Death of the GM Corvette?

[SUBMAN1]

GM: Emission law may hamper muscle cars

Detroit performance cars endangered by new, stricter regulations



Detroit performance cars endangered by new, stricter regulations
The 2009 Corvette ZR1 is the fastest, most powerful automobile ever produced by General Motors. But it may be the last in a long tradition of muscle cars, says the Corvette's chief engineer, Tadge Juechter.

DETROIT - When General Motors Corp. pulls the cover off a new supercharged version of the Corvette at the Detroit auto show next month, it will unveil a performance car designed to rival or better even the fastest, most expensive exotic cars from Europe.

But the Corvette's chief engineer says the 2009 Corvette ZR1 may be the last in a long tradition of Detroit performance cars, endangered by stronger federal fuel economy regulations and limits on carbon dioxide emissions.

"High-performance vehicles such as this may actually be legislated out of existence," Tadge Juechter said at a recent showing of the ZR1, which is designed to have around 620 horsepower.

President Bush on Wednesday signed into law legislation that will bring more fuel-efficient vehicles into auto showrooms and require wider use of ethanol, calling it "a major step" toward energy independence and easing global warming.

The legislation requires automakers to increase fuel efficiency by 40 percent to an industry average 35 miles per gallon by 2020.

But Juechter said to sell one of the Chevrolet supercars, GM would need to offset that with cars that get 45 mpg.

"It could really be an endangered species," he said.

Aaron Bragman, an auto analyst with the consulting firm Global Insight, said predicting the death of the muscle car might be premature.

The Corvette, he said, is fuel efficient when compared with its competitors. Although fuel economy figures weren't released for the ZR1, the current 505-horsepower Corvette ZO6 gets an estimated 15 mpg in the city and 24 on the highway, according to GM.

The ZR1, he said, gets around the same mileage as a Chevrolet pickup truck, and GM won't be getting out of the pickup business because of gas mileage standards.

"I think it's a little over-dramatization," Bragman said. "GM wants to sell big, high-performance, fun cars. And typically that's what Americans want to buy."

Performance cars of the future may be powered by smaller engines or electric motors, he said, but they won't die.

The ZR1 will have a top speed of more than 200 mph, driven by an all-new supercharged 6.2-liter V-8 engine. It has 19-inch front and 20-inch rear wheels and a suspension tuned to provide extraordinary cornering grip, GM said.

The car has a carbon-fiber hood, fenders and roof for weight savings, and its huge carbon-ceramic brake rotors give it great stopping power, the company said.

The ZR1 will cost around $100,000 and probably will go on sale next summer.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22340556/

[Reaves]

There will always be people who will pay for such a car so I doubt they will ever become extinct. They might have a hard time once we stop using petrol (fusion maybe? ) but the market will always be there so the money will be made.

[joea]

Originally Posted by Reaves

There will always be people who will pay for such a car so I doubt they will ever become extinct. They might have a hard time once we stop using petrol (fusion maybe? ) but the market will always be there so the money will be made.

Ahhh you mean beer as in Back to the Future :p

[Reaves]

Originally Posted by joea

Ahhh you mean beer as in Back to the Future :p

There is no reason to squander our greatest resource for transportation!

:rotfl:

[SUBMAN1]

Originally Posted by Reaves

There is no reason to squander our greatest resource for transportation!

:rotfl:

Unless of course they need o use some so that the can 'transport' that greatest resource to a local place for my purchase! Then, and only then, I can authorize such a use!

-S

[JSLTIGER]

When someone can give me a legitimate reason as to why they need 620 horsepower, then I'll be sad. Until then, I don't understand what people have against 4 cylinder engines. I drive a 4 banger powered Corolla right now, and its got more than enough power to get me around town. My parents drive an Accord with a 4 cylinder engine, and it too has more than enough power. Barring towing, no one really needs to have V6s or V8s.