A 4 Cylinder Camaro??? Say It isn't So!!!!

General Motors is considering a four-cylinder engine for the new Chevrolet Camaro as a response to rising fuel prices.

Speaking on the sidelines of the New York auto show, GM Vice Chairman Bob Lutz said the drivetrain under consideration for the Camaro is the same high-performance one used in the Pontiac Solstice and Saturn Sky roadsters. It’s a 2.0-liter turbocharged, direct-injected four-cylinder rated at 260 hp. Lutz said that if fuel prices continue to climb, the four-cylinder Camaro could see production.

GM has said it plans V-8 and V-6 versions of the Camaro but otherwise has been secretive. Lutz confirmed to Automotive News that the V-6 version of the Camaro will be powered by the same high-tech V-6 used in the Cadillac CTS. It’s a direct-injected, 3.6-liter four-cam V-6. In the CTS, the engine is rated at 304 hp.

Low-priced version dropped

In the Camaro, the 3.6 liter’s horsepower should be around 260, Lutz said, Fuel economy, he said, will be around 17 mpg city and 25 highway. That would place the V-6 Camaro among best in class for a performance car.

Lutz said GM has dropped plans to offer a low-priced, entry-level Camaro with one of GM’s low-tech V-6s. GM will position both the V-6 and V-8 versions of the Camaro as premium cars compared to the Camaro’s chief rival, the Ford Mustang.

The base model Mustang uses a 4.0-liter overhead-cam V-6 rated at 210 hp. The base model Dodge Challenger, due in the fall, will use a 250-hp, 3.5-liter V-6.

Most enthusiast attention has focused on the Camaro’s V-8 engine, which is likely to be a 6.0-liter with about 400 hp. Lutz said the V-8 will have a cylinder cutoff system that shuts down half the engine when the car reaches cruising speed. That will help it get better fuel economy.

But Lutz said he thinks most buyers will opt for the V-6 because the performance will be strong, especially when the engine is combined with a manual transmission.

“Back in the old days, if you wanted a muscle car, to get a decent one, you had to buy the V-8,” Lutz said. “And if you bought the V-6, you got a fairly rough, unrefined pushrod engine with low horsepower and weasely performance.

“This time, the V-6 is 260-odd horsepower, four overhead cams, very smooth and decent 0-to-60-mph times. And now the V-6 is in its own right a very fast, very legitimate car.”

We are going to be above Mustang"

Lutz said that with the V-6, the Camaro achieves a nearly perfect 50-50 weight distribution: “With the V-6, it is not a heavy car. The Camaro will be a very lively and engaging car,” he said.

Lutz would not talk specifically about the Camaro’s pricing. The car is scheduled to go on sale next February as a 2009 model, but Lutz did say GM views the Camaro as better equipped than the Mustang, and the price will be higher.

The Mustang V-6 coupe has a base price of $20,235. The V-8 GT coupe begins at $26,825. Both prices include shipping.

“We are going to be above Mustang,” Lutz said. “We have a very sophisticated suspension system and, frankly, a much nicer interior. We are not going to try and match the Mustang on price. We are going to be premium-priced compared to the Mustang.”

 

Thank's for the information Jason, wife is looking for a car in future and maybe i take her to see a camaro when it comes out.

 

zoom zoom, buy her an 08 Metro Gray Mica MS3 GT before you can't!

hehe, j/k. I'm tryin to convince my bro and sis-in-law to get a Mazda5 now that they have my 6-month old nephew.

 

No Problemo Angelo

It's going to have some HOT sheet metal that's for sure - we saw the concept and most panels look very plausible in a regular mfg environment - you can always tell a production vehicle will not look like the concept when the panels do things that make you scratch your head

Here's a pic my son took at the 2008 NA International Auto Show

 

Jason, now that's sweet!!!!!!! and MadOzodi i did try to tell her about the MS3 but she doesn't want one.. go figure, maybe they can at least test drive a 5 to see if it fit's their needs and maybe in 09 I'll be detailing a camaro ( I hope).

 

Uhh huhh.. If you could talk the Mrs into that it would be sweet!!

 

I saw that also. Ford is considering dropping ALL V-8's in favor of turbo'd smaller engines!!!! Your friendly EPA at work.....

 

here's a few I took after I wrestled the camera out of my sons sweaty palms

 

Sweet looking future ride!

 

:acry2:

I can't see pics at work!!!

:crash:

 

A 4 Cylinder Camaro :shakehead:

 

I have seen that bumble bee camaro up close and personal at last falls Richmond Nextel cup race and the underneath of that car is a nightmare It had flexpipe exhaust and it could not have been laid out worse and it just looked crappy(You really would have to see it)The suspention looked cheesy and you could tell it was a slapped together concept.I hope some of you get a chance to peek under it to see what I am saying.I also hope the production car looks better underneath and has true dual exaust.

 

Great design, excited about seeing this one and the new Challanger.

In regards to the 4-banger engine, look at what Porsche can squeeze out of a 6-cylinder!

 

Different times Gary, different times. I don't think your average American (which, after all, is who buys these vehicles) is going to look past fuel efficiency in this day and age...

 

Gary, you weren't going to stuff a V-Tec in your Viper?

LOL, jk

 

wow 4 cylinder..might as well just put in a hybrid in it

I understand the whole world being enviromentally friendly and all but come on these vehicles are not about that...the history is pure muscle, raw power..:bla2: :bla2: not about being economical..but then again that's just the way the world is going :shrug:

I still think it looks good, nice curves, nice style...looks good :thumb:

 

We'll all be riding mopeds with side cars in the near future. Now only if a moped could pull my detailing trailer...........

 

boooo that and then the Turbo V6 stang....whattttt. It needs a proper 5L, and the camaro needs some insanely large engine. 4 bangers....I dont know they are fun, but just seems wrong.

 

:loud:At least put a supercharged V6 in it or don't bother making it at all.

 

And I bet there were a few people at the round table probably suggesting that.

Remember what happened to the once proud Impala? Now it's a below average rental. Same will happen to the Camaro.