[robz71lm7]

http://media.gm.com/servlet/GatewayServlet...amp;docid=27934

The all-new Camaro will begin with early production versions at the end of 2008 and will go on sale in the first quarter of 2009. “The new Camaro will be almost identical to the concept, a thoroughly modern interpretation of the 1969 model, considered by many to be the best design of the car’s first generation,” said Ed Welburn, GM's global vice president of design, who owns a 1969 Camaro SS. The front-engine, rear-wheel-drive sport coupe will feature an independent rear suspension, and will be offered in a variety of models with the choice of manual and automatic transmissions and V-6 and V-8 engines.

I hope it doesn't weigh 4K lbs and come with skinny tires. It sure is ugly as a dog though IMO. I don't think retro shows any creativity at all. I want a new looking car.

[Blainefab]

Styling doesn't matter much to me - put some big numbers on the doors, add a dam and a wing and it will look just fine.

The good things I see WRT race prepping these things:

Short overhangs - big problem on the 4th gen is 4' of junk fore and aft of the axles which makes for too much change in the height of the aero during pitch. Lot shorter is lots better: lower splitter that won't destroy itself under braking or on aprons, lower rear diffusor with a better chance at being more effective than a wing/spoiler

Small greenhouse: Gotta be 50# less glass compared to a 4th gen. Visibility usually sucks out of a race car anyway so I'll take the lower CG.

Interior space: Looks roomier inside, looks like a more vertical side window so more room for the halo - on a 4th gen I route the halo over top of the drivers head rather than have it alongside. The 5th gen may allow a straighter load path from main hoop to the Apillars.

Weight: Most of the excess of a street car is creature comforts so I would not be too put off by a 3700#+ curb wt. If you unbolt and remove everything (I mean everything) from a 4th gen, you're left with less than 700# in scrap steel, and that includes the big ass windshield and all the body filler. Steel is expensive so I don't expect the core chassis to be heavier than a 4th gen. This car will probably have 100# in the SRS system that will get tossed. A LSX/T56 drivetrain is a known quantity. GM already has a great IRS in the C6, hopefully they will use aluminum for the unsprung pieces, if not share PN's with the Vette.

IRS: I tracked/autocrossed my C5 at the same time I was developing my 4th gen in SCCA ITE - I found the IRS to be MUCH easier to drive at the limit than the solid axle - the IRS communicated much more about what the contact patches were doing and broadened the area where countersteering was effective. The IRS would recover gracefully from WOT oversteer at track out without backpedaling. With the same tires and brakes, it took a LOT of development to make the race Camaro turn faster laps than the street C5.

I'm looking forward to taking a sawzall to one ;-)

This post has been edited by Blainefab: Aug 12 2006, 06:29 PM