Camaro SS prototype lapped ?Ring in 8:19

[SVT666]

GM: Camaro SS prototype lapped ?Ring in 8:19

Though we can?t publish our driving impressions of the reborn Chevrolet Camaro SS until Friday at 6 pm Eastern - check back then! - we did learn today from General Motors that what the automaker calls an ?80 percent? prototype of the neo-muscle car lapped Germany?s N?rburgring in a reasonable 8:19.

That figure puts it about three seconds ahead of the Cobalt SS (and, not surprisingly, way behind the Corvette ZR1) though that test is official and was done with a production vehicle. GM figures the production Camaro SS will easily shave a few seconds off of that time.

GM says it sent a prototype Camaro SS around the track last year when the automaker was doing development work on the Pontiac G8 GXP.

The automaker didn?t say who was behind the wheel during the unofficial attempt.

[SVT666]

3 seconds faster then the Cobalt SS?  Terrible GM, just terrible.

Either the Camaro is really slow, or the Cobalt is really fast...or both.

[the Teuton]

The Cobalt is a monster of a car and the Camaro sucks balls.

I really don't like it at all anymore.

Give me a 4th gen over the current car, without a doubt.  Better yet, give me a GTO.

[2o6]

3 seconds faster then the Cobalt SS?  Terrible GM, just terrible.

Either the Camaro is really slow, or the Cobalt is really fast...or both.

How is that Bad? The IS-F does it in 8:18, The 350Z does it in 8:26.


What, do you guys want it to have a super huge margin over a car just because a FWD car did it faster?

[TBR]

This is also a preproduction car.

The Camaro-bashing is really getting old.

[the Teuton]

This is also a preproduction car.

The Camaro-bashing is really getting old.

Sit in one.  Just sit in one.

It make a VW feel like a Maybach by comparison.

[TBR]

Sit in one.  Just sit in one.

It make a VW feel like a Maybach by comparison.

It's built to a price. I'd rather have a cheap interior than a cheap suspension and transmission.

[GoCougs]

Perhaps do some research on where 8:20 puts a $30k car...

Plus it was a prototype.

[the Teuton]

Perhaps do some research on where 8:20 puts a $30k car...

Plus it was a prototype.

Which one is the $30k car and which is the $40k car?  SS or Z28?

[TBR]

Which one is the $30k car and which is the $40k car?  SS or Z28?

?

He's probably talking about the car that was tested, the $30,000 SS. Is the Z28 even official at this point?

[GoCougs]

Which one is the $30k car and which is the $40k car?  SS or Z28?

No Z-28 as of yet. And $40k? I'm lost.

[TBR]

http://www.autoblog.com/2009/03/16/2010-chevrolet-camaro-rated-at-29-mpg-highway/

[NomisR]

Why is Nurburgring such a big deal?  It's comparing apples to oranges anyways when you compare the times by different drivers on different days..

[2o6]

Sit in one.  Just sit in one.

It make a VW feel like a Maybach by comparison.

Since when have muscle cars been known for high-quality interiors.


This obsession with interior plastics is getting annoying.

[SVT666]

Why is Nurburgring such a big deal?  It's comparing apples to oranges anyways when you compare the times by different drivers on different days..

I guess we should throw out all performance data.

[SVT666]

Perhaps do some research on where 8:20 puts a $30k car...

Plus it was a prototype.

Besides RWD and styling, why would anyone buy a Camaro SS over a Cobalt SS if it's barely faster?

[GoCougs]

Besides RWD and styling, why would anyone buy a Camaro SS over a Cobalt SS if it's barely faster?

Because the Camaro SS is a quicker/faster car than either the Mustang GT or Challenger R/T (both of which get pwned by a Cobalt SS around the heralded 'Ring), let alone the Cobalt SS.

[TBR]

Besides RWD and styling, why would anyone buy a Camaro SS over a Cobalt SS if it's barely faster?

"That figure puts it about three seconds ahead of the Cobalt SS (and, not surprisingly, way behind the Corvette ZR1) though that test is official and was done with a production vehicle. GM figures the production Camaro SS will easily shave a few seconds off of that time."

The fact the two cars are as close as they are is more of a testament of the Cobalt than it is a condemnation of  the Camaro. Do you really think the Mustang or Challenger could do better?

[2o6]

Besides RWD and styling, why would anyone buy a Camaro SS over a Cobalt SS if it's barely faster?

Three seconds is more than "Barely Faster". The Nurburgring is a Balance of handling and power. The Cobalt may be easier to drive in the corners (handles better) but the Camaro is faster in the straights.

I guess we should throw out all performance data.

In this case, yes.

[the Teuton]

Since when have muscle cars been known for high-quality interiors.


This obsession with interior plastics is getting annoying.

It isn't an obsession with high quality interiors.  It's a fascination with an interior that might actually be worse than the one in the 1994-2002 F Body.  The high sills make it next to impossible to see out of, too.

[2o6]

It isn't an obsession with high quality interiors.  It's a fascination with an interior that might actually be worse than the one in the 1994-2002 F Body.  The high sills make it next to impossible to see out of, too.

You're just short.

[TBR]

It isn't an obsession with high quality interiors.  It's a fascination with an interior that might actually be worse than the one in the 1994-2002 F Body.  The high sills make it next to impossible to see out of, too.

What part of preproduction do you people not understand? Remember the reason the car was delayed was because they had to find a new supplier for the interior.

[the Teuton]

What part of preproduction do you people not understand? Remember the reason the car was delayed was because they had to find a new supplier for the interior.

It was an open pre-production car.  They're not going to change that much.

[Raza]

Three seconds is more than "Barely Faster". The Nurburgring is a Balance of handling and power. The Cobalt may be easier to drive in the corners (handles better) but the Camaro is faster in the straights.

In this case, yes.

Three seconds on Laguna Seca is not close.  Three seconds over a 12 mile course is pretty fucking close. 

But it's not an official time, so no real conclusions can be drawn.  Except that it's ugly.

And probably won't ever come out.

[TBR]

It was an open pre-production car.  They're not going to change that much.

Considering they didn't have a supplier finalized until last month, it very well could.

Regardless, in a muscle car performance trumps interior build quality.

[the Teuton]

Considering they didn't have a supplier finalized until last month, it very well could.

Regardless, in a muscle car performance trumps interior build quality.

We'll see, but it's going to have to be one hell of a car to beat the revised 'Stang.

[2o6]

It was an open pre-production car.  They're not going to change that much.

Design and assembly = No. Things like materials, Yes.

Three seconds on Laguna Seca is not close.  Three seconds over a 12 mile course is pretty fucking close. 

But it's not an official time, so no real conclusions can be drawn.  Except that it's ugly.

And probably won't ever come out.

Besides, no one is claiming that the Camaro is a handling car. Nor is the Challenger or Mustang.

[Eye of the Tiger]

I bet V6 Camaro is .01 seconds faster than Cobalt SS on 'ring.

[the Teuton]

Design and assembly = No. Things like materials, Yes.

Hopefully.  It still doesn't help that you feel like you're riding in a bath tub with no "oh shit" handle bars.

[565]

It's more to do with the Cobalt SS being F***ing ridiculous as a FWD pocket rocket than the Camaro being slow.

I mean look what the Cobalt beat around VIR in C&D's lightning lap comparisons.

http://www.caranddriver.com/content/download/128503/1741886/version/1/file/LightningLapTimes.xls


Look where it finds itself in the rankings.

Ford Shelby GT500   03:11.0
Audi RS4   03:11.2
BMW Z4 M Coupe   03:11.7
Nissan 350Z Track   03:12.5
Chevrolet Cobalt SS   03:13.0
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution MR   03:13.3
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution MR   03:13.5
BMW 135i   03:13.5
Lexus IS-F   03:14.0
Audi S5   03:14.5
Honda S2000 CR   03:15.0
Pontiac Solstice GXP   03:15.7
Mazdaspeed 3   03:16.0
Dodge Challenger SRT8   03:16.3
Lotus Elise SC   03:16.6
Infiniti G37S   03:17.5
Dodge Charger SRT8   03:18.2
Mazda RX-8   03:19.0
Subaru Impreza WRX STI   03:19.0
Chevrolet Cobalt SS Supercharged   03:20.6
Dodge Caliber SRT4   03:20.8
Ford Mustang GT   03:20.9
Volkswagen R32   03:21.8
Mini Cooper S   03:22.9
Honda Civic Si Mugen   03:24.8
Volkswagen GTI   03:25.1
Honda Civic Si   03:26.5
Volvo C30 Version 2.0   03:26.6
Mazda MX-5   03:29.3


I especially like how it's just 2 seconds off the pace of the 500HP GT500, but 7 seconds faster than the Ford Mustang GT.  It's also less than 2 seconds off the pace of the RS4, which supposedly does a 7:58 Ring time.