Open Letter from Al Oppenhieser to the Camaro Nation and Ford.

[Bad70supreme]

Why do you think they added all that power, if they had the same 580hp they would get smoked! Seems to me that ford rushed this car out, all pumped up on roids because the Gt500 now had no chance in hell to compete!

[2010SS2SS]

I would rather see a non magizine funded run! This would be great for the manufactuers to do. SELL tickets, sell pay per view, damn sell t-shirts! What better challenge has been laid out in the sports car world than this in the last 20 years? (Mini challenging Porsche?)

[zurk80]

Originally Posted by 'StangBlaster5000

No, it's the same engine only with a bigger bore, the new engine will be out next year.

Starting with the new aluminum V-8 engine, peak output is rated at 650 horsepower and 600 pound-feet of torque, making it the most powerful production V-8 in the world. It features a unique [COLOR=blue !important][COLOR=blue !important]supercharger[/COLOR][/COLOR], new cross-drilled block and heads, updated camshaft profiles, a new carbon fiber driveshaft and upgraded clutch, transmission and axle.

This was from motorauthority.com. Not trying to say it's 100% true, just that I saw it.

[PYROLYSIS]

Originally Posted by OldJedi

Every automobile manufacturer that has a true performance car takes it to the 'Ring' for testing and development work. The Ring will bring out the very best and the very worst features about the car. There has to be some reason why Ford does not bring their Mustangs there. They had no problem testing the Ford GT there, why not the Mustang. Ford is claiming the most powerful production V8 ever built. If you want to make a claim like that then you should be able to back it up. I say Chevy picked the Ring, take both cars there with their best drivers and see what happens. Then let Ford pick a track of their choosing, like Laguna Seca or where ever, and run both cars again. Each manufacturer picks their favorite track, favorite driver at the same time and the same place and lets see if the most powerful production engine in the world can stay with the most technically advanced Camaro ever built. Ford, the ball is in your court. Are you ready to play?

I agree. Both manufacturers should pick a track and have at it. Just make sure we have access to the videos.

[ShnOmac]

Originally Posted by motorhead

Cool! let's get it on. Why Nurburgring though? Let's do it on American soil at a track that neither car has ever ran on.

This is why a lot of manufacturers use the ring for testing...

“The Nurburgring is unlike any track in the world,” said Al Oppenheiser, Camaro chief engineer. “Each lap includes fast straights, sweeping off-camber turns, hairpin corners, and elevation changes. In order to do well on the ‘Ring, the car has to do everything well – including acceleration, braking, and lateral grip.

[Blue Maro Demon]

Originally Posted by toesuf94

Um...what? Now you are attacking the Fbodfather because of your 'beliefs' about a car that Ford claims it will build in the middle of next year and calling out GM because you think they are stacking the deck against the GT500 on the track?

Shelby was always about going to the track and racing where turns are involved. Yes, they did some straight line stuff, but the bulk of Shelby's success was on the road courses of the US and Europe. So why is Ford backing down? Ford can bring ANY driver and their car - if they are so confident in their 650 horse monster, then bring it out to the track and show the world that they just bested the ZL1. Otherwise they need to stop bragging. Plus, we already know that a $595.00 pulley on the LSA in the CTS-V makes over 630 horse and 630 FT lbs of torque...so it won't take much to add the power to the ZL1 motor to best the GT500 torque output...and the GT500 does not have Magnetic Ride control or the launch packages that the ZL1 has.

And for the past 6 months we have seen the 2013 Mustang on the Nurburgring testing...the photos are all over the internet. Why don't they post their time if they are so confident?

Exactly! We have all see the GT500 running in videos and pics at the ring they dont have any reason not to accept the challenge unless they know their car cant cut it!

[azvren]

Like a fellow member once said,
"demonstration over speculation!"
"Nut up or shut up" Ford . ZL1 is the all around better, more of a complete package. Cars don't just go in a straight line.

[n2oSS]

i say three races.

one 1/4 mile race.

one road race.

then a race to see which one breaks first.

[Bad70supreme]

Like I said this gt500 is rushed out with nothing more then pumped up power to try and take chevys thunder! They get challanged to show what they have and back down! They did NOT say we will.. but at this track, they just completly backed out!

[azvren]

Originally Posted by syr74

Okay, so suppose Ford says 'absolutely GM, we love the offer, but we're doing it at Laguna Seca, not the Ring'. Of course, Laguna Seca is Ford's preferred development track, but you would be just aces with that, right?

Actually, yes I would cause thats what the zl1 is made for, to handle turns.

[adamgl]

Lets do both. Laguna Seca, and the Ring.

[Betiwin]

I'm really surprised by all this. I have never seen an automaker act like GM is right now. All this in your face stuff with the zl1 for about 4 months now. Now they got there Cheerios peed in they r writing letters and making school boy challenges? Ford has kept quite the whole time for months, and just dropped the A bomb at the LA auto show. GM is like Japan rallying the woman and Children to fight to the death. Ford has kept mum this whole time, why would they change now. I'm sure they will drop "little boy" and finish off the war come February when both cars are reviewed by he mags. You guys really need to relax and if ur buying the camaro know you r getting one hell of a car. If the GT500 runs a better 0-60 does your car suck now? (it will GT no shift till 62mph) what about 1/4 mile. If the GT runs an 11.8 how does that make the zl1 any less awsome. Lastly who will ever keep these stock? I've never seen a stock mustang except on the showroom floor. These are both awsome American Machines, but I still don't get GM acting like the bully who can't admit he might have someone who can whoop his a$$.

[vroomapunk]

Glad to hear this! I love it!

[den318]

First a letter from Al.O, now a challenge. What is Chevy thinking? Sounds alot like damage control to me.