Lutz: GM Considering 4-CYL Turbo Camaro; Confirms 3.6L; No Base Model Will Be Offered

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Source: Email Alert From Automotive News

NEW YORK -- General Motors is considering a four-cylinder engine for the new Chevrolet Camaro as a response to rising fuel prices.

Speaking on the sidelines of the New York auto show, GM Vice Chairman Bob Lutz said the drivetrain under consideration for the Camaro is the same high-performance one used in the Pontiac Solstice and Saturn Sky roadsters. It's a 2.0-liter turbocharged, direct-injected four-cylinder rated at 260 hp. Lutz said that if fuel prices continue to climb, the four-cylinder Camaro could see production.

GM has said it plans V-8 and V-6 versions of the Camaro but otherwise has been secretive. Lutz confirmed to Automotive News that the V-6 version of the Camaro will be powered by the same high-tech V-6 used in the Cadillac CTS. It's a direct-injected, 3.6-liter four-cam V-6. In the CTS, the engine is rated at 304 hp.

Lutz said GM has dropped plans to offer a low-priced, entry-level Camaro with one of GM's low-tech V-6s. GM will position both the V-6 and V-8 versions of the Camaro as premium cars compared to the Camaro's chief rival, the Ford Mustang.

Lutz would not talk specifically about the Camaro's pricing. The car is scheduled to go on sale next February as a 2009 model, but Lutz did say GM views the Camaro as better equipped than the Mustang, and the price will be higher.

The Mustang V-6 coupe has a base price of $20,235. The V-8 GT coupe begins at $26,825. Both prices include shipping.

" We are going to be above Mustang," Lutz said. " We have a very sophisticated suspension system and, frankly, a much nicer interior. We are not going to try and match the Mustang on price. We are going to be premium-priced compared to the Mustang."

Grrrrrrrr.... One of the reason the mustang is a nice muscle car is because it's not a loaded premium car.

basically Bob is saying he doesnt want an entry level Camaro to be competing in price with the Cobalt SS...if you want a cheaper car, buy a Cobalt...and you know crazy as it may sound, if they offered a ragtop version of the Cobalt/G5 they might actually take some sales from Ford...but that aint gonna happen either cuz a droptop G5 would kill sales of the already slow selling (and high priced) G6 vert.
With gas prices and CAFE standards on the rise, Ford may be forced to revamp the Mustang powertrains as well especially since the V6 car does precious little better than the V8 on fuel mileage.

I'm with Tbat on the pricing. Look at the G8 and the G6 GXP. They are roughly the same price.