The fact that Ford planning a hybrid version of the Mustang isn’t a secret. The Dearborn-based automaker has been upfront about those plans for a while, even teasing the vehicle last year, which will likely arrive when the automaker introduces the next, seventh-generation of its pony. While technical details on the forthcoming Mustang Hybrid are sparse, our sister site – Ford Authority – got new spy photos of what it believes is a powertrain development mule for FoMoCo’s hybrid powertrain. The sighting makes the hybrid Mustang feel tangible for the first very time, and once again raises the question of whether a GM should make a Chevrolet Camaro hybrid to compete with the Mustang hybrid?
Even suggesting a Camaro hybrid is sacrilegious in some circles. However, hybrid sports cars aren’t new, and even the most mild hybridization is proliferating throughout the lineups of many an automaker. The idea of a Camaro hybrid dates back half a decade, something that crops up when a new generation or refresh is imminent. However, neither General Motors nor Chevrolet has ever discussed such an idea, even as its crosstown rival dives headfirst into hybridizing a plethora of its core products.Â
The most tangible indication that GM was thinking of a hybrid Camaro came last August when GM sent a survey to owners asking for input on two new hybrid engines. The survey asked, “Which of the following engine options would you most likely choose” when considering a new “sport coupe like the Chevrolet Camaro?” It then provided two very different hybrid powertrains – a 365-horsepower 2.0-liter four-cylinder for a $4,000 premium with a 4.4-second 0-60 and a 545-hp 6.2-liter V8 for an $8,000 premium, which would hit 60 miles per hour in 3.7 seconds. Since then, there hasn’t been a peep. Either powertrain would be a boon for enthusiasts and deliver obvious performance benefits, even if the idea of a hybrid version of the Camaro rubs purists the wrong way.
We can speculate all we want, but General Motors is very tightlipped about future products. Development of the next-generation Camaro is already underway, but if there is a Camaro hybrid in development, we don’t know about it yet. A hybrid version would likely push the Camaro’s performance envelope to new heights, combining power and technology into an efficient and fun package. If GM isn’t developing a Camaro hybrid, then you can bet it’ll be watching how well the Mustang hybrid sells.
Check out all the spy photos of the Ford Mustang hybrid at Ford Authority.
Comments
I think Ford has to be a little more forthcoming with product planning as their stock, and financial critics don’t have a lot of confidence in the their future road map
A Camaro hybrid, or Chevy hybrid or EV pickup (beyond the eAssist) is likely in the works, but GM would only have short term gains by saying so. Ford has to say they are working on a hybrid and EV models to grasp the confidence of investors, try and course correct, and stop their stock from dropping over the past 5 years.
We already know that the next Mustang will share a platform with the new Explorer/Aviator. We know that there will be a hybrid version of the Aviator with 3.0 TTV6/battery pack making 400+hp and 600lb.ft. Easy to assume the Mustang will offer something similar as well. Camaro? If it survives to see another generation, an all electric one is likely, but no hybrid.
IDK, $4k premium and $8k premium respectively is a rather large pill to swallow with many questions like:
Do I still need to run premium gas?
Can I recoup this premium over time and how long will it take?
How long will the hybrid part last and what does it cost to repair/replace??
What are the MPG’s for each?
How does it stack up against the Mustang hybrid performance per $$?
A 4 cyl. turbo still sounds like a 4 cyl sooooo..Oh, and BTW, If the beaty of a 4 cyl is it’s weight, then how does the added weight of a hybrid affect the car??
Does it still handle great or not?
No 3.6l cyl hybrid? Or even a lv3 4.3l hybrid? turbo?
Time and again we see where GM falls short of it’s objective vs. Ford so I would never be an early adopter. Wait and see is my perspective. Too many unknowns/variables. IMHO.
I love the eCOPO and I’m truly impressed but do I want to buy into a hybrid if an eCOPO for the street is coming down the pipe?
Why wouldn’t it???
Let see, Corvette would get Hybrid version or not.
I know I’ve been raggin’ on GM this past week but c’mon GM, lets be the trend and pace setters rather than just reacting by latching on to what others have dared to bring out.
This is where you can be a follower of some one in a game where you were very ahead.
The CT6 plugin-in hybrid transmission was the best thing to go for, if it was launched 2 years back. They would have been at a place to make ford a follower than follow ford .
General Motors and Chevrolet shot themselves in the Volt when they discontinued the Chevrolet Volt because it gave offered a flexible hybrid architecture that could fit anything.. Chevy could have kept the 1.5L 4-cyl gas motor as the recharger for a 500 hp electric motor from the Buick Enspire CUV concept car.
It gets tiring that every time Ford makes an announcement or purposely puts a mule on the road for spy pictures, it’s always what will GM do? Pony cars are one thing, V8, two doors, rear drive.
Gm is going all electric period. Camaro will be all electric.
Gm is already working on 7th and 8th generation camaro’s . Camaro will be all electric. These corvette c8 (ME) will have electric drivetrain. C9 Corvette will be all-electric, and already being worked on.
Boo.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=jimPXzGaY6w
Unless Ford knows something we don’t I just don’t see this being anything more than a small niche seller. I have 3 dealers in my area that are still trying to off load 2017 Fusion and Sonata hybrids so I’m finding it difficult to believe a car like this will sell in hybrid format. Most buy these for fun and performance not eco whinnies.
Keep up with current events: the Camaro is terminated. They’ll build 6th gen Camaros for as long as they remain profitable but there will be no 7th gen because GM has, true to form, given up instead of retrenching for further battle. Al Oppenheiser has been transferred to an administrative position where doesn’t oversee any single vehicle’s development, and the rest of the Camaro team engineers have been reassigned to other projects.
Camaro engineers created one of the best sports cars in the world, but Tom Peters and his design team sabotaged it with juvenile looks and a horribly impractical design for daily driving. Even high performance driving instructors dislike it since the poor visibility makes it a dangerous car for students on busy tracks.
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