I'm no chassis architect, but I'd say the Nomad is far too small for a Camaro....and Kappa would require a substantial engineering tear up to be useable.

For one, the front frame rails would need to be lengthened to comfortably package a V8...and it's associated cooling requirements... behind the front suspension. Also the rear seat area would need to be extended to get a quasi useable rear seat and trunk. Remember, Bob Lutz was talking about Holden re-engineering Kappa to create a new medium sized RWD architecture....not simply using the existing LWB Kappa as seen on Nomad and Curve.

 

How about a hybrid Zeta/Kappa? I think it would just be easier to make a SWB Zeta, then to redesign and reengineer a brand new chassis.

 

Hey..that would be fine with me. But for whatever reason, it seems that Zeta won't be ...or can't be made small enough....to give pony car dimensions.

Maybe some engineers can chime in with some theoretical and generic info on this topic.

 

sure you have. see, the only thing you've proven is that you live in your own little dream world where you think your nonsense actually has logic to it. and when challenged you bury your head back in the sand making accusations because your fragile little mind can't take it.

 

Let me expand on my previous posts about why I believe it to be LWB Kappa based.
I believe the Nomad (or Curve since it is the same thing) chassis is long enough. The wheelbase is the correct length, the track width is good for a pony car and the heigth is close. The Nomad and Curve were both 2+2 coupes. The backseat area is functional, but not big by any terms. About what the 4th generation had, maybe a hair bigger. I believe that the changes made to this platform to make it the "new medium RWD architechture" is from the cabin forward. I tried to find the length of the ecotec and any of the LS series of V8s, but I couldn't find anything so I can't give an exact comparison. It stands to reason that they are close in length and wouldn't take too much reengineering. I would guess that Holden may have also widened the LWB Kappa to allow for more room. Maybe the hybrid Kappa/Zeta idea is the right way to look at it. Holden may have used some of the front end components from Zeta onto a LWB kappa platform. Would that be enough change to classify it as a new platform?

Just my theory that the Torana chassis is based on the LWB Kappa with a few modifications. What do you think?

 

Again you reply with nothing but a failed atempt to attack me, and it is a bad one at that. Grow-up and try to add something to this thread. I have done research and put forth a credible theory. What have you done? Not a flipping thing except look stupid. Pull your head from your fourth point of contact and do something constructive.

 

Morbid, chill, the guy has some method to his madness. His post elaborating on the dimensions of LWD kappa was fairly logical.

 

On the subject of close fits. Audi managed to squeeze a V8 under the hood of its A4 series to make S4. That has to be the best engineering done on a mass produced car. A4 packs in a turbo I4 and a DOHC V6. With the V6 it looks rather tight, but did you take a look under the hood with their 4.2L DOHC V8? This will may slow down the assembly, and it may also incur higher maintenance costs, but it can be done.

It would be nice to find out what Holden did with the Kappa chassis to make it into Torana. Perhaps it will allow enough room to fit LSx comfortably enough.

 

I can hardly wait to see what they did. I'm sure a V8 will either fit or be made to fit. Just like they made an LS1 fit in last year's Streamliner concept:
http://car.kak.net/bilder/holden/elf...amliner03s.jpg
And if it's called Torana.....it needs an available V8. Torana is the closest thing to Holden's Camaro/Nova.

BTW, Holden wanted to base last year's Streamliner concept on Kappa...but was unable.

 

Frame rails can be easily widened or lengthened on a space frame platform like kappa. The proposed space frame 1990 fiero was much longer using the same chassis as the 1988 production car with an extension at the back. Today the frame rails on the platform twins Corvette and XLR are different length.

Ive said before that the Saturn Curve was an indication of what could be done on the kappa platform. I think the name "Curve" in itself is thought provoking.

 

How do you know? The GTO has pony-car like dimensions, even if you chose to belive that or not. Im sure that different sheet metal will give the Camaro a unique look, yet still be within the "pony-car" dimensions.

 

The GTO is a nice car.

But only the non-discriminating enthusiast would ever call it a pony car.

Remember that Al.

 

I think the problem with the GTO is that people perceive the GTO to be a big car. Perception is reality. The original GTO was not a pony car, so the name does not "say" pony car to people. The GTO was also not marketed as a pony car. It was marketed as a muscle car, which adds to peoples perception. GM has said constantly that the GTO was not a replacement for the F-bodies so again, how could it be a pony car. The greenhouse on the GTO also looks too big, IMO, to say "pony car".

Just my $.02 about why the GTO couldn't and isn't a pony car.

 

I think the idea of Muscle Car/Pony Car needs to evolve into something else. The 2 need to merge into a new group.
There are no longer that many RWD coupes out there to break up between muscle cars and pony cars. The GTO used to be a big car...now its very small, smaller then the "Pony Car" Fbodies.
The lines are blured now. The idea of a Pony Car and Muscle car have changed since teh 60's. Muscle Coupes is what they should be called.

 

A couple of things here....

The GTO was NEVER a big car,...it was always an intermediate. The current GTO is not a "very small" car...it's a midsized car....on the larger end of the midsized spectrum.
Cars like the Mustang, G35 Coupe, BMW 3 series, former Supra are much smaller than GTO. GTO is within 2" of the fullsized Toyota Avalon sedan. That's not very small. Sure it's smaller than the 4th gen....but what in the heck wasn't? Part of the reason, IMO, the 4th gen died an early death, was because it lost it's way and became a compact car inside, and a fullsized (+) car outside. Not very ponycar-like.

As far as merging everything into one category...where do you put the Magnum RT? How about the 300C SRT-8? How about the Sube WRX? What about the M3?

Why do we need to meld everything together? Different cars, different segments...give more choice and differentiation.....and hopefully more excited buyers.

If you want Camaro to be a midsized car...that's one thing. Just don't pretend that a 190" car is small. I'm not fooled. And most consumers won't be either.