GT350R vs 6th Gen Z/28

[Grimace427]

...they could build it out of rocks from Jupiter for all I care.

Jupiter is a gas giant.

Sponsored

 

[MaskedRacerX]

Jupiter is a gas giant.

So is Childs Play ...






I kid, I kid ... :lol:

 

[GOFAST]

Horsepower doesn't win this race. Even torque. This was proven with the last z28 having more tq then the gt350. And don't think the new z28 would be any lighten then a GT350R. If GM wants to compete with the gt350R then they need to ditch the carbon brakes and make smart moves. GM cannot and will not beat the bargain gt350R msrp. No way no how. Period.

Why do you think GM cannot produce a Z28 lighter than a GT350R? I think it is quite likely considering the platform they are using.

Also curious why you are so sure they cant match or beat GT350R MSRP.

I am not saying they can, but some backup or support would be nice. Would make for some great convos if you have any reasoning to your statements.

 

[Voodooo]

Why do you think GM cannot produce a Z28 lighter than a GT350R? I think it is quite likely considering the platform they are using.

Also curious why you are so sure they cant match or beat GT350R MSRP.

I am not saying they can, but some backup or support would be nice. Would make for some great convos if you have any reasoning to your statements.

Yeah they can, but not for a lesser cost of the gt350R.

 

[GOFAST]

Yeah they can, but not for a lesser cost of the gt350R.

Well, they probably could but why would they right?

It in all likelihood will be faster, so what incentive do they have to also offer it for less? I think the price point Ford set with the R is the sweet spot for cars like these.

 

[bdavies011]

Horsepower doesn't win this race. Even torque. This was proven with the last z28 having more tq then the gt350. And don't think the new z28 would be any lighten then a GT350R.

Having more torque helps the 5th gen Z/28 but it is simply too heavy to compete with the R.

I could see a 6th Gen z/28 with an LT1 running with the R if it came in around 150lbs lighter than the 6th gen 1LE. However I think GM is going to try to beat the R in all areas not just "run with it." So I'd expect to see a new motor.

 

[Process]

A technicality...but GM did not develop the LT5 completely in house, in-fact the majority of the design and engineering work was not a GM project, Lotus did it with some input from GM. The building of the motor was then contracted out to Mercury Marine and sent to Bowling Green to be put into the ZR1's. This is also the business arrangement that led to MRC going into GM vehicles, again after being developed by Lotus.
Contrasting this to Ford who designed and built the modular family motors completely in-house.

GM (and to an extent Ford) is very good at taking technologies, concepts and such and developing them, but failing to give credit where credit is due to the original sources and yet claiming it for themselves.

I stated that a few posts up actually!

 

[Sasuketr]

Horsepower doesn't win this race. Even torque. This was proven with the last z28 having more tq then the gt350. And don't think the new z28 would be any lighten then a GT350R. If GM wants to compete with the gt350R then they need to ditch the carbon brakes and make smart moves. GM cannot and will not beat the bargain gt350R msrp. No way no how. Period.

The last gen z28 was around 90 lbs lighter, the car even had back seats as well! Now if GM follows the same route as the Ford, then expect a mid 3500 lb z28.

 

[Childs Play]

Jupiter is a gas giant.

Yes. Thank you. That was part of the joke.

Basically pulling a line from Jeremy from an old Top Gear episode. Lol

 

[Process]

Yeah they can, but not for a lesser cost of the gt350R.

Why couldn't they? Explain your reasoning. If GM is going to offer more performance, they most likely will offer it for a higher or similar price. These cars are loss leaders anyway.

 

[Voodooo]

The last gen z28 was around 90 lbs lighter, the car even had back seats as well! Now if GM follows the same route as the Ford, then expect a mid 3500 lb z28.

Wrong the 2015 Z28 was 3856
The R is 3655
The R with tech pack is 3703

Basic math. 201 pounds different already.

 

[Process]

A big jump from the current motor, i.e., the LT1 (since the LS7 isn't an option any longer).

In our "less displacement" climate, I kind of don't see another 7.x liter motor being offered. You're right, just projecting the HP from 6.2L to 525-535 would be ~7.1L, though that would be reasonably easy to achieve with slightly less CI (and it's not exactly linear anyway).

The thing that would really surprise me is what you pointed out: a brand new premium engine option premiering in a car other than the Corvette. The GS just came out, clearly positioned between the standard C7 and the Z06, there was a perfect chance to offer a new engine, and it doesn't even come out till mid-MY17. I can't imagine having that kind of lead time in their roadmap with the Z/28 targeted for the same MY and the latter having some new 500+ OHC engine.

My prediction: the Z/28 is going to follow the GS pattern, and that will be a ZL1 but with an NA LT1 motor (like the GS is a Z06 with an LT1).

Or the GS will get an engine update in 2018, it's not like GM and Ford aren't both guilty of making a 1 year "gimpy" model. Anyone remember the 2001 Z06? 1999 SVT Cobra?

 

[Khell86]

The last gen z28 was around 90 lbs lighter, the car even had back seats as well! Now if GM follows the same route as the Ford, then expect a mid 3500 lb z28.

The back seat used foam. It was already pretty light and I believe the LS7 is less than the LT1. I think they'll be pretty close in weight.

 

[Cashcow]

I think the GS didn't get a new motor because GM is about to transform the Corvette to the C8. The Camaro just came out and has a bit more street time left in it. When the new Vette comes out it will then have the new GM motor. This is all speculation on my part. No I don't have secret all knowing sources.

 

[MaskedRacerX]

Or the GS will get an engine update in 2018, it's not like GM and Ford aren't both guilty of making a 1 year "gimpy" model. Anyone remember the 2001 Z06? 1999 SVT Cobra?

Totally possible, heck that happens in all sorts of industries. I definitely remember the Z06 with the 385-to-405 jump after one year ( I had a nicely setup '03 )

Though in more recent memory, it seems like manufacturers have been more cautious. If GM released a higher output Z/28, I'd think sales would take a hit on the C7 since that would become a preview of the '18 Corvette (specifically, the '18 Grand Sport) that you should wait and purchase over a '17.

If I were a GM bean counter, I think I'd release the Z/28 and C7 update at the same time, and make the C7 something like a GS/R likes it's a new model variant (vs. a previous year buyer screw over ...)

At any rate, all this speculation is pretty fun

Sponsored