Quote:
Originally Posted by Norm Peterson
Before even thinking about a turbo-4, some weight has to come out of the car, and starting with a more "right-sized" chassis gets you on the right path for that. While they're at it, there are a couple of rear suspension details that could and probably should be cleaned up a bit.
About Ford's turbo-4 - it came in considerably stronger than I'd have ever guessed it would from only 2.3L (based on the turbo-4 in our Subie Legacy's turbo 2.5L and its drivability). I was thinking 275-ish HP & torque at introduction tops, and maybe 10 more later.
Norm
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Word is that the Mustang didn't lose much, if any weight. My guess is that their turbo 4 will come in around the 3,400ish lb range. Its pretty much a certainty that the next Camaro will be on the Alpha chasis, which is basically that same weight in the Cadillac ATS with its turbo 4 cylinder engine. In fact, I wouldn't doubt if the Camaro turbo 4 could come in weight in the mid to upper 3,300 lb range.
So with that in mind, there are no worries about the next Camaro losing the needed weight, unless they end up putting the car on the long wheel base version of alpha...then it would weigh more than what I said above.
I had no doubts at all that Ford would give the turbo 4 in the Mustang at least 300 HP. I'm betting when final numbers are released we'll see at least 310HP and 310 to 320TQ. For months now we've known the 4 cylinder would be the optional engine, and I'm sure the turbo is a more expensive engine than the V6 so why on earth would you give it less power, but at a higher price than the V6? The only advantage would be slighly better MPGs, but it would never sell. Instead, the only way is to make it the optional engine, and give it more power than the V6 to make it appealing. Ford said they are only offering the V6 so they can keep a nice low entry point price.
I think Chevrolet may end up doing the same in the next gen Camaro. The one difference I can see that may change that is the power and efficency of the next gen V6 engines they are developing. If the next gen V6s have 340+ HP, and offer fuel saving technology like cylinder shut off in addition to what they already have (direct injection, cam phasing, etc.) they may be able to market that engine as a competitor to the Mustangs V6 and turbo 4 as it will make considerably more HP than those two engines and good MPG. But theres no way it will have as much TQ, and especially not down low in the powerband like the turbo 4 so that will always be a disadvantage.
I can't wait to see how it all plays out.