Lutz floats the idea of a four-cylinder Camaro

Another auto show, another batch of interesting comments complements of GM vice chairman and quote machine Bob Lutz. This time out, Maximum Bob was opining about the upcoming 2009 Chevrolet Camaro to the folks at Automotive News, and -- gasp -- he brought up the four word -- four cylinder, that is.

Yes, Lutz is floating the possibility that the new Camaro could eventually come with a four cylinder option, more than likely a version of the turbocharged, Ecotec 2.0-liter, 260 horsepower four banger that powers the Solstice GXP, among others in the GM stable.

Not that it will happen right away, as GM has committed at launch to deliver six and eight cylinder models of the Camaro. The V-6 is expected to be the high feature unit that powers the top line Cadillac CTS, detuned some to about 260 horsepower, a number which neatly matches the 2.0-liter's output.

The V-8 will likely be a version of the 6.2-liter LS3 that powers base Corvette and will probably push about 400 horsepower. An SS model is also reportedly in the pipeline, expect that car to come an engine similar to what powers the new CTS-V, a supercharged 6.2-liter V-8.

Obviously, even broaching the subject of dropping a four-cylinder into the new Camaro means that GM is continuing to examine all options when it comes to meeting the new CAFE requirements.

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pushrod27 - 3/20/2008 10:56:11 AM

-1 Boost

GreenPlease... please go jump off a cliff. Nobody wants a 4 cylinder Camaro. It's bad enough that they're making a v6. This car should be V8 only, like the BMW 6-series is.

'I prefer the exhaust note of an I4' that's the dumbest thing i ever read. 4 cylinder engines sound horrible, all of them.

And 130hp is never 'more than enough'

Hyundai - 3/20/2008 11:41:21 AM

-3 Boost

GreenPlease...

... No, just NO, to everything you said!

If you want an economy car, buy a Cobalt! Don't spread your disease to the Camaro and ruin it for everybody else!

Obliv - 3/20/2008 12:31:15 PM

+5 Boost

Only if its turbo, I say.

oh, and Pushrod: if it was v8 only, it would be discontinued just like the LAST camaro due to falling on its face in sales. They honestly should give more attention to the v6, because thats the model they need to sell in large volumes. Id give it maybe 2 years of production if they go v8-only. GTO anyone?

Any true Camaro fan wants it to succeed, and to do so they need the v6/i4.

carguy68 - 3/20/2008 11:10:14 AM

+1 Boost

Not this damn car again!!! Just bring it out already!!!!

pushrod27 - 3/20/2008 11:17:02 AM

0 Boost

I hope they don't do it. Anyone who speaks of a 4 cylinder Camaro is a blasphemer, and should be stoned immediately.

Whelan - 3/20/2008 11:39:29 AM

+2 Boost

Does not body remember the Mustang SVO, 4cyl. turbo and a VERY sought after car nowadays since it was limited production.

cthip - 3/20/2008 11:42:19 AM

+3 Boost

GM has pulled this before, and it's not necessarily a bad idea. as i recall, one of the fastest Firebird/Trans-Ams that Pontiac ever produced was a turbo 6-cylinder.

My guess is that if they went ahead with this plan, it would probably be introduced along with a small bump in hp on the v6 and v8 models to maintain differentiation between the different trim levels. Everybody wins!

mini22 - 3/20/2008 11:46:54 AM

+1 Boost

Yes-It was a turbo lag nightmare.Regardless of the cylinder count any base Camaro should not have less then 250HP period. If that means a turbo 4 so be it.The thing is the engine should have certain characteristics. It should have excellent low speed torque,excellent throttle response and a nice sounding exhaust.Does GM have a 4 cylinder that meets this criteria at the moment. I don't think so. However we will have to see what the future brings.

mini22 - 3/20/2008 1:00:06 PM

+3 Boost

You hit the nail on the head. A light weight say 2700LB Corvette with a 320HP V6 properly tuned would not have bad performance. With MPG mileage requirements getting increasingly tighter this would not be a bad way to go with the Vette.

AWDturbo - 3/20/2008 2:30:21 PM

+1 Boost

hmmm they did the same thing in the mustangs, and those cars still have a following.

Aint gonna kill the brand for sure.

Spectator - 3/20/2008 2:39:57 PM

+2 Boost

Lutz has, in all probablity, taken two things into account here.

1. The rediculous CAFE standards increase is absolutly decimating the Big 3 and Lutz knows he has to change the fleets engine makeup to reach acceptable numbers as was stated in the article.

2. The Hyundai Genesis Coupe is coming out with a turbocharged 4 RWD platform which (since its priced as low a Mustang V6...and yes I realize Lutz is GM, this is just an anology) is expected to be highly modifiable as well. It renders the base underpowered V6's (except for Caddies V6) in the domestic market as relativly useless.

And for those who don't think Lutz is paying attention to the Koreans...think of Lutz's past and how he is inexorably tied to the foreign car market.

moto - 3/20/2008 6:43:22 PM

+2 Boost

Mass trumps cylinder count.

300+ horsepower out of a 4-cylinder isn't a difficult feat, which is more than enough for a nostalgiamobile that was never designed to offer an improvement in total vehicle performance. If you really want performance, then get a sportscar that weighs less.

Funny thing about those original V-8 muscle cars ... the 4-cylinder Lotus Esprit blew them away 25 years ago.

vdiv - 3/20/2008 11:36:28 PM

+1 Boost

If the car weighs, say about 3000 lbs. a 4 cylinder for the international version may cut it :)

But aside from horsepower, one needs torque and "grunt" from their muscle car, 4-bangers don't get either. Now I won't mind a V8 with a variable displacement.

FerrarisR4me - 3/21/2008 6:33:53 PM

+1 Boost

I hate these CAFE requirements. They take all the fun out of cars. Environment is good and all... but lets keep it away from our cars shall we?