GM to Consider 4-Banger for Camaro?
If fuel prices continue to rise
Bob Lutz, GM Vice Chairman and spokes person extra-ordináire is of course present at the New York International Auto Show where he spoke to the press on several occasions. On one such occasion he told the present reporters that GM is considering to also use the Pontiac Solstice and Saturn Sky Roadster engine for the upcoming Chevrolet Camaro. This 2.0 liter turbocharged, direct-injection four-cylinder engine is capable of 260 hp in the small roadsters.
The four-banger Camaro might just make it into production out of sheer necessity if fuel prices (in the States) continue to rise, to say European levels. GM plans to equip the new American muscle car with a choice of V6 (260 hp) or V8 (400 hp) engine in any case.
The Chevrolet Camaro will be marketed only as a premium muscle sports car, unlike its biggest competitor the Ford Mustang which offers both an entry-level model as well as premium models. Where this 4-cylinder engine would fit seems unclear, but with some tweaking I am sure that it could produce as many, if not more horses than the V6. For comparisons sake, take a look at the Audi S3 4-cylinder engine producing 265 hp but tuners easily tweak it up to (well) over 300 hp.
On a side note, Bob Lutz spoke at the Pontiac revealing ceremony where he said: “We used to say "We build excitement," and we'd show you a four-cylinder Grand Am.” A quote like that could throw some serious doubts on the entire topic, but a performance 4-cylinder engine in a modern classic muscle car may just bring about that American Revolution.
You can't..by law they have to be a certain standard and they need more than just the "group" of people who buy these cars because they like camaros or they won't make enough of a profit (aka the old model). Camaro's are cool but not as a daily driver with 4.50 for gas (it will get that high or higher)
I am thinking gm is just muddying the waters so nobody will know for sure what engine is in it, until it is released.
Well consider this: any 4-banger they put in the Camaro will most likely be faster than, say, an 82 Z-28. If they do resort to this, the turbo direct injection ecotec should be their only option. A D.I. V6 should suffice though; in the last gen Camaro, the 3.8L was rated at 30mpg highway.
Besides to please suppliers of the port-injected 3.6 V6, why would GM not offer the 260HP 4-banger as a base engine, the 300HP DI 3.6L as a middleweight, and the 400HP small block as the performance engine? 260HP is just adequate, but hey at least you please CAFE.
ideas... hmm base model should be something along the lines of turbo four cylinder, z28 should be uh maybe supercharged six cylinder, and SS LS3???
No replacement for displacement? Oh really? Meet technology.
well if its the ecotec engine, those engines rock if they are built right and have a big enough turbo.
That's pathetic. Isn't this supposed to be a 'muscle' car? Why don't they just improve the economy on their other models and let this one be.