Ryan Bell

....is going to be 450hp for the first year, and then working it's way up to 475hp.

Given the people who I'm hearing this from (and these are the same ones that called the LS2 at 400hp due to inside sources WAAAY back in the day, and also that have said 500hp is bunk from the beginning), I'm starting to believe it.

Discuss.

Oh, and I almost forgot: If all you're going to add to this thread is "no one knows yet" or something similar, don't bother posting.




[Modified by Ryan Bell, 1:23 PM 2/13/2004]

SteveJ

It sounds reasonable to me as long as they keep the MSRP in the low $50K range. I had been having second thoughts about spending close to $60K on a car anyway.

JAvery20

wow i had that exact prediction about a year ago! I just cant seem to dig up the thread on zo6vette.com! :mad :mad

C6Nut400

THAT, IS, NOT, ENOUGH!

C5Longhorn

What if I tell you that I got my information from an "Official Website." :p:

Jinx

It's easy to be skeptical of 500hp if those close to GM are, at public events, saying nothing about it.

However, when official GM mouthpieces play word games around "500hp" -- remember the bit about passing the number on a napkin? -- they better deliver it. If they MENTION it, whether or not they've COMMITTED to it, those most interested in the car will automatically be disappointed with anything less.

If they weren't sure they could deliver 500hp, they should have kept their damn mouths shut instead of actively encouraging the rumors.

I have a difficult time believing that Dave Hill, who's always played things very close to the vest, would participate in these "500" games and then deliver a car with only 450hp. I don't think he's that stupid.

.Jinx
400hp isn't enough for the base car.
450hp isn't enough for the Z06.

ivan111

I agree and if GM wants to get behind the big boys Viper, Porsche GT2 and Ford GT they better bring to the table much more than 450hp......

jerome

I don't believe that. It would only mean a +27 HP increase from the 2004 Z06 models (typical 360 rwhp which translates to 423 crank HP). Just adding a set of cat-back exhaust and I'm half way there already.

Dave Hill did say recently in a car magazine that there will be more difference between base and Z06 models than there is currently. So significantly more than 55 HP over the 400 HP base C6. See my post (6th from the top) in this discussion

Painrace

If ithe Z06 is under 500 HP I will be driving something else. If the ME412 is built that is what I will be driving no matter what the vette HP!

WhiteDiamond

Well, if the LS7 is really somewhere around 6.3 or 6.4 liters and has the 3 valve heads, I have a hard time believing 450hp. Since the matter of displacement and head design are still speculation, I guess anything is up for discussion. My prediciton: if the LS7 is 6.3L or larger AND has the 3 valve heads, then the mark will be 500hp(I wouldn't argue too much if somebody called it 475hp, though ). The displacement increase, the airflow increase with the heads and knowing the cam will be more aggressive than the LS2(which by all speculation is under-rated 5 to 10%) makes a very high 400hp number seem very obtainable.

Todd

jschindler

I"m continuously dumbfounded by such statements. Exactly what else are you going to buy that DOES have 500 HP? Right now, the closest you can come (in price) costs $30,000 more than the current Z06.

Why does everyone think it has to have 500 HP just because the Viper and GT do? I'd love to know what your comments would be if the Z06 came out with 500 hp but costs $83,000 like a Viper (or say - $140,000 like a Ford GT).

As long as the price stays in the $50's, it would still be a performance king with 450 hp and 3100 lbs.

SteveJ

Okay, let me put out my theory again. I think things have changed since Dave Hill gave that interview in Autoweek. Specifically, I am guessing that the response to the base C6 has been less than hoped for, as indicated by the size of dealers' waiting lists. I am thinking they are going to reduce hp to 450 and cost to between $50K and $55K strictly for marketing reasons. This has nothing to do with what GM COULD do if it wanted. I think it's very likely that GM has tested internally various engines with different hp figures, and that they can choose one of the alternatives at the last minute for marketing reaons.


[Modified by SteveJ, 10:28 PM 2/13/2004]

C6Nut400

I think I rember a test between the GT and Viper in a mad (dont remb. the name) and they mentioned about the rumors af the Z06 having 500hp, and they said something like "It needs it" and like you all are saying alot of the officials and execs. including Dave Hill have said 500hp, Dave Hill publicly announcing 500. I think they will have to and already have 500hp.

Scissors

Looking at the specs, the LS2 in underrated at 400 HP. I don't see how the LS7, with an additional 0.4 liters of displacement and eight extra valves can only produce 450 HP. If it does, it's because they detuned it.

I'm sticking with the 500 HP estimate.

jschindler

I too have wondered if the LS2 is underrated. But unless we (not me!) really understand the cam specs, that would be hard to know. Some friends and I have theorized that it may just have a really good torque curve.

Second, all the hype on the forum implies that everyone knows that it will be this or that. How do we really know what the displacement will be? Finally, what is being done to beef up the drive train to handle 500 hp? Anyone who has modded a C5 to this kind of horsepower know that most of the drivetrain components cannot handle that horsepower with the degree of reliabilty that a fully warranted production car must have. Certainly GM has the ability to do it, but the more parts that have to be unique to the Z0?, the more expensive the car is going to be.

I hope they pull it off - 500hp for under $60K, but I'm beginning to believe that's going to be a lot to ask for.

SWCDuke

When you write in this type of caveat, you ought to list the sources of "all the talk" to establish the credibility of the rumors.

Hill and his boss have dropped strong hints of 500 HP and a 3V 6.4L engine should be capable of close to this output in EPA trim. To me this is the most credible source, but until the specs are announced, no one knows for sure and talk is cheap!

If all you have are sourceless and baseless rumors, don't bother posting!

Duke

rmbrady

Does it realy matter what the number is? The old Z06 gave up 50+ hp to the competition and still managed to keep up; so if the new car spots the competition some power and is still competitive whats the problem? Yes, it would be cool to say your car had 500hp, but it would be just as fun to say "you've got 50 more hp, and I still spanked you around the track."

DsC5

Well said. With a lowly 405hp, the '02-'04 Z06s still hang with the many of the best. :flag

aflyc5

Now when they are saying 450 475 is that crank rated or whp

need-for-speed

Advertised HP is ALWAYS at the crankshaft.

Jerome, your numbers (423 HP) are back-calculated using an assumed 15% drivetrain loss. We don't really know if 15% is correct.