Quote:
Originally Posted by Bhobbs
It doesn't now but eventually, they will have to hit those numbers. With Ford building a Mustang with IRS and a better chassis, plus having built the GT500, Chevy can't just rely on the Camaro handling better anymore. It more than likely won't have the same handling advantage. If Chevy wants the Camaro to stay competitive in the future, they have to build the best car they can and if it gets too close to Corvette performance, then too damn bad.
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There is just no need or profit to be made here.
GT500 is not a better car than the Camaro. It might be if they do a new version or the GT350 replaces it. But the Gen6 will step up again.
Yes there are a few people that will choose a Challenger over a Camaro simply for the 707 hp. But they will have to pay more than the price of a ZL1 to get one. The number of people that can pay $60,000 plus for a car JUST because it has 707 hp are few and far between.
I could be wrong but I just don't see more than a few thousand sales for the Hellcat at that price.
Keep in mind Fiat has had the number 3 selling car in this segment all along. They needed to try and do something, anything to make a splash........and they did. I just don't see Camaro sales numbers dropping because of the Challenger Hellcat. The new Mustang on the other hand will likely hurt Camaro numbers.
What drives the engine is the base car. In 2002, the V8 Camaros and Firebirds were actually still selling. But it simply became a crappy V6 coupe and the bottom end dropped out. And in the case of the Challenger? It's still an overweight underperforming car in all guises but the $60,000 Hellcat.
GM could step up if that is not the case. And they could easily tune the new Z06 engine for another 50 hp if they felt they had to.
But that engine in a Camaro is 3 years away at best AND WILL COST A CRAP LOAD.
Put the currently announced 650 HP Z06 engine in an Alpha based Camaro at well under 4,000 pounds and I'm fairly certain the Hellcat is just a Meankitty.
Sorry, but "the best car" doesn't mean "the highest HP number" for me.