GM VP projects 30% of Camaro sales to be V8 version. 3.6L to get 27mpg highway

[VTXrider]

Originally Posted by fastball

In 2006 the EPA revised how fuel economy can be calculated to "more accurately reflect normal driving conditions".

Of course, the old asterik notes that your results may vary.

There were cars that people felt were getting less fuel economy than what was advertised on the window sticker. Heck, look at the window sticker from a 1985 Cadillac Eldorado...... "17 city/25 highway"..... Did you EVER hear of a Cadillac up untill the late 1990's that could get more than 15 mpg in the city?

I have, my '89 Seville got close to 18 city if I was nice to it and my '93 STS got about 17

[ChrisB]

Im not gaz mileage freak but i currently drive a Firebird with the 3.8 V6, will i get better same or worse gaz mileage with this new 3.6?

Im more than happy with what i currently have but if this is even better im not gonna complain

[fastball]

Originally Posted by topgun1

you can't have a Camaro without having the V-8. The V-6's were only made for non-true Camaro fans only looking for a pseudo, entry-level sports car that mimics the real thing--people that were more concerned about gas mileage than performance. Don't get me wrong, you can have great power with a V-6, but you'll never get that amazing sound and feeling like you would from launching with a V-8 under the hood and a killer transmission to make it go!

Those words that are bold faced tell the story.

I think even Bob Lutz eluded to this a few weeks ago....

In the old days (or even not so old days, as recently as just about 6 or 7 years ago), in order to get performance out of a performance car you HAD to opt for the V8. The V6, even the 3800 or 3.4, was an anemic option meant to suffice for those who wanted the look of the car without paying for the fuel.

Today, the 3.6 VVT DI is an AMAZING engine. Go to your Cadillac dealer and drive a CTS 3.6 DI with the stick shift. I did, so I could get a gauge as to what the Camaro is going to be like, and I will tell you this: there are going to be alot of 4th gen Z28 350 owners (especially with the automatic) who are going to be let down (if their car is bone stock) when they see a 5th gen V6 6 speed stick keep up with them rather easily. You drive the 24 valve DOHC V6 properly, and keep the engine in the sweet spot about 4500 RPM, and it will amaze you. I was convinced just like you are that the only Camaro for me would be the V8, but since I drove the CTS I have certainly opened my mind.

[Mungo]

I know this may sound off the wall, but if you want about 2-3 Mpg more from your car, repalce the air in your tires with nitrogen. Sounds impossible, but I did that about a month ago, and my gas milage improved by 2-3 MPG. The car dealer had said that other customers have claimed the same thing, but he didn't believe it. Believe it. I didn't change anything else. With the price of gas, I've been somewhat gentler in my driving before the switch to nitrogen and I've done nothing else but that and it has improved. In my area the local car dealer charged me $46 for four tires. I'll recoupe that price by the end of this month.

[ROE]

V8 ALL THE WAY FOR ME

[DGthe3]

It makes total sense that the V6 will make up 2/3 of the sales. That also means that the pricing of the V6 and base V8 will be set rather far appart, 5K or more. As for the fuel economy, it fits with what the CTS DI is making. Actually a little higher which leads me to believe its tuned for economy not power, making it the 280 hp version. But it also practically rules out the non-DI 3.6. The 'economy Camaro' isn't going to pull 2 mpg more out of the engine in the 'economy CTS'. Just my take on things.

Originally Posted by Mungo

I know this may sound off the wall, but if you want about 2-3 Mpg more from your car, repalce the air in your tires with nitrogen. Sounds impossible, but I did that about a month ago, and my gas milage improved by 2-3 MPG. The car dealer had said that other customers have claimed the same thing, but he didn't believe it. Believe it. I didn't change anything else. With the price of gas, I've been somewhat gentler in my driving before the switch to nitrogen and I've done nothing else but that and it has improved. In my area the local car dealer charged me $46 for four tires. I'll recoupe that price by the end of this month.

Wonder why it gives such an improvement. Were your tires underinflated before?

[Mr. Wyndham]

Originally Posted by DGthe3

As for the fuel economy, it fits with what the CTS DI is making. Actually a little higher which leads me to believe its tuned for economy not power, making it the 280 hp version.

Could it be (Thinking out loud), that the Camaro has a much smaller 'face', increasing aerodynamics a bit? And it's bound to wiegh about 100 lbs less than the CTS...you think those two things might be enough to bump another 1mpg out of the LLT?