While I do not really agree, I RESPECT the fact that you are not saying one is OK, and the other is not when they are virtually identical in size.

 

I'm not sure that the dimensions of the Camaros of the third and fourth gens are too large for today's market but the relationship of wheelbase to overall length is certainly out of whack.

Stretching the wheelbase and granting a little extra room for interior comfort without losing the intimacy would allow for a little shrinkage of the overall length but I'm not talking compact class here.

I don't see the Camaro losing any presence if it were in the 185-190 inch range - after all, a fourth gen car is 193.5 inches long.

 

This whole "presence" thing, is getting alittle silly. As if excessive size is what impresses people and makes them buy....a sporty car no less.

An elephant in your kitchen has "presence'....but you wouldn't want it there.

If Bob Lutz met with the GM strategy board, wearing a top hat and 6" platform shoes...he would most certainly have plenty of "presence"...although, I'd doubt that anyone would take him seriously.

But....take a car about the size of an '04 Mustang Cobra, push the wheels out to the corners, add about 10" of wheelbase...without increasing overall length, give it 19" wheels, a 400++ smallblock and beautiful sheetmetal.....that's real and wanted "presence", IMO.

 

That would be the Mustang GTR concept.

 

Didn't the GTR have the same dimensions as the production car, just special body work and motor?

 

Except, no ricer add ons, shorter rear overhangs and a modern suspension.

 

As the 2005, yes. But I meant over the 2004.

 

Now now, that wing is fully functional on that car. No different than the giant 747 wing on the C5R and other racecars. Modern suspension is debateable. There are a lot of "modern" cars out there using struts. BMW comes to mind.

 

Ok, how about struts with a live rear axle.

 

Heh, save $300 a car!!! While it would be nice to have a better suspension, Ford apparently wants to save some bucks. I read a pretty good article on why Mustang is where it is today (in 2005 form). Considering they were behind schedule and getting to be over budget, they had to make some cuts. But don't worry, IRS will come and will certainly be here by the time Camaro shows up

 

The thing that worries me about this, would be ending up with an IRS the quality of the current Cobra (ie: tacked on), rather than one that was designed specifically for the platform to begin with that has a quality like Corvette (ie: designed to be used from the beginning), which is hopefully what a future Camaro would have going for it.

 

If you want to see how the rear suspension on a Zeta car will feel just go drive a Sigma car. The differences should be negligable (aluminum parts vs steel).

 

Very true and I agree. But with a lot of prelimenary work already done thanks to the Lincoln LS, it shouldn't be a tacked on IRS. Two more years before we see it which should be plenty of time to build it right.

 

Ya, I figured the Lincoln LS could help in this area, though it'll be interesting to see how a luxury sedan suspension can be translated into a sports car suspension....

 

The Lincoln LS already outhandles its class competition (BMW). It should be interesting how it works and what was changed to make it work on the Mustang.