Quote:
Originally Posted by doc7000
I do think there is a possibility if they offered a V-8 Camaro at a price point of around what the Challenger R/T sits at then you might grab customers from those cars who just want a V-8.
I think this is why the idea of putting the 5.3L in the Camaro seems like a great idea, me the only benefit I can see to doing this would be if it was essentially a V-6 Camaro but with a 5.3L in it. I think the concern here comes down to if the drivetrain can handle the torque of the 5.3L engine, if it can then this might be a great move. It would weigh in at about the same as the V-6 Camaro so around 3,500 pounds, I think if they could pull that off with a 380/380 5.3L engine and even undercut the Challenger R/T in price. If they made the 5.3L engine lets say a $3,000 price option over a standard V-6 Camaro then you would be looking at about $31,400 bucks.
With that amount of power in a vehicle of that mass it would easily out perform the Challenger R/T. Lets put mass at around 3,550 pounds of the V-8 LT Camaro, that would give a power to weight ratio of 9.3 pounds per horsepower. Compared to the Challenger R/T at 11.1 pounds per horsepower, in fact it wouldn't be too far behind the 392 Challenger in power to weight ratio. A Camaro almost as fast as a 392 Challenger for only lets say $32,000 might steal sales from the SS Camaro even. Some in the truck world are pushing these motors to nearly 500RWHP with head/cam/tune/headers etc... .
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Or they could offer a 3.73 gear option for the V6 to keep up with the Ecoboost and pull in font of the RT. Much cheaper to do than a new engine, even if they don't need to replace the rest of the power train.
Even if/when Dodge redesigns the Challenger and Charger to cut a few hundred pounds out of them, another V8 isn't going to happen as the Camaro's midrange engine.