Camaro DELAYED- AGAIN!!!! - F-Body Online

Korndogg · 03-31-2008, 11:14 PM

From Leftlanenews.com:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leftlanenews blogger Jeremy Vines
In a somber press release scheduled to be released tommorrow, General Motors will anounce the delay of the highly anticipated Chevrolet Camaro. The length of the delay is at this point, undetermined. Sources have revealed a possible 2011 introduction as a 2012 model.

Calls to former Holden chief and current Camaro project manager Denny Mooney and to GM executive Bob Lutz have not yet been returned.

There was no reason given in the press release or by our source, however there is some speculation to the cause for the delay:
- Difficulty getting entry level models to meet increasing EPA standards. This compounds the issue of devoting manufacturing space to the Camaro. They need large volumes of cars produced to make the platform feasable; if the entry level models aren't sufficiently fuel efficient, this could cost GM billions in fines leveled by the EPA. The danger of course, is that the EPA standards will continue to rise making the "window of opportunity" to produce this model and make a sufficient profit that much narrower.

- Inherent indecision about powerplant availability. There has been much debate as to the direction GM would follow with regards to engine availability. The two biggest concerns are with entry and possible mid-performance model availability. Many engineers are pressing for making smaller engines available to comply with tightening future EPA standards. Our source has revealed that one such plan includes making the entry level model a turbo 4 cylinder, the mid-performance the 3.6 V6, and the SS using the LS3 V8.

The 4 cylinder being considered would be a direct injected version of the 2.4 liter ECOTEC 4 cylinder. Horsepower would not be as high as the current version of the 2.0 engine found in the Pontiac Solstice or Saturn Sky Redline, feuturing 260HP, but it would deliver significant fuel savings and broader powerband. Our source indicates a goal of 230HP, nicely splitting the Ford and Dodge entries in this segment. This would compete with the base V6 Ford Mustang and Dodge Challenger, both of which feature V6's of 4.0/210HP and 3.5/250HP respectively.

The 3.6 v6 would fill the mid-performance void and would be seen as a competitor to the Mustang GT and Challenger R/T versions. This points to the likelyhood of using the Direct Injected version of the V6 as seen in the Cadillac CTS, making 306 HP, surpassing the 300HP of the Ford entry, but falling a ways short of the Dodge's expected 370+HP entry into this segment.

The SS will likely feature the 430HP version of the LS3 as found in the current Corvette.

-Some have also speculated that the Camaro is being delayed to make a mid-performance version featuring a high-output diesel; The engine would be a low-deck V6 version of the upcoming 4.5 Liter V8 Diesel that should become available in the light duty half-ton Chevy/GMC pickup trucks. Possiblitly of Sub 3 liter displacement with approximately 260HP, but nearly 460 ft-lbs of torque.

The crux of the problem however, remains that GM appears unable or unwilling to bring out the Camaro in stages similar to the release of the Dodge Challenger. This appears to be due to the cost of using a full assembly line to produce only a comparitively few cars; since GM can only afford to produce 5000 V8 Camaros a year or so to keep from negatively impacting their CAFE standards. This is especially true given the recent release of (and initially very slow selling) Pontiac G8.

Regardless of the cause, this is still highly disappointing news indeed. When we find out more from our source, or phone calls from higher up execs are returned, we will certainly update you.

Leftlanenews.com

Rocket 442 · 04-01-2008, 10:14 AM

OH NO!!!!!

FirebirdPhil · 04-01-2008, 10:58 AM

Thats it! I officially don't give a crap anymore about the 5th gen Camaro! I'm going to go get a lawn mower engine, build a frame, write Camaro on the back of it and own the first, fastest, and only 5th gen Camaro. The one GM makes will have to be called the 6th gen when it comes out in 2078. By then the Firebird will have comeback 2 or 3 times.

Rocket 442 · 04-01-2008, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FirebirdPhil

Thats it! I officially don't give a crap anymore about the 5th gen Camaro! I'm going to go get a lawn mower engine, build a frame, write Camaro on the back of it and own the first, fastest, and only 5th gen Camaro. The one GM makes will have to be called the 6th gen when it comes out in 2078. By then the Firebird will have comeback 2 or 3 times.

(view the source of the article)

FirebirdPhil · 04-01-2008, 12:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rocket 442

(view the source of the article)

Wow

completely forgot what day it is

Korndogg · 04-01-2008, 03:43 PM

ya like that?? haha. My buddy made it up yesterday.

SpecialK · 04-01-2008, 09:37 PM

Nice work man lol.

Rocket 442 · 04-05-2008, 06:51 PM

Well Korndogg, you got quite a few peoples panties in a bunch over this one. This goes as a lesson for all these camaro guys to check the SOURCE of an article before they curse GM to hell

Korndogg · 04-05-2008, 06:54 PM

Yeah haha. I'm loving this