joe/Jane on the street might not see much of a difference. I bet the Cobalt will be faster, but if GM does develop a proper sport suspension with sticky tires, it'll be game over for the Cobalt in the twisties.

 

I never thought about that.

The new cobalt doesn't really leave much room for a V6 Camaro. Especially if GM plans on pricing the base V8 Camaro at a decent price. That would make the V6 camaro at least as cheap as a cobalt or probably cheaper.
These things could come into competition for eachother I think. The average buyer on the road isn't an enthusiast, and there isn't much a a difference to them.

Plus GM is trying to fix things with the new Camaro that they did wrong in the 4th gen, such as trunk size, the interior, visibility, and the rear seating. Therefore, a V6 Camaro may be just as practical as a Cobalt.

I don't know what to say, this sounds like a delima for GM.

A guess a solution would be no V6 for the camaro, but I doubt that would happen.

 

I'm sure if you drive at 8/10ths of the limit, these two cars will drive quite differently. But if you aren't pushing it and just puttering around town, I'd imagine they would drive almost the same.

 

Unless Cobalt has singlehandedly destroyed V6 Mustang sales, then there is room for a V6 Camaro.

 

i don't think there should be a V6, and I even think there should be 1 V8 (and perhaps one very expensive, low prod run hi-po V8)

390 hp V8 Camaro Base

RS package for looks (ground effects, wing, wider tires)

Z28 RPO package for looks and suspension, brakes, coolers, hd components, even bigger wider wheels, etc, with a few tweaks for 410 hp. (exhaust, intake, tune)

and perhaps a ZL1 or SS run, with a LS7 engine.. probably would be double the price though.

 

I agree there should be 2 V8s, but IMO its crazy to NOT have a V6 Camaro. You need a volume car. You need the woman's car. You need the lower insurance car. Period. Remember, not all 4th gens are LS1 and LT1s, guys...

As for the Cobalt SS vs. V6 Camaro idea, consider this. '87-'94 2.8/3.1 Z24 Cavaliers could be had for the same price as a 2.8/3.1/3.4 Camaro, and outperformed the Camaro. In '95, the new body 2.3 DOHC Z24 would smoke a 3.4 Camaro. From '96-'02, a 3800 Camaro can barely squeak by a 2.4/Ecotec Z24/LS Sport Cavalier. Did these 2 cars cannibalize each other? No.

So what the hell is the difference here? They may be cross-shopped, but they will not really canibalize each other...and you need the V6 Camaro for volume.

 

According to the Camaro White Book, 43,000 people purchased V6 Camaros in 1989. I don't have the production #s on an '89 Z24 (who would???), but I STILL see a crapload of those cars running around, 16 years later. Back then, they were everywhere. So apparently, a slew of people would disagree with you. They might be "crappy" in today's eyes, but back then both were cars people really wanted. I'd even beg to differ on the theory a V6 F body was a "crappy" version of a V8 F body. On an RS Camaro, all the V8 added was 35hp. You still got the same suspension, brakes, interior etc. So if you consider it a crappy version because it was down 35hp, ok. But it would outhandle a 305 because it had 200 lbs less over the front wheels. Believe me, I know

I don't know where you're looking for F bodies, but around here I unfortunately find far more 3.4 Camaros than LT1s. Without question, the new cars will be far superior. But considering historical context, the theory is valid...for years there's been a cheap FWD econo car priced and performing around a base Camaro, and they lived happily together. Why should that change now?

 

Believe it or not, the Cobalt SS isn't for everyone. There are some out there that just want a good ol fashion sporty coupe. Not everyone digs the boy-racy look of the Cobalt or its econo-car status.

Just look at the mustang. Apparently, Focus sales aren't eating into its market share. People are buying them for different reasons and that due to the different markets that they are in.

In the end, the type of volume the v6 camaro is capable of moving can't be matched by the more limited production Cobalt SS.