I can see the possibilities of a larger displacement engine as the midlevel choice also. Mild cam, lower compression (to run on 87 octane), DoD.....good power and torque, in a CAFE and emission friendly package.

But as far as I can tell....some version of the 5.3 is the front runner.

EDIT: Unless you've got some news to share, fastdog.

 

If you take the LS2's "advertised" 400hp, it works out to 66.7 hp per liter. take that times 5.3= 353hp, equal to the best of the stock LS1's in the Fbods I would think. Keep in mind that the LS2 has more displacement, more compression, and flows better than the engine it replaces, but is advertised as LESS powerful than the LS6. This same engine in the SS concept made 420hp. If you want to extrapolate hypotheticals....70hp/liter...5.3L makes 370hp. 5.3 is fine w/ me...6.0 even better. Unless there's something hotter by then .

 

What about 3 valve heads on the 5.3L? 3v should be out before 2007. GM says 3v adds 10% more power, so on a 350HP 5.3L that would put the 3v at 385HP.

 

Considering how GM is most likely going to put this car out, a mid-level V8 (assuming a 5.3L) will most likely come out with an advertised 320 to 330 HP (just above the Mustang GT). Actual HP might very well be 340 to 350 HP, but I don't expect it to be more than that even though the engine is capable of it. Remember, GM wants to sell these cars to more than enthusiasts now. That's where your Z28 comes in with an advertised 350 to 370 HP (maybe even more depending on what the competition at that trim level looks like). I doubt either will be 87 octane, though I hope they surprise me.

From my point of view I see it like this: I think GTO and Vette will fill out the 400 to 500 HP top end of GM performance and style. GM wants to out perform non-SVT Mustangs and will most likely do this if Ford lets them like they did in the past. But at the same time GM also wants to actually sell more than 100,000 Camaros a year (a figure I think they will easily meet the first couple of years). I just hope the politics inside GM don't get in the way of a big success.

 

I don't see a "mid-trim" 5.3 being rated anywhere near 385 for the same reason that i don't expect the camaro's Ls2 6.0 to be rated anywhere north of 400. If the camaro's 6.0L Ls2's relation to the c6' is anything like the previous gen, GM will purposely rate the camaro's 6.0 Ls2 at 350-380hp(remember the camaro's Ls-1 was rated 40 some hp less than c5). The actual numbers may be higher, but i just don't see this "mid 5.3" recieving any rating north of 350. If i had to guess, i'd say 320-330hp.

 

What happ. to a 2007 Camaro? Now Its 2008? With all the GM claims of no Camaro but all the proof of a 2 door sports coupe coming maybe it wont be cdalled Camaro.

I do like the Idea of a V6/5.3 V8/6.0 V8.

will the Ls4 be a small bore version og the Ls2 or will it be a short stroke version of the Ls2. I like the sound of a big bore short Stroke LS4. This set up would take well to turbocharging.....

 

With a number of other GM models getting the LS2, I can't see why the Camaro would not?

 

I agree, by 2006 6+ GMNA cars will have the LS2
-Silverado SS
-SSR
-GTO
-C6
-TrailBlazer SS
-CTSv

The GTO will even be rated at 400HP just like the Vette. I can see the Camaro coming with a 400HP rated LS2. Who knows, by MY2008 the base Vette could be rated at 420HP

 

bottom line here...*imo* is that if the base v8 can be comparably close to the gt and be in the same price vicinity (2 grand more or less) and the top model (ls2) can BEAT the top stang (with comparable horsepower), then that's all we need
easier said than done, but price is gonna count a lot here
that base v8 WILL sell if you price it close to the gt (and the styling isnt a total fluke)

 

Niether do I.

I doubt you'll see a 5.3 in the same state of tune as...say... the LS6.
The 5.3's purpose won't necessarilly be for max power. It's torque output makes it compatible for the AWD package being engineered for Zeta. It also won't need a super-duper heavyduty drivetrain--in RWD--- that some of the higher horsepower engines might need. The 5.3 may not even be part of an SS package either, (although, anything can happen).

 

So basically you are saying that there "might" be 2 6.0 V8's? One that is a conservative tune for say the SS and the other 6.0 is a more aggressive tune for the Z28 model that will come at a later date. I would like this. I think to open with just a 5.3 as the top model Camaro would be a mistake.

 

Yup. And another thing i don't see (neil kind of brought it up) is them giving the SS the lesser engine (if two were to be offered). Kind of goes against GM's current (not to mention the 4th gens) SS strategy.

In the end, we may very well end up with just 1 v8 engine with the only separation being one model receiving a more free flowing exhaust and filter and 10 extra horses, and that won't be a bad thing.

 

I am going to play Devil's advocate...

I am going to stick my neck out here and make a prediction, not based on any fact other than words spoken in news articles in the auto industry.

I think we are going to see a turn AWAY from horsepower generation in the next 3-5 years. We are going to see more in the way of weight reduction and economy. I also think we are going to see more in the way of alternative fuels and hybrids - YES, EVEN IN PONYCARS.

I wouldn't be surprised at all to see Chevy release the next gen with both V8's rated at 400 and under - more like 370 and 320. I also think the Mustang is going to do the same - GT at 300-320, and Mach 1 or Boss at 350-370. I doubt (even hope) that we will ever see a basic, common, plain ol' Ford Mustang or Chevy Camaro bust the 400hp mark. I think that ground should remain hallowed, and only open to pricey collectible type SE's like Cobras and maybe Z/28's. Keep the gas-guzzler tax, luxury tax, Limited Availability gouging, and exhorbitant insurance costs for the "rich guys", and keep the common cars (that us common guys can buy) affordable. BUT, make the common cars easy to mod, so that those of us who want to bump up engine performance to 450 or 500 can do so on our own and for much less than $20k in mods too.

Which brings me to the topic of my closing statement...
REMEMBER - HORSEPOWER DOES NOT GUARANTEE A SALES SUCCESS!!!
The 5th gen, DC2 Mustang, Chevelle, Charger, Magnum, and any other RWD V8 needs to be APPEALING to the masses and SELL!!! Most people just aren't gonna care if the car has 260, 300, 340, or 380 horses - as long as it has a V8, available manual, RWD, good looks (somewhat aggressive too, not dull and bland), and easy to maintain/modify to suit their personality. To me, the last points are FAR more important to the success of the car than it's HP rating.

Fair for us to speculate, especially in this forum, but please don't get so wrapped up in "topping the Mustang" or "being slower than a Camaro" or we might end up with another 4th gen scenario. Let's get a 5th gen out that sells good first, eh? We'll do the racing at the track later - mods allowed!

 

[QUOTE=ProudPony] Let's get a 5th gen out that sells good first, eh? QUOTE]


This is what really scares me because it makes me think that it is going to be all about the sales numbers and what we might end up with is a Chevy Mustang and that is something I certainly don't want. I like Camaros over Mustangs for many reasons and if those reasons are eliminated, then the Camaro is no longer for me. This is just my opinion and I am sure this time around, Chevy is going to be looking for some strong sales numbers so we will have to see what happens and how they plan to do that.

 

[QUOTE=SNEAKY NEIL]I'm not sure how I feel about the 5.3 as the top motor for a year or 2. It doesn't seem to be enough. I hate when models come out without a full lineup, even though I know it happens often. Who knows by then what cars will be able to compete with it, not even counting the Mustang.

Ditto to that
I also think that gm shouldn't let out the 5.3 first than wait for the ls2 z28 (or the top model what ever it will be) come out 2 years later. When the camaro comes out it will be the 40th anniversary probably. I think the camaro should come in with a bang, all models. Cause when they release just the 5.3 people will be saying. "yeah the new 5.3 camarowith 330hp is pretty cool." . But if they release the top z28 model with the 5.3 they will be like "woah the new 400 hp camaro kicks ***". Also if they only release the 5.3 thats the one that will build the reputation for the new camaro, and the one the auto magazines(any type of reviewers) will be writing about. If they release the top camaro with the 5.3 then the top camaro will be the one that builds the reputation and gets reviewed. Its just like the Z06 building a reputation for the vette. The cobra building a reputation for the mustang GT.