Saleen to get more involved with the new Camaro?
 

Reading the article below from WardsAuto.com - Saleen tuned Chevrolet Camaros may not be that far off. Since they had quite a bit to do with the 2009 Camaro in the upcoming Transformers Movie that may be a taste of things to come.

See the whole story here:
http://5thgencamaro.blogspot.com/200...-with-new.html

cool thats what the Hot Rod article said too - http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showth...hp?t=26&page=3

Yea but I bet there's some hardcore Camaro fans that cringe at the name saleen since it's associated with Mustangs :D

A Saleen Camaro !? with 485hp and 600+hp! + top Camaro engine revealed
 

Check this out!!! Plus he talks about the new V-8 they are gonna use!!! Yeah, I am definitely excited now (As if I wasn't already!) :thumbup:

I was doing some digging around and came across this.... I didn't see it already posted so i assumed it was news!

Here is the actual link: http://www.roadandtrack.com/idealbb/...?topicID=13027

Car Crazy: Are you going to bump up the horsepower on your Saleen Mustang cars when Ford adds horsepower in 2009?
Steve Saleen: Yes we are, I just talked to Alan Mulally (Ford Motor Co. Chief Executive) about the 2009 facelift year and what kind of added power the GT and Cobra will get.
CC: What kind of added power did he talk about for the 09 model year?
Saleen: Nothing extreme, it's only a facelift year, but enough to make my current engine upgrades obsolete. They're aiming for 350 horsepower out of the V8 in the GT, and they're only adding about ten or fifteen horsepower to the GT500.
CC: Can you give us an idea of what you'll do to for your Saleen models?
Saleen: We don't know yet exactly, but we've had many meetings on what we want. We're aiming to get around 385 horsepower out of the S281 3 Valve with around 390 lb-ft of torque. The S281 Supercharged model will get 500 horses even with around 460 lb-ft of torque, and expect about a fifteen horsepower increase on the (S281) Extreme Mustang over the 2007 model (that's 565 horsepower and 535 lb-ft of torque).
CC: That's a big power increase on all cars, are the prices going to change?
Saleen: Not counting inflation, the prices should stay the same.

<--- Important Part Starts here -->

CC: Are the rumors of you teaming up with GM true or false?
Saleen: My team just worked with GM last month on the Transformers movie. We had such a good relationship with them that we are infact going to team up with them on future projects?
CC: What future projects?
Saleen: Well the Camaro project is one of them, I've watched from a distance while they've been putting the production model together. I think it would be foolish on our part if we didn't get a part of that action (Steve laughs).
CC: So are you going to do your own versions of the new Camaro?
Saleen: It's not legally official right now, but that's what we're hoping for.
CC: What kind of upgrades will you make, have you seen the engine GM is using in the Camaro?
Saleen: I hope I don't get in trouble with GM for saying this, but they're using a 6.2 liter 450 horsepower engine for the premium V8 in the 2009 Camaro and the base Corvette. The base V8 will probably be a detuned version of the same 6.2. So we'll just upgrade the 6.2 liter V8 to Saleen level specifications. We're going to upgrade the 6.2 liter V8 if we're given the legal chance by GM. Our base model should have around 485 horsepower, and expect our Extreme Supercharged Camaro to have over 600 horsepower.

Casull, you are da BOMB! Way to go finding the new info! That's why I love this site!:headbang:

You have to agree that if this came from Saleen, this is going to be good info. I have to say I am quite pleased that there will be 450 horses in the top model. Anything more, and I see the price going through the roof...or at least if a different engine were to be used. I can imagine prices will be along the same lines as the Mustang. So, the mid model would have to be anywhere between 350-400 hp. That'll work for me. If it's down graded (the 6.2 ltr), it shouldn't be all that difficult to bump back up to the 450hp.

Now, if Saleen builds w/ GM, which will be really freakin weird...I can't wait to see what he has in store for body mods. That'll be something to see, for sure! Wow...I'm happy to hear the info...

GOOD POST AND GOOD FIND!:thumbsup:

yeah some good info. that would be the SS model. now it redirects me to the home page . u think they took it out?

450 HP... geez! I remember when they released the GTO with 350 stock HP, thinking to myslef... OMG that is awesome. Then the LS2 with 400 HP came and I was floored! I am now very glad i didn't go out and get one of those GTO... 450 HP is NUTS stock!

Throw a cam in there, CAI, new exhaust and headers, and a custom tune..... be pushing 500 HP!!!

V6, SS, and Z28...one of our guys here says he has it on very reliable info that this is how it will be. Just FYI and not trying to change the subject. And...I couldn't get that page either? Could you try again? I'm curious too! Maybe GM said "What the..???"

http://www.roadandtrack.com/idealbb/...?topicID=13027


Here it is again.... i don't know what happened when i pasted it the first time

it's working now.lol

v6 first then the SS and then the Z28?

Ummm.... i don't really care which version carries which badge... 450HP That is all that matters....


By the way... anyone catch that bit about Saleens plans for a 600HP version :eyebulge:

I saw that too. It's gotta be an added supercharger to make it crank out that much hp.

Personally, I know the SS to be the top dog. And, a great majority of Fbody enthusiasts know it to be the same. Then, the general public at one point or another has also been told that the SS is top dog. Now GM comes back and switches it? That's going to confuse a lot of people. I'd like to see it stay the same. The top model wears the SS badge...because it is the Super Sport.

That is great to hear 450 hp. I wish we could hear entry level when that number was said. I'm happy either way.:cool:

The Z28 as the “Top Dawg” is just speculation from the bunch at Z28CAMARO.com. If you read the thread posted there even the fbodfather denounces the rumors that the Z is going to be the “Top Dawg”…

I don’t know if I buy into Mr. Saleen’s info. There is no doubt in my mind that GM is going to use a 6.2 LSx and have 400+ HP but would GM tell Mr. Saleen to keep his trap shut about production numbers or risk loosing potential business deals between the two. On the other hand, like I stated before, when I worked for one of the “Big Three” we would leak false information out about future products so the competition would try to match it. Then when the production vehicle was released the performance numbers would be much higher blowing the competition away…

Anyway still a good find. :clap:

LOL. I like that...tricking the competition. I was thinking the same...that GM would keep the lid sealed on this one pretty well. However, Saleen is taking a big chance letting this info "slip". I would think he would be wiser than that just letting it out to the public. Yes, he is running a risk of losing out pretty big by letting the info out. Either way, something came out and that pleases me!

I think GM's Black Suburbans have been dispatched… :eek:

I think it is time for GM to release some more (official) information

Totally agree, and I hope it's before or during SEMA. GM will have 27 cars at SEMA so this would be icing on the cake :thumbup:

I can't stop reading the interview over and over again. It's so nice to be hearing something from someone who has direct contact with the production process of the Camaro and to hear some concrete #'s being thrown around finally!

Saleem Camaro vs. Saleen Mustangs out on the road = :bow: :eyebulge: :evil: :help: :burnrubber: :slice:

OK...That would be just plain wierd. I would like to see what Saleen has to offer. But, I would also like to see what other aftermarket OEM companies might have to offer as well........ I'm sure someone's got to be knocking on GM's door. I would love to see SLP get their foot back in the door and build some SS's or special edition models.

I sorta see this as a little white lie from saleen. meaning that he doesn't intend to work with GM (I know I could be totally wrong with that but if he does make the 600+hp maro I'll be cool with that). I mean look at the numbers the mustang is putting out around 300 hp right now. isn't that what the camaro was almost putting to the ground in 02? seriously. . .ford has been lacking in the power and saleen knows this. so crossing fingers and hoping ford is listening he tells the press he's going to work with gm and that the top camaro from the factory is going to make 100 hp more then fords lame excuse for a sports car, compared to the maro. so that ford will go oh ok well lets put more power into it. oh well. . .all speculation. . .well just have to wait and see, right?

I think that if Saleen doesn't get involved,SLP or Lingenfelter will. Plus since Chip Foose got envolved with the Mustang, and knowing his love for cars, plus his redoing a '69 Camaro for last years SEMA show, he will want to get envolved with this one. Probably through Unique Performance.

Chip Foose already got involved and built the 100K - 150K Goodyear or Goodmark Camaros. It was something like that. I would love to see Chip get involved w/ GM, but doubt it would happen.

Although I see how the involvment of companies like Saleen, Foose, Lingenfelter are great for the mass appeal of a vehicle, I really don't care if any of them get involved personally. With 450 HP stock, there is little need for a tuner car. I guarantee that it will not take much and we will be able to get this bad boy up to the the 500HP mark easy! Oh how sweet that will be..... a 500 HP Camaro :drool:

The new mustang tuner market is already flooded. I expect the same to happen with the 2009 Camaro.

I agree. I don't think there will be any shortage of tuners for this car. However, I guess this could be considered a good thing in that it really shows the overwhelming popularity and interest in the car. The real question will be the price point for the stock camaros, which will invariably determine the price of these tuners. If Chevy can't keep the 450HP beast under say $35k+ then i can't really see the tuner versions being worthwhile as they will be rediculously expensive and thus enter a new nitche market above that of the current Saleen mustangs.


Mustang has an advantage in the tuner market that makes it particularly prime for these companies (foose, saleen, etc...). First is it already a relatively cheap car so there is a better margin at which the tuners can resale the cars. Second, it has a pretty weak V-8 as compared to the competition. Thsi makes the tuner market even more appealing for consumers becasue now they can get a rather unique car (ie it has a super cool Saleen sticker in the windshield - yes this is sarcasm) with more power than a GTO/Camaro/Firebird for just a few thousand more than one of these cars.

It just doesn't seem logical (to me anyways) for a tuner to really be interested in the Camaro unles their target customers are looking to buy a $45 - 50k car.

There has always and will always be a tuner market for cars like the Camaro, Mustang, Corvette, Viper, etc :evil:

Has anyone seen any confirmation on the validity of this article?

If he does work with the new camaro i wonder if it will be the same paint job (or look similar but not exactly like it) the Yanko Camaros

Its YENKO :bonk: :D

Pure speculation. :confused:

Albeit quality speculation!:thumbup: ... I don't think there has been anything substanitive yet to prove it.

I think if they are talking about it they will do it.

Steve Saleen is only talking about the 2009 Camaro. Nothing is final yet. Gm is going to use the 6.2L v8 with 450 horsepower. Steve Saleen is talking about using the same engine and making it to the Saleen specs which will bring it up to 485- 600 horsepower

Who does "they" refer to? Saleen or GM?

Hey does anyone know what the c.i. for the new camaro is supposed to be?

they refers to Steve Saleen. If he is talking about it, I think he will do it.

If by c.i. you mean cubic inches, then a 6.2L is equal to 378.3 cubic inches.

that would be flat out sick. i hope they do it well and dont make the V8s look like the V6 ones

I am sure they will not stray from their recent past and the Z/28 (or entry-level V-8 if you believe it will be the SS) will look exactly like the V-6 and the Premium will have an upgraded hood.