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

[Sphinx002]

SANTA MONICA, California — Rising fuel prices be damned, GM is not giving up on its plan to launch the much-anticipated 2010 Chevrolet Camaro. What it may continue to fine-tune however, is the Camaro's powertrain options and its approach to marketing the new performance muscle car.

Mark Laneve is quoted by Insideline as saying: "Everyone thinks we'll be positioning the Camaro as a burn-ass hot rod," said Mark LaNeve, GM's vice president of sales and marketing. "But that's only about 30 percent of the business. The other two-thirds will come from 27-mpg V6 sales, with a significant female share."

LaNeve also said that GM is "not operating under the assumption that fuel prices will go down," and that Chevrolet is "looking at plans for a four-cylinder" for the Camaro, "but we don't have it done yet."

Consideration of small engines won't end with the new Camaro either. LaNeve said that due to consumer demand and CAFE concerns, "We are looking at everything to improve fuel mileage. Cars that use primarily 8s we are looking at getting 6s in them. Cars that use primarily 6s, we are looking at getting 4s in them."

[radz28]

Shoot. Our V8s should be able to get close to that on the freeways. I guess no one wants to hear about V8s, in this day and age.

[Sphinx002]

Originally Posted by radz282003

Shoot. Our V8s should be able to get close to that on the freeways. I guess no one wants to hear about V8s, in this day and age.

27 is pretty good for the 3.6L My non DI version gets about 26mpg highway at most in the Aura, and obviously a lot less in the Acadia. The Camaro is going to have more HP than either and better mileage. Hope they sell a ton. I'm betting the base V8 will do 24mpg highway, which is just fine with me.

[Mr. Wyndham]

Cool news about the V6.

Originally Posted by radz282003

Shoot. Our V8s should be able to get close to that on the freeways. I guess no one wants to hear about V8s, in this day and age.

You sure about that? The L76 is only rated at 24mpg with AFM in the G8.....the LS3 is rated at 26, but that's in a car that's super-aerodynamic, and 600lbs lighter than the Camaro. I'd say the best we could hope for in our V8 model is 25mpg hwy.

[radz28]

I am in agreement with you on all points. I can't see how the base V8 can't at least achieve as much as an LS1-model though, at least on the freeway. Maybe a 4th. Gen. is a little more aerodynamic, but an L76/LS3 should be at least as efficient, so I don't see why we couldn't expect real world highway numbers to get pretty close to 30 MPG. Shoot, my L6 LT1 could get 31 MPG, strickly highway driving at 80 MPH, so... That didn't have AFM or anything.

[pinkcamaro10]

I won't complain too much. My GP has never gotten more that 22mpg

[Mr. Wyndham]

Keep in mind they revamped the rating procedure, too. That EPA of 27 hwy in the LS1 Fbody is probably more like 23/24 under the new EPA testing...

[radz28]

Originally Posted by Dragoneye

Cool news about the V6.


You sure about that? The L76 is only rated at 24mpg with AFM in the G8.....the LS3 is rated at 26, but that's in a car that's super-aerodynamic, and 600lbs lighter than the Camaro. I'd say the best we could hope for in our V8 model is 25mpg hwy.

Sorry Dragon', I was posting while you were

I see your points too. Like I mentioned, coming from an "old" LT1 that got 30 MPG on the freeway just given me expectations to at least something comparable from a newer, more efficient engine. I'm strickly talking highway ratings though, so it's possible I quite understand how cars are rated in the city and on the freeway. I think my A4 '02 with 3.23s was rated at something like 24-25 MPG though, so why not? That weight could be a bigger factor than I'm accounting for though, like you are saying

[conemark]

With my LS1 and the super-duper tall six speed, I can easily and repeatedly get 25-26 MPG on the highway at about 75-80 MPH. Here's hoping the fifth-gen is at least as efficient.

[radz28]

Originally Posted by Dragoneye

Keep in mind they revamped the rating procedure, too. That EPA of 27 hwy in the LS1 Fbody is probably more like 23/24 under the new EPA testing...

AH! See; I didn't know that. Thanks Dragon'

[chadrcr]

My 02 A4 Z/28 would push 30 on the hiway IF I did not push it... I do not recall the EPA rating, but it could do better.

[Captain Awesome]

How is it that the 4th gens were rated for 27 on the highway, but would be rated 23/24 under the new regulatrions, BUT there are so many people (myself included) who can get 30MPG on long highway trips?

[fastball]

Originally Posted by Captain Awesome

How is it that the 4th gens were rated for 27 on the highway, but would be rated 23/24 under the new regulatrions, BUT there are so many people (myself included) who can get 30MPG on long highway trips?

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?

[The_Blur]

That makes the V6 lucrative.