I hear ya, but given the choices above, and guessing on weights (3600 for the "base", and, what the heck, lets add 400 lbs for the top dog), 3600lbs /430hp is 8.37 lbs per hp. 4000lbs/500 hp is 8lbs per hp. That said, I think the 3600 is a nice optimistic number, I think the 4000 is too high, as I also thing the the 500 is too low.

 

I voted #2 but I'll be pretty disappointed if they "only" get 425 HP out of a N/A 6.2 liter.

 

Seriously, it's not that hard to get 500 NA HP these days.....but then you all know what I voted for......

 

This is a tough one. I'm gonna sleep on it before I vote.

 

I am sure many of the guys on here think that the z28 will be the "top" Camaro. I am not trying to start an SS versus z28 discussion here. Bear with me. Why does it have to be? I thought I had read awhile back on here that GM was trying to revive the z28 to be what it used to? Can't there be a top dog that brings the horsepower, and than perhaps a z28 package that could be added to it to help it cut corners. Make it so the z28 can be added to any v8 trim to boost the handling of the car, i.e. 1LE style. Isn't that what a z28 was supposed to be in the first place; a race car?

There, now we have potential for a corner carver, and a top horsepower monster. If you don't want the potential weight added with the top model, added the handling package to a lower trim level.

 

I was kinda under the impression ~425 was going to be base V8 hp levels??

 

I vote for number 2 with a spin for everyone to think about. Say GM tells themselves they can go with option 2 at the same price as a GT500. They put in the 6.2 with some tuning to 450hp, and put the rest of the budget towards reducing weight. You end up with a 450hp, 3400lb canyon carver. You don't have the hp bragging rights, but you might have a car that competes with the pigs from light to light and murders them on the twisties.

The sport coupe market is getting more and more crowded, and Camaro has to absolutely stand out in many categories, not just the hp war.

 

Let me get this right
#1. Has 500hp and beats the GT500 in a line, and in the turns, but is heavy
#2. Has 420-450hp, loses to teh GT500 in a line, but in the turns can keep up with the Z06 due to its light weight giving it great power to weight ratio. How having less hp then a Z06 and weighing more and keeping up with teh Z06 possible is beyond me, but lets go with it.

So really...the loss is with #2. Yeah, it weighs a lot, but you also dominate the GT500 in a line and on the track, instead of #2 just being able to beat it on the track.
Would #1 Camaro be able to keep up or lose to #2 Camaro?

 

Weight means nothing to me provided it has the most horsepower in its class; is quickest in the 1/4 mi; is quickest 0-60-0; and quickest on the skid pad. (All within its class.)

To me that's what the top Camaro needs to have... weight is secondary and in this case moot.

 

Uh yea, there had better be at least 400-450 horsepower in the base V8 camaro. If the GTO gets a 400 horsepower V8 GM better not move backwards.

 

+1.

 

Everyone of those things you mentioned is greatly affected by the weight of the car. And in fact, it is quite possible that you can have the most HP, but not have the other 3, or vice-versa.

Have some cake....eat it too.

Bob

 

I'd also throw in the fact that #2 probably gets significantly better gas mileage. Sure it may not be as important to us, but it's always nice to save a couple bucks at the pump.

 

How about this:

Option #1 is made, and is known as the ZL1.

Option #2 is made, and is known as the Z/28.

The ZL1 will deal with the GT500. It will outperform it in every way.

The Z/28 is the corner-carver. It will deal with any pony car that doesn't have a GT500 badge.

 

I have a 500 hp 4 seat 3200 lbs Camaro (Ok 3300 lbs)...what fantasy??

I used lighter suspension parts like aftermarket K-member, A-arms, etc. Not to mention I removed the A/C.

The more Camaro models GM adds, the more expensive this car will be. adding another assembly line or branching off to add diffferent components costs a lot more than you might think.

3 models is more than enough.

Base Camaro with 5.3L 300 hp V8.

SS with 400 hp V8.

Z/28 or ZL1 with 500+ hp V8.

Adding other models like a road racing version and stripped down "B4C" type model will only make the overall car more expensive to produce.