While it might seem like a good idea, is it even possible? Can Kappa's wheelbase, length, and width be expanded to accomadate a Camaro? Will a V8 fit in the engine bay? Was this car ever designed to hold a V8 in the first place? Would the IRS setup be able to handle V8 power, or would it require major modification? Can a Camaro be built on Kappa in a cost efficient manner? I know there is a lot of over capacity at the Wilmington plant, so I'd expect to see another vechile of some sort being produced there.

 

The great mystery is how GM is going to fill the overcapacity at Wilmington. Could the so-called Beta-platform is closer to production than we think? I doubt it, but you never know.

 

Honestly, I don't think it can. I'm not a mechanically-inclined person, but wouldn't it require a re-engineering for Kappa to hold a V8, basically? Isn't that going to take time/money GM doesn't want to spend?

And honestly, I think a Kappa might be a touch too small. I think it's going to be tight somewhere, but where?

 

I think it would be more trouble than its worth.

You can't just stetch it. You are looking at crash test recertification, emissions recert on new engines,massive changes to accomodate a motor that was never meant to fit in there, all new sheetmetal, and beefed up suspension and driveline to handle the power it wasn't meant to handle.

 

As stated previously...

If the bay will fit an DOHC I4 and a DOHC V6, it will fit an OHV V8.

 

The V8 will fit, and Wilmington has the capacity.

The problem is that unless GM incorperated this idea from the start, you won't see a Kappa based Camaro till 2010. And I don't mean the 2010 model year either.

GM has something in the works alot sooner than that. We'll probally know within a year.

 

Yeah, I figured it would physically hold it. But what about the chassis? I know this has come up, but would the chassis, which is designed for the torque of an Ecotec, be able to handle a small block Chevy without any troubles?

Again, I'm not mechanically inclined, but is this an issue, or is it a non-issue?

 

Lutz was quoted in this month's HotRod magazine saying something like....'In a few months we'll probably see an article in this magazine showing someone stuffing an LS* in a Solstice'...I don't think it'll take that long.

But, yes, it'll take some real engineering and parts swapping (Sigma IRS for starters), but I'll love a LS2 Sky......

 

Could it do it to a standard accpetalbe to enthusiasts? Sure. We'll tolerate damn near anything if it makes the car faster and/or handle better. To the general public, and to GM engineering?

Maybe. But you'd have to ask a kappa platform engineer.

 

I honestly whould love to see a top quality $23,000 turbo 230hp ($19,000 for base 170 hp version) 4cyl RWD coupe based on the kappa but I would not want it to be ever called a Camaro.

I doubt this would happen since it would be priced so close to the Cobalt (SS).

 

Camaro on the current Kappa chassis is a nightmare and would not/could not happen. Have you seen where the gas tank is? Lengthen the chassis and add the strength to hold a V8's torque, and you are looking at a basically different chassis.

Now using the mentality involved in putting together Kappa, along with the lessons learned, and you have the base for a real kick-*** Camaro. While we are on the topic, think of the money you could save on shipping/complexity alone is Kappa and camaro were colacated in Wilmington and shared components...heavy components...suspension components...you get my drift.

 

To be honest, I doubt this will happen. I'm not saying it won't however.

GM WILL be making some sort of RWD performance car in the class of today's GTO & Mustang. It will most likely happen within the next 26-36 months. It's going to be based on whatever RWD chassis they come up with: Zeta based, Sigma based, whatever.

However, the reason I'm not saying a Kappa based Camaro won't happen is that there is in fact something that's going to happen at Wilmington beyond the Solstice, Sky, & Opel sports cars.

For all I know it could be an upcoming crossover or SUV, but something seems to be up.

 

Front of dash is the easy part on that car.

 

Yeah, that's my understanding also. Making Kappa a real 2+2 would essentially turn it into a new platform.

 

Even though it will fit, I don't see a V8 ever going into the Kappa platform. I could be completely wrong, but it does not seem as though it would be strong enough to handle the torque of a V8 or the increased front weight bias. At most I could see the 3.6L V6 in it. But even at that, that's really really pushing it.

I'm sure though in the future someone garage wizard is going to squeeze a V8 in that engine bay much like how people out there have shoved V8's in Fieros, Miatas, S10's, etc. Any V8 job I can see being only a custom fab thing.