A few days ago, Ford revealed it has plans to introduce a hybrid system to one of its most iconic nameplates: the Ford Mustang. After decades of non-stop production, the original pony car will take a major step into the 21st century when the hybrid system is introduced for 2020.
You had to have known this was coming, so, here it is. Should the Chevrolet Camaro follow suit and offer a hybrid variant? That’s the topic of today’s Community Question.
As fuel economy standards loom on the horizon, automakers are getting creative with how their portfolios will meet such standards. Applying hybrid systems to models is certainly one way of doing it. In fact, it’s likely a reasoning behind the fact we now have a Chevrolet Camaro offered with a 2.0-liter LTG turbocharged four-cylinder engine.
As for the Mustang, Ford stated it will arrive with the power of a V8 (not confirming it will have a V8) and will feature even greater low-end torque thanks to electric motors. Surely, there is a lot of potential regarding performance.
But, do cars like the Camaro and Mustang warrant such systems? The Mustang, Camaro, Challenger and more have always represented affordable performance and have done it with fairly basic powertrain setups to get there. A hybrid system may dull the effect of these well-respected icons.
That’s not to say there still won’t be a V8 engine offering, no one is saying that. And if Ford thinks there’s a market for such a vehicle, it has done its homework.
So, with that, we will come to you now. Vote in the poll below and talk to us in the comment section down below. Should the Camaro follow suit? Or, should it keep on keeping on the way it has been for years?
Comments
Dear Sweet Baby Jesus. PLEASE DO NOT LET GM MAKE A HYBRID CAMARO!
What if that was the only way to increase sales to a point to keep the Camaro viable as a model going forward? If there’s still a V8 SS non-hybrid variant available, what’s the big deal?
The Camaro can definitely evolve with many things….but not hybrid
there are 3 things that cannot change:
1. RWD
2. Internal combustible engine
3. coupe, must be 2-door
other than that, most other changes can be done.
This would not change any of those things
GM already has a RWD hybrid: the Cadillac CT6 Plug-in Hybrid. It is a Volt powertrain but rear wheel driven, with a 40-mile electric range and a 138 MPG rating. It also can go from 0 to 60 in less than six seconds, The combined system is capable of producing total system power of 335 HP and 432 lb-ft of torque.
Read more here: http://gmauthority.com/blog/2016/08/cadillac-may-have-outed-the-ct6-phev-fuel-economy-figures/
That powertrain in a Camaro will have even better performance.
I just recently bought a Volt and here’s a little secret. Thanks to the instant torque, electric cars are fun to drive. Before making a Camaro Hybrid and if it I were up to me I would create a “Volt SS” biased more towards performance rather than economy.
I said it on another article, and I’ll say it hear; GM could easily do it. If Camaro continues to sit on a Cadillac platform, the capability of a hybrid electric powertrain, and even AWD, is there. JDN has said Cadillac will look to offer more hybrid and electric variants of its cars, leaving Camaro totally capable of following suit.
The question is not can they do it, but if they should. I think Corvette is a better outlet for a hybrid system. It is really pushing into super car territory, and a state of the art, performance hybrid powertrain would do it well.
Pretty much summed up my thoughts on the matter. There’s no doubt GM has the tech to develop such a car, but it’s more of a matter them actually green-lighting it! Depending on fuel costs and market demands, I wouldn’t be surprised if this is the avenue GM takes in preserving the Camaro’s presence…..Otherwise, we’ll all just have to pray for fuel costs to remain low and that people will somehow find muscle cars to be more appealing.
I just hope there’s at least an AWD option in the cards for now….
You never get back your money ,
Very few cars qualify as an “investment” ; think small run high end Euro cars or supercars. Camaros are not and never have been for making money on. End of story.
All Ford hybrids are DOA and in fact the only company making hybrids in quantity is Toyota. Adding weight to a specialty sports coupe(which is already portly) will negatively affect handling. This would be a massive mistake.
Corvette C8 for hyper performance, yes go for it.
You are quite wrong. Ford is the world’s second largest hybrid producer, and the largest in the U.S. (Toyota is a cheaper import). Ford began making hybrids in 2005, and sells thousands of hybrids every week Now Fod will make hybrid versions of the Mustang and the F-150 truck.
GM already has a hybrdi version of its newest sedan, the CT6. The Hybrd version is much more powerful and quicker (see my post above for more information).
You must be getting your facts in the same place as your next president.
Depending on the month in 2016, Toyota’s sales in the US market were 73-75% of the entire hybrid market while Ford was 11-13%.
https://www.statista.com/statistics/557288/sales-of-hybrid-vehicles-in-the-us-by-manufacturer/
Toyota dominates in Europe and especially in Japan with over 90% world market share.
Cheaper import? You’re not credible.
Toyota was on track to finish 2016 with 1.5 million hybrids sold for the year world-wide. Ford is so far behind, I couldn’t even find if they even reported a number.
Absolutely! Follow the market, and make the car relevant to as many people as possible to keep it alive. They wouldn’t make them all hybrids, it would be like the Malibu where hybrid and regular versions are offered. The option should exist for those that prefer it.
It’s pretty simple. It would have to be performance enhancing setup. If it’s for fuel economy than keep it for family haulers – sedans, vans and CUVs.
See also the EcoCar3 challenge – universities get a Camaro and convert it to hybrid.
It would be interesting to see what factors you could play with:
* Instant low end torque would lead to better 0-60 time, and perhaps interesting things with gearing.
* Putting the battery down low would lead to even lower center of gravity, possibly allowing the car to be raised just a little, and change the spring rates for better handling.
* Sport Regenerative braking would enable stronger brakes with less sprung weight.
Sure. But I wonder if the cost of a performance hybrid would be in reach for buyers? Isn’t the closest performance hybrid the 150k BMW? But on the other hand if they did make a hybrid woth massive torque and puts the v8 to shame with better gas mileage, Then maybe the end of the v8?
All I hear and read is that Camaro sale’s are down , because of higher cost and now some people are saying to do the same as the Mustang . People, do you think adding all this hybrid is free ?
This is really something that has to have some questions answered first.
#1 Can you boost a V6 or 4 Cylinder performance to the level as high or higher than the SS LT1?
#2 Can you do number one at a price equal or less then the V8?
#3 Will it really boost sales of this particular kind of car?
Coupe sales are down and the fact performance cars are not always your first choice if you are concerned about the environment.
You can not look at this like the high end super cars where price is no object. To make power like they do takes investment and we already have people complaining about the price of the Camaro now.
To do this you would need to put the drive train in another vehicle like the Trucks and hope the volume is enough to cover the cost with this and the Camaro. This is what Ford plans to do. They will let the F150 carry the volume and use the same drive line in the Mustang. At this point Ford is not even sure. It could be a home run or a big strike out like the GM hybrid SUV’s from a few years ago that were a hard sell and lasted only a year or so.
Any time you add content to a car it generally increases the price. All the cry out for AWD, Hybrid and other things come at a price and some one needs to pay for it in volumes enough to pay the development cost.
This is the kind of stuff business cases are made of and why you can not just say build it because it feels good. I am the first person who hates numbers in a business. I argue against them often but there are places you have to confirm the numbers or you will pay the price later.
Let me add that at some point they will have to move to this as the only means of saving the perfroamnce lines as the super cars but the key is to do so when the price can be contained. Is that now or not? Well I think it will take a few more years and a few more higher end models or larger volume models to drive the price down.
Also the thing I would consider is doing to on models more in tune to environmental people or in vehicles people would like to get more MPG from like a Cross over.
Not many core people in Camaros are going to be interested in a V6 or running on batteries as they like to modify their cars on their own and it will be a while before the after market will catch up.
They will also give on the low end torque to keep the sound of an exhaust. You would be surprised how key the sound it in marketing clinics.
The day is coming but I am not sure it would be very easy to do today.
How about an Impala on an Alpha and use this system in it. I think it would gain larger volumes being a sedan and wider appeal to more people. Also replace the Impala that is starting to get a little old. It also would absorb the cost better.
It will be the end of an era if and when the Camaro goes hybrid. But is just that…the end of ONE era and the beginning of ANOTHER era. Change is hard to accept but you don’t see people opting for a horse and cart over a motor vehicle now do you. It’s just the march of progress.
Better to let Ford experiment in that market to see if there is really demand. I’d give it an 80% chance of failure. Consider:
1) People are drawn to these pony cars because of the raw sports car feel and sound. Hybrid won’t help with that
2) These cars are already pushing the envelope of what buyers are willing to pay. Hybrid won’t help with that at all
3) These pony cars have become porky over time and the Camaro has finally gone on a diet. Hybrid won’t help keep the pounds off
If push came to shove in fuel economy regs, I’m sure GM would do a hybrid Camaro. Otherwise, leverage Ford as your market research and follow suit only if demand is strong.
One more thing to consider is the future of hybrids.
Some of you may know and some may not yet know about the 48V car systems the will power the future Hybrid cars. Several suppliers are shopping these systems around right now and they are so much more advanced and much easier to package and right now they are targeting the price at a much lower price than present systems once in production.
Lincoln. BMW, Renault and VW all have announced 48 volt hybrids are coming to their lines. We should hear something from GM at some point too on this as they will not be left out.
Also the systems are making cars lighter since they can use smaller wiring.
The SAE Automotive magazine has a story on it. I just got it today and skimmed over it. The system looks promising. Also they are looking to add much more electronics to the car including a Electric supercharger for lower priced cars.
Note on the weight I think they said the 48 volt system helped them remove 22 pounds from the car. Now that may not sound like much but that was just wires and electrical components.
YES! But not a hybrid, based on the Volt, but with 2 electric motors, one on each axle, all wheel drive, and even a little Tesla sprinkled in.
Ok, a Camaro hybrid is a good idea, AS AN OPTION. But don’t take away other performance options…
They would have to ensure the handling is not numb like the Tesla on the ‘Ring, and being a hybrid it would need to maintain power for a full ‘Ring session, unlike the all electric Tesla…
there should be a hybrid camaro zl1 yyyyyyeeeeeeeessssssss do it pleasse !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! if
its not i cry please a lot of horse power like um a 3000 or lower or faster.make sure its over 900. please.#HORSEPOWER#CAMARO!!!!!!!!!!