NaSSty99

fahad,
i see that your from Kuwait, and they have the Lumina SS there with the LS1 motor in them, i think that that's the same as the new GTO, but im not sure about that,
Abdulla

Ling_650vette

iTrader: (1)

Thanks firechicken

And i'd much rather see those "hand drawn" Camaros on the street vs the one on the Motor Trend site. I dont like this retro stuff. It had its place, and it was a good style, but lets make something new. And that Corvette is horrid. GM designers have gone from conservative to <img border="0" alt="[barf]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_barf.gif" /> imo.

SLPFireChicken

There are several rumors and projects out there. I have some information that is very reliable, from reliable gm related sources, so let me shed a bit of light on things:

1. the camless engines require 42 volt electrical systems in order to make them function. Its not a bad idea, but it will be a few years before they are in production. GM will either have to totally reconfiguer electrical systems so that everything runs from 12 volt, or else just add a second alternator in order to generate 42V power for the cam drivers. This is rumored to be a potentialf or the C6, but GM needs to resolve the electrical system issues first.

2. There is another technology called VCT, or Variable Cylinder Technology. You have to understand that your engine needs more energy to accelerate the car, than it does to maintain speed. You really only need the power from a V8 to get up to 55, it takes much less horsepower to maintain that speed. So the principle here is that if you shut off some of the cylinders (spark, fuel injectors, etc), you will achieve the minimum horsepower needed to maintain speed, and consume less gas. There are 2 theories here. One, you can shut off one side, adn turn a V8 into an I4. The other is that you can shut off half on each side, alternating, so that you are running a V4, with empty cylinders in between each burning cylinder. The second method has less issues with balancing the engine properly. This is supposed to be in the new cadillac engines in the next year or so. Very soon, nad rumored to be going into the C6 corvette.

3. It has been leaked that GM has already budget money for a return to the camaro/firebird in 2007. It will take from now until then to figure out where to build, and do the design work on it.

4. As for the GTO, its actually the Holden Monaro. They are importing the rwd, 2door, LS1 powered car over here, and rebadging it as a GTO. There is a possiblility that some of the body panels may be changed, or sportier accents put on it. Its built on the same sigma chassis as the cadillac CTS. The sigma chassis is also the most likely candidate for a return of the firebird and camaro nameplates, but with different styling than the monaro. The monaro is a temporary solution to the rwd v8 sport car problem. If it sells well, they will be manufactured here, instead of in australia.

5. As for variable compression, it has issues. mostly with sealing the cylinders from losing compression. Its much easier to maintain compression, and appropriate power, by using conventional static heads.

6. Automatic transmissions with 5 gears are a must, now. most A4s have a top gear ratio of .72:1 or so, manual 6 speeds go from .5:1 to .55:1. If an automatic had a gear as low or lower than a manual, the gas mileage poetential would increase.

7. There has also been talk of continuously variable transmissions (CVT's). this is basically a gearless transmission, that uses two pulleys, one round, and one cone shaped. a hydralic cylinder pushes one of the pulleys back and forth, to change the ratio between diameters of the pulleys. The only issue with these, is that the rubber belts that transfer the power tend to have slipping issues, and also dont last very long.

At any rate, there are lots of exciting things happening right now for GM, Im sure they will come back in the next few years, and totally kick butt. Of course, they are also taking a lot of their major vehicles back to rwd, and beginning to emphasize that again, which is good. rwd is always better than fwd.

VIP1

SLPFireChicken,

Thanks for the additional info.

Here is some more info I have gathered:
(numbers below refrence yours)

1. Many car companies are contemplating a 42volt system. The problem isnt just the design of the electrical system and various components. The real problem is that someone who doesnt realize that their car has a 42volt will probably try to jump a 12 volt car. In the begining their will probably be dual volt cars to get around this and the current market of 12volt accessories.

2. Cadillac tried this in the 80's in the failed V8-6-4. It cut cylinders from 8 to 6 to 4. It wasnt a good design and didnt work well. But with newer technology and computer controls, it has become a promising feature. Mercedes already uses it on its newest v12.

4. The nose is definately changing. Think Grand Am / Grand Prix.

5. True, but in time it will work.

6. Most luxury cars now have A5s and A6s. Even Hyundai offers an A5 in the XG350. Soon an A4 will be as common as an A3.

7. Audi offers a CVT in the A4 (or A6, I forget which). Car and Driver has tested it. For the most part they like it. If I remember correctly CVTs use metal belts not rubber belts.