Chevrolet Camaro chief engineer Al Oppenheiser believes crosstown rival Ford has some catching up to do after Chevy introduced a number of performance-oriented Camaros.
Oppenheiser made the comments in a Hagerty interview published on Monday after asked about his thoughts on the upcoming Shelby GT500, which Ford teased at the 2018 North American International Auto Show. The pony car will arrive with over 700 horsepower, according to the blue oval.
“I think they’ve got a lot to catch up on. They haven’t had anything for a while. I think our SS 1LE pretty much put the GT350R in second place, all around,” Oppenheiser said.
The Camaro chief made similar comments at the 2017 Camaro SS 1LE’s debut at the 2016 Chicago Auto Show. During an interview with GM Authority, Oppenheiser was confident the track package would outgun Ford’s Shelby GT350. To his credit, he was correct.
He also added the Camaro team’s goal over the past two generations of the car has been to show that it’s not just about horsepower.
“We’ve shown in two generations it’s not only about horsepower, it’s ‘can you get that horsepower to turn?'”
Despite the ever-so-slight diss at his rival, Oppenheiser welcomes the continued battle and added it keeps the segment relevant. He said the Camaro team will be more than ready to tackle whatever Ford brings to the table and he has no plans to stop.
The Camaro’s future will include a refreshed car altogether this year and Oppenheiser even hinted at the possibility of a drag package, or even a factory Dodge Demon rival.
Comments
It’s a shame GM/Chevrolet won’t put Oppenheiser and others to work on a performance version of a Cruze or Sonic or Trax or something? Something functional that goes, turns and stops and at the same time the entry level enthusiast can afford. Besides that , doesn’t the Camaro have plenty of versions, engines, packages, etc.. to choose from? Put these guys to work on something else.
That would be great along with the lower end of the Camaro and spread the wealth to Buick also.
The Camaro starts at $25,905. That’s a pretty entry level price.
Not for a Dad who wants a getaway car. $20,000 for something small and light like a Miata is what GM needs to make
I hope this rivalry lasts quite awhile and evolves into hybrid or EV performance vehicles.
Ford has stated their intention of a hybrid Mustang being just around the corner with more torque and power then the 2018 V8… Kudos on that. Lets also close it up in the handling and ride departments, Ford.
“I think they’ve got a lot to catch up on”, yeah, right. Sure they do…
460HP from a 5.0l vs 455HP from a 6.2l, CHECK.
10 spd automatic co-developed with GM yet the SS only has the 8 spd, CHECK.
A 700+HP GT500 to compete directly with the 650HP ZL1, COMING SOON, CHECK.
Ford ecoboost 2.3 w/ 310HP vs GM 2.0T w/ 275HP, CHECK. It appears Ford IS catching up, doesn’t it??
Yes, time will tell how the above mentioned pans out in the real world but this engineer may be eating $hit before all is said and done…
The LT1 is more powerful than the 5.0L evidenced by the Corvette. Well known that dyno tests show that the LT1 in the Camaro is marketing ad lib… to give it some distance from the Vette. I won’t mention that the 5.9L has less torque by about 35ft-lbs. The 310 horsepower and 350 lb-ft of torque 2.3L TURBO w 10Speed is no faster than the 335hp/284ft-lb NA 3.6L Camaro . Point blank.. it seems that if Chevy wanted to blatantly BLAST the Mustang.. it would
“marketing ad lib” or not, has the 5.0l, not 5.9, caught up? YES, not forgetting it’s short 1.2l in displacement compared to the LT1 and no wonder it has less torque! If you still want to compare apples to oranges, compare the 5.2l Voodoo engine and wow, it’s still 1.0l shy in displacement and makes 526HP!! I wasn’t comparing the 2.3l ecoboost to the 3.6l v6 was I? No, only to the 2.0T so please go back and read what I posted as you also missed the fact that ford at least offers the GT with the 10spd both GM AND Ford co-developed. Can’t get it in anything other than the ZL1, WHY???? Furthermore if you really want to educate yourself go both to GM and Fords website to try and build/price comparable equipped cars. Surprise! You can’t build an SS with the 1LE pkg and crappy 8 spd auto! Only the 6 spd manual and certainly no 10 spd option. Don’t get me wrong, I prefer the Camaro but the Mustang has and still is IMPROVING to compete against the Camaro, on all levels (GT500 too). That engineer’s comments were arrogant and ignorant.
Did you actually read the artical? To call the Engineer arrogant and ignorant base on the content of tha artical is a bit overboard.
Oh, I read it. DID YOU? I simply pointed out ALL the shortcomings of his BS perspective. When you IGNORE your competitions capabilities and/or advantages, your screwed. Overboard? No. Realistic, yes. I’m a GM man, but will never be a blind fanboy. WHY, does the mustang outsell the Camaro??? $$$$ has alot to do with that and the most reasonable/sensible thing I’ve heard from GM was a possible low price point contention candidate (L83 PLEASE). As is, WHY, AGAIN, does the GT get the 10 spd while the SS DOES NOT?! I’m a GM fan and it’s what Pi$$es me off. Still don’t get it?? Please….
Ohhh, snap crackle POP! Here’s MORE for your ignorance…..
For NEXT year, http://www.lsxmag.com/news/2019-camaro-to-be-offered-with-7-speed-manual/
Where’s the 10spd auto???? What about 2018??….NOT, for even 2019….
Flame on fanboys….
Never said you were not right about some of your comments, just that calling the Engineer arrogant and ignorant was a bit much. I too think the Camaro has some catching up to do. Just have a problem with the arogrant and ignorant thing. That is all.
Lol, well maybe the arrogant ignorant remark was a bit harsh. It’s just that being a GM fan it kills me how they can become complacent and make remarks that aren’t true. IMHO, if I were he, I would keep my mouth shut, continue to perfect what they’ve done to get on top so they stay there. Also, they still need a base entry v8 to capture the lower end as the mustang outsells the Camaro. No 10spd auto for the 2018 SS is a BIG mistake as well but that may be marketing’s fault. GM needs to change this so they sell more and keep the product line moving forward. No offense intended with my remarks, I’m just too d@mn passionate, lol.