Camaro Z28 rumors dampened by Bob Lutz, G8 will (update: NOT) survive

[mondain]

Listen, Bob is trying to save a company and 200,000+ worldwide jobs. A big V8 Z28 is *not* going to save his company. The SS is what % of GM's total lineup in sales? 5%? A Z28 would sell to even less than that.

He has bigger fish to fry. You/We got our SS. Let's just be happy. I want a Z28 too, but when the Titanic is sinking you can't complain that there's no more filet mignon coming out of the kitchen; the chef is trying to get his ass into a lifeboat.

[Tran]

Originally Posted by mondain

He has bigger fish to fry. You/We got our SS. Let's just be happy. I want a Z28 too, but when the Titanic is sinking you can't complain that there's no more filet mignon coming out of the kitchen; the chef is trying to get his ass into a lifeboat.

Good one! And I agree. Anyways, I think autoblog sensationalized what he said a little bit. From what I'm reading, it doesn't even sound like he directly responded regarding the Z28. All he said was that powerful V6 and 4 cylinders was the general direction they would go. That doesn't rule out an exception for a halo type car like a Z28.

[MikesZ]

Sounds like GM could use a consumer advisory panel/board?

[delius]

Look...its easy...look at the signs...Chevy Performance Division shutdown...Obama and democratic congress own GM...CAFE Laws...Gas Prices...V8 popularity.

The V8 will not be here much longer...the camaro has already been given a TOD of 2015 (atleast the current form). The day that the camaro goes to a Turbo 6 as the top engine is the day it dies as a muscle car. Just buy one now and be happy that you bought one of the last performance car youll see.

[SicSix6]

Originally Posted by qbert48

really?

Did you read the story?????????????

[Hylton]

I know you Z/28 guys are going to hate me for saying it but this is excellent news. Perfect direction and strategy.

[Hylton]

Originally Posted by The_Blur

Additionally, I want to point out that there will never be a 4-cylinder Camaro unless it has as much torque as the current V6.

Quoted for future ownage....

[Hollywod]

Originally Posted by McGruff

Value of the SS is going up...

[carsismeZ06]

Look, the whole economy and car business is in the shitter. If you wanted a high performance machine you're too late unless you're looking at a Camaro right now. That's not even necessarily true. High-performance cars are going to all adopt the light weight, small engine system that companies like Lotus have been using since...whenever they started! Big V8/10/12 cars are a thing of the past, get over it.

[carsismeZ06]

Originally Posted by Hylton

I know you Z/28 guys are going to hate me for saying it but this is excellent news. Perfect direction and strategy.

I absolutly agree. I'd rather have the Z/28 die off than something worse happen to the Camaro, or Corvette for example.

[ahart04]

Most of the new generations of 'racers' are more keen to buy a cheap car and mod it, rather than buy an expensive, old style, real car like the apparent dying American Muscle. If GM wants to survive they have to respect that. It was probably a bit of that stubbornness that caused some of the problems, and they are most likely learning from it. There are tons of kids out there street racing built Hondas and Nissans, cheap, but they can be fast. I had an 11 second civic hatchback. Cars like the cobalt can compete, but they know more will earn them more $$. I say we get our v8s while we can.

[AZCamaroFan]

I have two points.
1. I really wonder how many people crying over the Z28 have the money to buy a 50K Camaro. If you want the power that bad you can get yourself a supercharger. The SS has 430HP! it's the most powerful Camaro ever. How many people would/could buy one, or just want to read about it in a magazine tested against the GT500?
2. Lutz never said the V8 was dead, and if it does die it wont be because that's what he wants. We know About CAFE. Turbo 4's and V6's are what's gonna happen. At the moment we should be more concerned with hoping the Camaro sells for the next 6 years, to make sure there is another one at all.
Heck, if the Camaro was lighter a high HP V6 wouldn't be so bad. What's in the Porsche 911? a V6. And it runs with the Corvette.

[Ferrarimk13]

Originally Posted by azfan

I have two points.
1. I really wonder how many people crying over the Z28 have the money to buy a 50K Camaro. If you want the power that bad you can get yourself a supercharger. The SS has 430HP! it's the most powerful Camaro ever. How many people would/could buy one, or just want to read about it in a magazine tested against the GT500?
2. Lutz never said the V8 was dead, and if it does die it wont be because that's what he wants. We know About CAFE. Turbo 4's and V6's are what's gonna happen. At the moment we should be more concerned with hoping the Camaro sells for the next 6 years, to make sure there is another one at all.
Heck, if the Camaro was lighter a high HP V6 wouldn't be so bad. What's in the Porsche 911? a V6. And it runs with the Corvette.

and the porsche can still take it out in the corners. As much as id like a big V8 in a camaro in the future, it just doesnt fit in with today's society, and im not surprised about the 4 cylinders and the sixers. My moms turbo 4 banger as some serious power from a tiny engine and most people would not be dispointed with it.

[The_Blur]

Originally Posted by ahart04

Most of the new generations of 'racers' are more keen to buy a cheap car and mod it, rather than buy an expensive, old style, real car like the apparent dying American Muscle. If GM wants to survive they have to respect that. It was probably a bit of that stubbornness that caused some of the problems, and they are most likely learning from it. There are tons of kids out there street racing built Hondas and Nissans, cheap, but they can be fast. I had an 11 second civic hatchback. Cars like the cobalt can compete, but they know more will earn them more $$. I say we get our v8s while we can.

I think you're onto a very important point that has been overlooked. The cost of purchasing the car is realistically the most significant reason that the traditional muscle car is no longer the dominant American sports car is that the V8, without any options, costs $31,000. In 1967, that sort of pricing never would have sold. Even with inflation, that cost has gone up to compensate for new technology. As a result, the V8 has gone up in price. Those buyers who first drove a Camaro at 16 years of age are now starting with Cobalts and Aveos. It's sad, but that's part of why people keep talking about the end of the muscle car.

Instead of experiencing love for the first time behind 8 cylinders of a roaring Camaro, kids are experiencing lesser feelings behind a torque-free FWD 4-banger.

You're right. These comparatively inferior 4-cylinder compacts are taking over because there is less cost to start driving them. Take a look at all of us on Camaro5. Many of us are here because the sleek styling of that American-made V8 have caused us to fall in love with a car that reminds us of a car we have not driven in ages. Others are attracted by the pure power for an affordable price. This latter group could also be looking at a faster, sleeker Corvette, but we chose the Camaro because it is less expensive for now. Afterwards, they will contact Lingenfelter or Hennessey, spend a wad of cash, and have an even faster Camaro, knowing all the time that the same money could have gone into the down payment of another sleek, fast car.

In less words, cost might have a lot to do with the change from big engines to small engines.