Lutz: GM Considering 4-CYL Turbo Camaro; Confirms 3.6L; No Base Model Will Be Offered

[Perian]

Source: Email Alert From Automotive News

NEW YORK -- 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.

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.

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."

Edited by Big Al (from here down)


To stop the pannic attacks, realize several factors here...
1- The Mustang was built and designed to be cheap. They cut as much cost out of it as they can by using off the shelf parts, much like Pontiac did with the Solstice. Ranger V6's and truck V8's along, live axle rears, cheap interior parts from parts bin, low quality materials all to lower the price of the car.
2- GM did NOT go about making Camaro the same way, but they do realize that they need to be priced LIKE the Mustang. Lutz is right, the Camaro will have higher quality everything over the PRESENT Mustang and even new Challenger.
3- The NEW Mustang will NOT be as cheap as the current one is. The new Mustang will have modern advancements that will try to put teh car ahead of Camaro and Challenger. Mustang prices are going to rise once engines like the EcoBoost arrive, and its supposed more modern drivetrain.

Here is a message from the FbodFather Himself....

Originally Posted by FbodFather

CALM DOWN..........................

Until you've been inundated with the media (which isn't a bad thing....) you can't understand what happens during an 'interview'

.......a lot of what was said today was taken out of context.

We aren't completely stupid....the new Camaro MUST be priced competitively............


A premium could be as little as $50..................

4 cylinder?

Well........here's an interesting fact: The Federal government passed a LAW...but they have NOT written the rules...........so we know that we have to hit 35mpg as an average by 2020.........BUT --- no one knows the route -- or what the rules are...........

You can BET that EVERYONE in the industry is looking at alternative powertrains..........


Meanwhile........the 4 cylinder isn't in the 'official' plan at this point in time....so CALM DOWN.................

[member12]

So the V6 Camaro will have more horsepower than the V8 Mustang GT....

And think I would understand if the 2.0L 260hp engine was standard. If they can shed some weight, that could be a really cool ride.

I think that a 260hp turbo 4 would be a good primary engine on future (lighter) camaros with the Iroc-Z or the Z28 version going small block V8.

[slowinthefastlane]

2010: the new malaise era?

[greenrail]

Interesting post.

Hopefully we won't have a replay of the old Gen III Camaro with the Iron Duke 2.5 L.

With 260 HP it may not be so bad. Always suspected that this may be one of the options being considered in light of the new CAFE Standards.

[CobaltSScrazy]

cool, Turbo cobalts beating turbo Camaro's...heHeHehe I can't wait

I hope they make one since its makes sense fuel economy wise and may be the car to bridge the 2020 cafe (assuming camaro doesn't die before then)

CobaltSSFTW

[Robert G]

And a turbo I-4 with about 25% more horsepower than the V6 Mustang.

Originally Posted by member12

So the V6 Camaro will have more horsepower than the V8 Mustang GT....

[genjy]

The old Mustang SVO had a 2.3L turbocharged 4.

So did the Thunderbird Turbo Coupe.

They were quite good in terms of acceleration and performance back in the day.


A 260HP turbocharged Camaro would be faster than you think. It would be infinitely better than stuffing some ancient low-cost v6 like the 3400 or 3800 or 3500 or 3900 in there.

[FierySolstice]

Ok shouldn't the Camaro be priced similar to the Mustang? Having it at a higher price made it not an option for many before and thus it died. Won't GM learn that the Camaro is a Chevy and needs to be around the price of a Mustang. If they want it to be "premium" then bring back the damn Firebird already!!!

And with the 4 cylinder engine, I had one in my Eclipse and it was pretty sweet. You don't need a V-8 anymore these days. Thats why the Lancer Evolutions and WRXs live and all the V-8 cars usually die.. For all of you old heads that require a V-8, get used to it, gas prices are not going down and you can't relive your childhood! Be lucky that you had those V-8's back then, because it was because of those engines that gas supplies are down today....

[MrMax]

Doesn't sound like a bad idea. But I'll admit I was hoping to see a base Camaro with a price tag just south of 25k. Sounds like that dream is dead...

Why can't we have a 3.5 or 3.9 VVT V-6 powered base model again?

[VibenPontiac]

The pricing may be alright assuming they're talking about priced to start at say $24,000 - thats still 4K higher than the base Mustang. I'll take Lutz at his word that it will be reasonable equipped standard. Even $24,000 - $25,000, under these circumstances doesn't seem that bad. a DI 3.6 better come in around the same price as a Mustang GT or below though - Ford will have a field day in the advertising if it doesn't.

It'll be interesting how the 2.0 DI handles the weight.

[atomicshark]

Originally Posted by genjy

The old Mustang SVO had a 2.3L turbocharged 4.

So did the Thunderbird Turbo Coupe.

They were quite good in terms of acceleration and performance back in the day.


A 260HP turbocharged Camaro would be faster than you think. It would be infinitely better than stuffing some ancient low-cost v6 like the 3400 or 3800 or 3500 or 3900 in there.

I agree. Those are the cars I was thinking about when a possible 4 cylinder turbocharged Camaro was mentioned.

High gas prices are here to stay. I think GM would be foolish not to include it as an option.

[CamaroCrazy]

I think this is a good idea, providing the weight of the Camaro doesn't overpower the turbo 4. 260hp is 260hp, no matter how its delivered. The turbo will probably be more fun than a NA V6 anyways.

[Saturn69]

Cool! A 260hp (to start with) Camaro that gets, hopefully, 30mpg. Sounds good to me, at least they are doing everything it takes to make sure it gets to market. Considering the Ecotec can put out over 1000hp, this could be cool. The times, they are a'changin'...keep up or buy a Toyota.

[doppleganger]

As a GM fan I'm really irritated by some of this news coming out on future products (or the cancellation of said products). The idea of a 4-cyl Camaro is to me laughable, and I don't care how powerful the 4 banger is either; some things just aren't meant to be IMO. Leave the 4 bangers for the Cobalt!
Also, they should be very careful not to overprice this car. Part of the Mustang's popularity is that it is a decent, sporty RWD car at an affordable price. By not offering an affordable base model I think they are losing some of the ''pony car'' appeal. Most would buy the starter-trim Camaro just based on its looks and customize the heck out of it.

[EldoFan]

Going for a 'premium' image is all well and good.......but what if Ford actually decides to put an EcoBoost engine in the base '10 Mustang or the GT? I know horsepower isn't everything, but in this segment it sure counts for a hell of alot. If the actual power ratings of the EB are anywhere close to the rumored ratings, will GM still be able to successfully justify selling a 'premium' Camaro that outprices, but doesn't outpower it's two competitors (Mustang/Challenger) ??