Sorry slayer, but a non Z06 Vette weighs 3350lbs................ just how do you propose to get a 4-seater, affordable, ponycar to 3300lbs???

I would be curious to see what you come up with.

 

Well, I would assume when an engineer throws out a "25-50 lbs more" figure, he/she is already aware of the axle's requirements in the future car. I can't see anyone saying "a properly done IRS in the next Camaro will only add 25 pounds over a live axle...but oh yeah, that IRS will only handle 300 HP".

"Properly done" to me would mean as inexpensive as possible while still able to handle power levels well north of 400.

 

3600 is OK with me. 4100 is repulsive.

 

Umm Chevy's site lists the curb weight of a standard Vette at 3,179 lbs.
Although I will agree that I can't see a 4-seat affordable ponycar (assuming at least SOME interior room) at only 121lbs more.

Chris

 

i voted 3700, although for some reason my gut feeling is that it is going to weigh about 3600 pounds. dont know why, just what im feeling. Id love it to be lighter though.

 

I believe that curb weight is based on the absolute basic car, dry (no fluids), without option one. Everything I have seen from the Corvette sites, says it weighs about 3350lbs.

Look at it this way, if the base Vette only weighed 3179lbs............ then the Z06 weighing 3150lbs is not much of an accomplishment.

Remember, the Solstice weighs 2900lbs............ and it is a tiny, 4cyl, 2-seater sportscar.

 

Kidding right?
A base Vette weights that and a Z06 weighs 29lbs. less! is not an accomplishment?
Let's look at it this way. A Z06 has all power, HUD, everything and its only options are heated seats and nav or something or other right? So it has still undercut the BASE Vette while still having all those options and supporting 505hp with a lot more suspension, heavier duty parts to take the beating, wider wheels, etc.
That is nothing short of a masterpiece of a car there.

I think the point you might be trying to make is that the Z06 is quite the feat for what it is while the Solstice in comparison, was not scoured so much for weight-cutting feats that at its price point, could not afford.
The Solstice being a porker has nothing to do with the Z06, except to compare what can be done when you have more of a budget to work with.

 

Only if you take a cost be damned outlook.

GT vs Cobra is actually an excellent example.

Hell, an AC compressor is typically over 25 pounds. A power seat motor & related wiring is pushing 70. I already posted the weight gain the VE's "sophisticated" IRS is adding to the VZ's fairly simple version.

Ford's live axle Crown Vic land yacht is 4000 pounds. The old live axle LT1 Impala SS was 4030. Yet the smaller-than-grand-prix Cadillac's IRS CTSv is 3850 pounds, The IRS Chrysler LX hemis are 4100 pounds, and the same size Cadillac STS weighs 4300 pounds!!

Not sure who's passing info that a "properly designed" IRS is just 25 pounds more, but I guess "Properly Designed" means made of Titanium.


BTW: Although I prefer something around 3200 pounds, as long as the new Camaro is quicker, better handling, better made, and reasonably priced, I'm not worried about the weight. If I was, I'd buy a Miata...... but then, I wouldn't want to be T-boned in one.

 

The VE's IRS will be made from steel if rumours are accurate. Expect the new multi-link rear of the VE to weigh 100-150 lbs more than VZ's simple toe control link IRS. I'd rather have a modern suspension under my car than an 'under-developed' one... the VZ is often maligned for its out-dated and inferior rear setup compared to its rivals.

Yeah, I know, we've been down this path before but I believe a great suspension will make the experience of owning a new Camaro all the more enjoyable. Imagine the bragging rights you'd have over Mustang owners?

 

Funny when the 82 3rd gen camaro camaro came out it was pretty light. Very low 3000 range.
It had all the power options the 92 did and yet the 92 weighed more.
Then the 4th gen came out and it got plastic panels and doors.
It still had the same power options. You'd think it would weigh less.
It weighed more.
Something tells me the new Camaro will weigh 3600+ lbs for no particular reason other then the trend is to keep making things fatter.
3600 is my personal cut off point.
After owning 4 DSM's and realizing that I got my current TSi down to 2900lbs without a driver giving me a power to weight ratio that walks away from 4th gens. I think wow what if I had a v8 that weighed that much. It would haul ***, get better gas mileage then the heavier version. Be easier on the drivetrain since there is less weight to accelerate.
I am a firm believer in less weight.
<prediction>
Especially in a few years when the EPA and insurance companies cracks down hard. At that point car makers will be forced to put in smaller engines or lose weight.
70's all over again
<end prediction.

Ironically the new z06 comes out and weighs 3200#s.
Very impressive and shows what can be done.

 

That bragging right will only mean something to the people who actually know what IRS and SRA mean.

Remember, those of us on these boards are the exception, not the rule.

unvc92, I was in no way dissing the accomplishment of the Z06, just using it as a demonstration that the weight listed for the standard Vette was not correct. And yes, the Solstice is a porker for such a tiny car.

GuionM, I think an IRS that only had a weight gain over an SRA, of 25lbs would have to be made of unobtanium.......... not titanium. 100-150lbs is more like it.

I will find it interesting to hear the comments on the weight, once we know what it really is (I certainly am not expecting light). The comments will have to be taken in context to all the bitching on these boards, after people found out what the '05 Mustang GT weighed. I believe the term "porker" was thrown around quite frequently. It will also be interesting to see, based on comments about the upcoming GT500's weight.

 

Which brings us back to the real point which was done in a thread not too long ago here. Safety and comfort items add ALOT of weight!

The 150 or so pounds of an IRS is insignificant when you realize 2 power bucket seats and wiring add that much to a car alone. Power windows also add up to 40 pounds, AC is probally another 150 pounds+ alone.... and these are things people demand as standard today, not options like they did back when the 3rd gen came out!

The actual body structure of a car is lighter today than it was 20 years ago. But 20 years ago, you didn't have power everything standard. That's on top of the weight of airbag systems, and parts durable enough to last 200,000 miles no sweat.


The new Z06 also has a VERY expensive alumunum chassis and Carbon Fiber panels.....and a $68,000 price tag as well.

 

Ok, must've read it wrong. Glad we're on the same page there.

 

OK....I haven't swung at this dead horse yet, so here's my question.....

With a live axle, we had a panhard rod, two lower control arms, a torque arm, heavy axle assembly....with an IRS setup, we have a couple more control arms...no panhard rod or torque arm...and the center sections are nearly the same...of course both have brake assy's....

Substitute 18" or so of 3" dia. X 3/16" wall tube and 1 1/4" dia. axle shafts on two sides, for two small axle shafts with CV joints....just what exactly adds 150 more pounds over a live axle?!?

 

Thank you, Douglas.