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

[lironet]

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."

[Tonyyank]

4 cyl camaro ???

ugh, I can't wait to laugh when GM goes out of buisness

They are doing it to themselves

[SikMindz]

That'd be interesting. Pull up to a brand new Camaro at a light and rev. It takes off with a loud 4-cyl. fart noise, two crooked 5" outlet exhaust mufflers in tow..

Can a boosted 4 banger with power on par with the Maro V6 be made to get even better MPG?

Edit:
Saturn Sky Redline: "EPA rates the automatic version of Red Line at 19 mpg city and 27 mpg"
CTS 3.6L: "Gas consumption runs from 17 mpg in the city to 26 mpg on the highway"

Guess so...lighter up front due to its size obviously and the only thing that will deter some buyers is the fact that it is a 4. *shrug*

I like the idea. So long as it's priced competitively.

[alerored04]

Ewww. Destruction to the Camaro name. v6 base and a nice v8 is the way to go. I think they are making a mistake in not offering a version to compete with mustang.

[cardude007617]

ahh the point of camaros/trans ams is to be loud and throaty... not a lil 4cyl up front. would they keep the rwd even on that 4cyl?

[SikMindz]

Originally Posted by cardude007617

ahh the point of camaros/trans ams is to be loud and throaty... not a lil 4cyl up front. would they keep the rwd even on that 4cyl?

From a general consumer, that person could care less what F-Body lineage is.

Considering the boosted 2.0L is already RWD I don't see why they wouldn't.

I think if they offered a 4, 6 and 8 the 4 would make up the bulk of the sales. Relatively comparable power, same look, better gas mileage and hopefully a cheaper price? It's a no brainer. Gearheads and enthusiasts who want the 8 will still be able to get the 8.

It's a smart move I think- existing engine setup and all.

[Tonyyank]

why not make all models optional engine sizes ???

V8 Cobalt FTW!!!!

[Sleepwalkr]

Camaro's have been offered in 4-cylinders before because of high fuel costs.... Its not a big deal. Like Sik said, it'd be a smart move to offer it in 4, 6, or 8 cylinders. If you don't want a 4 banger, don't buy it.

[lvemy3100]

ah the old days of boosting the iron duke..

[Cormaster]

So they add a crappy budget model with a 4 banger to boost sales: Whats wrong with that?

And if its the same turbo 4 as the 260hp monster in the solstice, well thats not a bad motor at all. 260hp for a base camaro ain't bad...after all the Z-28 in the 80's only had 230 or so and thats with the big chevy 350 motor!

people gotta remember these aren't the 50 - 87hp chumps we had in the 80's. A 4 cylinder engine isn't necessarily bad anymore. My original cavalier had a 2.8 v-6 in it, and my current cavalier has a 2.2 ecotec I4 in it. The ecotec cavalier could run circles around my old 2.8v6 '89 cavalier. And also with V-6's getting better economy and more hp now don't be suprised if the V8 disappears eventually...

[Mirage85]

I bet they roll a base model out a model year or 2 later.

[notsoaveragej0e]

Buy the base with 4 cyl. and probably some ugly wheels, then swap the LS3 in there and BAM! Sleeper.

[PhantomLover007]

They're going to make a mistake like Ford did w/ the pre-5.0 Mustangs. At that time, Chevy came out w/ the Z-24 and Pontiac had the Sunbird GT in V-6 models. Both would smoke the 4 banger Mustang, so Ford had to come back w/ the 5.0.

[SikMindz]

But 4-cyl. weren't capable of making comparable power to V6-8's in those days.

Well not that they weren't, but no one thought to. 260HP from a 2L block is nothing to sneeze at. It's only about 40HP less than the 3.6 and I bet with the weight diff. they would be pretty close in terms of acceleration.

[notsoaveragej0e]

Originally Posted by PhantomLover007

They're going to make a mistake like Ford did w/ the pre-5.0 Mustangs. At that time, Chevy came out w/ the Z-24 and Pontiac had the Sunbird GT in V-6 models. Both would smoke the 4 banger Mustang, so Ford had to come back w/ the 5.0.

Originally Posted by SikMindz

But 4-cyl. weren't capable of making comparable power to V6-8's in those days.

Well not that they weren't, but no one thought to. 260HP from a 2L block is nothing to sneeze at. It's only about 40HP less than the 3.6 and I bet with the weight diff. they would be pretty close in terms of acceleration.

I think a lot of people are missing the fact that manufacturers HAD to make I4's, and on a very short notice due to the OPEC crap. They had ~2 years to develop an engine that was capable of using the least amount of gas possible, with no regard or real care for HP numbers. Since it would be insanely counter productive to design all new cars for those new engines, they just dumped them into whatever was currently out there.

Manufacturers today have been planning and designing the current line of 4cyl for more than a decade. If the power is there, and the efficiency is there, why not use it?

[Roush GT]

... big mistake no wants wants a turbo 4 cyl camaro . V8 or go home.

[kuchy09]

Originally Posted by SilverGT1

... big mistake no wants wants a turbo 4 cyl camaro . V8 or go home.

[stillriza]

Good move on the part of GM. If the power is there, people will buy the 4cl.

[caraudiodave]

Originally Posted by SilverGT1

... big mistake no wants wants a turbo 4 cyl camaro . V8 or go home.

funny...you post this on a site based on a 6 cylinder car.


as whats been said, the v8 will be available for us gear heads, but they need to offer some more efficient cars to keep their CAFE regulations under control. Im not sure that the 2.0L turbo model will help much, its the same efficiency as the 3.6L motor.

you guys are also assuming that the 3.6 will ahave 30 hp. so far, that motor is used in many cars, the only one that sees 300 is the caddy. he other cars only have 260 hp, which is yet the same as the 2.0L turbo.

[Cormaster]

I believe the G6 GXP 3.6 liter is 251hp. its not directly injected though.

I'm a bit concerned about Lutz comments about how the 'maro is supposed to be "more upper class and more expensive" than the mustang. Seems GM makes this mistake everytime. The last mustang smoked the Camaro/Firebird in sales because it was a lot cheaper than the Camaro. So they ended up scrapping both and bringing out an even more expensive GTO, and Chevy SSR to compete. Now that both of those are gone they are once again going to price the Camaro higher than the Mustang.... not smart GM, not smart at all!

The Camaro will have an advantage in the fact that the Mustang has been on the streets since fall '04, so it will sell better at first definitly, but after the intial "buzz" wears off...well