GM simply needs to sell more Chevy Cruzes and Volts to make the number of V8 Camaros sold irrelevant.

In all seriousness, by the time a CAFE of 42mpg kicks in, we should see improvements in engine efficiency and further development in modern transmissions. Will it really matter if a Camaro achieves 42mpg when you have a much larger volume car like the Chevy Cruze getting 60+mpg?

 

Yeah, enough that even 100 years later, a viable replacement for coal as a large percentage of US energy production hasn't been found.

The POINT still is that this nonsense is being based on bad science, and industry will feel the repurcussions.

 

I've said it before....get em while you can

 

I'm sure the exact same thing was said 35 years ago as well.

 

Wouldn't this drive more people who want these types of performance cars to buy foreign made ones?

 

In my opinion, a compact RWD platform would only help GM's sales. That's where the sweetspot of the market is now even under the current CAFE rules.

Also keep in mind that GM/Ford has loads of global products they would love to sell here without having to strip it down for the American audience.

 

I thought that's what the solstice and sky were, but they are going to be killed off?

 

So either GM makes cars people WANT to buy and doesn't meet thse new rules, or GM makes cars people DON'T WANT to buy and they fail. This is not a good outlook.

I'm just glad that my dream of a '68 Camaro is still around, although the price of V8's may put those out of my reach.

 

My understanding is the platform was purpose-built for roadsters, meaning no conventional sedans/coupes. Some have speculated Alpha is derived from Kappa though.

GM has a huge hole in it's lineup because they have nothing like a 3-series. IMO, that's a whole lot more important than the ponycar market, but hopefully the Camaro will benefit too.

 

You bet they did, and those that didn't get the good ones while they could got stuck w/ Mustang II's, 160hp Camaros, 180hp Corvettes, and the loss of all the cool intermediates. Already we have lost most of GM's interesting cars from this era.

 

My personal take on the issue:

1) throw away the old 14.7:1 air/fuel ratio. Install forged pistons in all cars, and run them lean as hell at all times, unless they are at high throttle settings, where damaging detonation might occur.

2)Beef up the electrical system. Make the car battery able to support an electric AC compressor, radio, wipers, headlights, elec pwr steering pump, etc.... AND be able run the starter motor without interrupting said electrical subsystems.

3)Have the engine automatically shut down whenever the car comes to a complete stop for more than 3 seconds. AC, radio, wipers, etc, would keep running normally as if the engine was still running. If you press the gas pedal, the starter motor quickly engages, and snaps the engine back to life. No unecessary idling. ever.

4)Install auxillary electricallyoperated oil pump. This will run when the engine stops with the key in "run", to prevent unecessary wear n' tear from constantly starting/stopping engine.

5)if the car is coasting, with the gas pedal up, the injectors should shut off.

Basically, the engine should only be running with the gas pedal depressed. All engine driven/belt driven accessories should be electrically driven, except the alternator.

Just running the damn engine less would greatly decrease fuel use and emissions, and idle is a waste of fuel.

Leaning out the engine would help alot too.

 

How do you figure, everyone plays by the same CAFE rules. I don't see people going to buy an Aston Martins because GM made the Camaro lighter, faster, and more fuel effect.

I've never heard of someone not buying a car because it was too efficient. I also don't recall anyone saying they wanted a heavier Camaro so it would be slower and less fuel efficient. Why can't GM make a car that people want and that meet the new CAFE standard? I guarantee you Ford and Toyota will.

When it is 2016 and Ford makes a 400HP, 3300lbs. 35mpg Mustang and Chevy still makes a 426HP, 3900lbs. 24mpg Camaro. They will probably convert me to a Mustang fan.

 

ZOMG!

Your kidding me right? He is making Jimmy Carter look moderate..and Bill Clinton look down right Republican. He owned a 300C...but he got rid of it for a Hybrid Escape as soon as he ran for national office. He is as supported as feverishly by the environmental left wing as Bush was by the oil companies.

It is down right hypocracy to spend ungodly sums of money on environment measures so "our kids can have clean air to breathe and rivers to pee in"...while running up mountains of debt (borrowed from the Chinese) that our kids, kids, kids can't dream of repaying. Before you can worry about charity, you really should be able to pay the bills you already have without borrowed money. I really hope we leave them some damn nice forrests...because they sure won't be able to afford a house.

 

Guys, I would say we should try to lay off the politics as much as possible since they are discouraged here. Regardless of what the motives are for this legislation, what is done is done and we're all going to have to find creative ways around it.

 

I was planning on modding my TBSS when I got back from Afghanistan. I think now though, I'm going to leave it as stock as possible, save for a tint job maybe.

I'm also going to buy a fuel efficient beater to drive around in lieu of the TBSS so as not to rack up miles on it.

I have a feeling that anything with a high performance pushrod V8 is going to become a collectors item pretty quick.