Camaro does the Nurburgring test track in 8:20
 

From Edmunds Inside Line.............but it's only 4 seconds faster than a Subraru Impreza!!!!

Doug Houlihan, GM's chief engineer for global rear-wheel-drive vehicles (the architecture underneath the Camaro, the Pontiac G8 and all that blowsy, big-V8 Holden stuff from Australia, where the platform originates), coughed it right up: A Camaro SS ran the Nürburgring in 8:20.

A quick scan of an authoritative listing (it definitely looks authoritative, anyway) of Nürburgring lap times at supercars.net shows cars posting a lap time of 8:20 include the E36-generation BMW M3 in 1999, the Porsche 911 GT3 (993 generation) in the same year driven by 'Ring ace Walter Roehrl and stuff like the Audi RS6 in 2001. For a little extra perspective on that 8:20 lap time, GM recently boasted the coming '09 Corvette ZR1 did it in 7:26.4.

"We learned a few things," from the 'Ring session, says Houlihan, which led the Camaro development team to tire supplier Pirelli for some subtle changes that he says fine-tuned steering response and turn-in, and also resulted in some nitty-gritty tweaks for suspension settings — all of which will further improve the Camaro's on-road handling.

Houlihan also said all Camaros — V8 or V6 — will feature the best StabiliTrak stability control system GM can offer; the SS enjoys essentially the software from the Corvette's magnificent Active Handling system that we insist remains the world standard in performance-oriented stability control. The Camaro SS stability control will have a track mode, a performance mode and a setting that fully disables stability and traction control. Stability/traction control for all Camaros can be fully disabled, but Camaro SSs with the six-speed manual also get a launch control feature.

Houlihan also said the 2010 Camaro's coefficient of drag is an OK, but unremarkable 0.35 for the SS and 0.36 for the LS/LT V6 models. Ed Welburn, GM's vice president of global design, said it's tough to get super-slippery aero numbers for cars with full-width grilles and recessed headlights — design cues Welburn and his styling team insisted on, obviously, to deliver on the 2010 Camaro's retro promise.

We whined the RS appearance package that adds high-intensity discharge, "halo ring" headlamps, unique tail lamps, a rear spoiler and 20-inch wheels makes it almost impossible to distinguish a V8-packing Camaro from a V6 job. But for those of you who can spot the difference of an inch, Houlihan says there's one giveaway: the exhaust tips for the Camaro SS, which is V8 only, are 96mm (3.7 inches) in diameter. But LT Camaros (standard 3.6-liter V6) — even with the RS package — have exhaust tips that are just 3 inches in diameter.

What this means to you: The Nürburgring number proves even if it's a little heavy, a Camaro SS can run with some pretty exclusive company. And with 300 horsepower, the Camaro V6 doesn't exactly earn the "secretary car" stereotype, either. — Bill Visnic, Senior Editor, Edmunds AutoObserver

I'd love to see the numbers on the v6. But I admit theres probably not much chance of that.
- Xanthos

whats the mustang run at Nürburgring?

^^^ that would def. be something worth looking up!

My guess is the GT, isn't too close to that time. GT500??? Different story.

I don't think Ford tests there. They may not have numbers for the Ring

8:20 is pretty good. The CTS-V with the LSA cracked into the 7:59's...which was incredible. If you take into account the power to weight ratio of the SS in comparison, 8:20 is about right.

You could also expect at 3950lbs that the Z28 would break into the 7's.

Thanks, now where is my grain of salt? No but I would like to know the official times for the Camaro and it's rivals.

I guess this is good, I say that because I wish I could see more cars that got around that time.

Yeah, what does the Mustang GT do there?

There is no time listed for Gt500 or Mustang..and I've never heard of them testing either out there...............but still the ZR1 does 7:26...I would hope around 8 for the SS.......

But that is asking alot considering most super-cars are doing high 7's

only out did the cobalt ss by 2 seconds :( thats disapointing, shows how well the cobalt handles. i'm glad i have one even though its the supercharged one, i'm sure it got similar time. but camaro handling as good as an e46 m3 is sweet.

I think around 8 would make since for the top dog, but 8:20 is starting to look slow for the v8 - the Cobalt SS TC did it in 8:22 and it does 0-60 in 5.7 seconds. On 89 octane I'd expect the v6 to hit 60 in 5.5 or so (the caddy does it in 6 flat on 89, if I remember correctly) which would make sense for those times. For the v8 it seems a bit slow.
- Xanthos

8:22.85 147.49 km/h -- Chevrolet Cobalt SS, 260 PS/1349 kg, company test driver John Heinricy
8:31.--- 145.13 km/h -- 2006 CADILLAC STS-V, 440PS/1948 kg,
8:43.52 - 141.55 km/h -- Chevrolet HHR SS, 260 PS/1488 kg (Windng Road 02/08)
8:51* -- 139.66 km/h -- Ford Focus ST, 225 PS/1330 kg (sport auto 09/05) (*mfr.)

cars within 2 seconds...
8:18 --- 149.92 km/h -- BMW Z8, 400PS/1651 kg (sport auto 08/00)
8:18 --- 149.92 km/h -- Chevrolet Corvette Z05 Commemorative Edition, 344 PS (sport auto 09/2003)
8:18 --- 149.92 km/h -- Ferrari F355, 380 PS/1350 kg (sport auto 06/97)
8:18 --- 149.92 km/h -- Maserati GranSport, 400 PS/1672 kg (sport auto 09/05)
8:20 --- 148.32 km/h -- Audi RS6, 400 PS/ 1815 kg (sport auto 03/01)
8:20 --- 148.32 km/h -- BMW M3 E36, 321 PS (Autocar magazine 1997)
8:20 --- 148.32 km/h -- 2008 Honda NSX, 500 PS/??? kg, http://www.autocar.co.uk/News/NewsAr...llCars/225863/
8:20 --- 148.32 km/h -- Porche 993 GT3, Walter Roehrl (Car magazine 10/99)
8:22 --- 147.75 km/h -- BMW M3 E46, 343 PS/1584 kg (sport auto 12/00)
8:22 --- 147.75 km/h -- BMW M Coupe, 321 PS/1445 kg (sport auto 10/98)
8:22 --- 147.75 km/h -- Mercedes-Benz C55 (sport auto07/2004)
8:22.38 147.62 km/h -- Nissan Skyline R32 GT-R (Best Motoring video "Carrera Invasion") http://youtube.com/watch?v=Ua_wcOnPkxk

The Camaro is in good company

I'm betting they'll take the Camaro back after they make some changes...

My guess is it will be closer to 8 flat than 8:20.