Quote:
Originally Posted by hawk02
I love how everyone says GM should just slapped the LT5 into the ZL1 for its swan song. But let's look at it realistically.
First off, The cost and time to re-certify the LT5 in the Alpha chassis would be enormous. No doubt the engine compartment would need modification, the suspension retuned to handle the additional horsepower, and the transmission beefed up just to mention a few. This would require hours of testing and re-engineering.
Secondly, how many people realistically would be willing to pay $100K for a Camaro? Only 3,434 ZL1s were manufactured in 2019 before the pandemic. If we assume GM averaged 3000 ZL1s a year over the six model years that's roughly 18,000 ZL1 owners out there. You all say you'd trade in your current ZL1 for an LT5 ZL1 in a heart beat but would you really? I bet it would be less than 10%.
GM produced less than 3000 C7 ZR1s. I'm betting Camaro ZL1 LT5 sales wouldn't even come close to that.
GM is in the business to make money for its shareholders. GM knows its market very well. And the market just isn't there to justify the cost to put the LT5 in the Camaro ZL1 even though our heart says we'd love to see it.
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I love the LT4, but I'd sell my LT4 ZL1 for an LT5 ZL1. That's a ~133 mph car in the 1/4 mile - with a full warranty. And I don't think the car itself would require that much reengineering. The trans is already the 10L90, beefed up, so it probably wouldn't need much. The suspension would just need to be retuned, I don't think it would need to be redesigned. And the hood would require a bigger more muscular bulge, which if it was the same style as the OEM CF insert, but 2" higher, would look awesome.
If they went as far as putting the LT5 in the ZL1, I'd say they should distinguish it from the LT4 with a slightly more aggressive rear diffuser, special exhaust tips (black chrome, maybe?), black mirror caps, exposed CF roof, 1" wider unique wheels with 305 front and 335 rear, and special dark color badging (in addition to the larger hood bulge). It would look absolutely sinister.