Open Letter from Al Oppenhieser to the Camaro Nation and Ford.

[dirishboy]

I am so over this.

The ZL1 is real.
Many have seen it and some have touched it.
We have held our breathe as we watched video of it lap Nurburgring.
We have orders in.
We know the price
We know the dates.

GT500 650hp is just numbers on a page

[snizzle]

I can't wait for the comparos.

['StangBlaster5000]

Originally Posted by toilets

Id love to hear from one of the engineers in GM or Fbodfather from a marketing/business standpoint and get their reaction to this news... Either people are being quiet for a reason (Ie got caught with their pants down) or they really have nothing to worry about in regards to Fords response to the Zl1.

They have known about it for quite a while, heck I have known about it having a 5.8L with at least 620hp for MONTHS now! So if I knew about it then, I would imagine the people in the loop knew about it even before I did.

[den318]

I am sure they know the 13 Gt500 will have 600+ hp. They probably thought it's just a bump in HP, they cant put it to use. I am sure they don't expect 650hp, launch control, upgraded suspension to put down that power and 200MPH+ top speed. I think they got caught with their pants down.

How many people here KNEW that the GT500 will have 650HP, 200MPH+ top speed, upgraded suspension+ launch control? NONE would be my guess. I am sure everyone is shocked as well. All i heard for months is, it doesn't matter if the Gt500 have 600+ hp, the ZL1 will still be faster because they can't put down that power. It might still be the case, but with upgraded suspension+ launch control, i doubt it will be slower.

[htron50]

No Ford didn't get caught with their pants down. Neither did GM. I'm sure they are doing some improvements to suspension, but NOT AS GOOD AS ZL1. I am sure they are doing some improvements to the transmission, BUT NOT AS GOOD AS ZL1 ( a la A6). And, as I've said before, I don't want a car that allows simple raindrops on the roof to sound like a snare drum going off all around me.

Track ENDURANCE vs SPEED RUN are different animals. Ford ran 200+. SO? Change a couple gears in ZL1 and VOILA`. ZL1 wasn't built as a FLASH IN THE PAN performance.

And did you see the latest CRASH tests? Camaro got the BEST RATING from a passenger car yet! Beat Mustang.


Overall, ZL1 is "complete".....

Just saying this is an ongoing pursuit of performance.

The foundation ZL1 offers is just superior at this time.

Neither company is ever doing to be "done" with the project so WHY WORRY SO MUCH ABOUT IT? Just buy what you like and get your PERMA GRIN on!!

[cherniak]

I am so over this. 
 
The ZL1 is real. 
Many have seen it and some have touched it. 
We have held our breathe as we watched video of it lap Nurburgring.
We have orders in. 
We know the price
We know the dates.
 
GT500 650hp is just numbers on a page 

[n2oSS]

Chevy got hit below the belt, I would even venture to say that ford releasing the info same time chevy did was with out class.

Chevy can redeem themselves quite easily with stage upgrades i would think. I have a feeling the new gt500 will be a bit above 55k mark so a stage upgrade could be cost effiecent for consumers who wish to hold warranty yet compete.

But my delima is i am not sold on the zl1 one bit. We hear price, hp, trq, fancy junk thrown on it, ect. I want to hear the real news .....

Is the engine built for boost? Or is it built to handle the stock boost and thats all. if so why would i want to trade my 10 ss with a maggie?

Is the rear end built to handle more power or are zl1 buyers gonna be spreading gears on the track with us SS guys?

The mag ride is neat with the concept but there is a reason vette owners replace it with coilovers. To me this is wasted effort save for those that like to point and show to thier buddies.

i could give a damn less about what a cars power is from factory, I will void the warranty in less then 1000 miles anyways. The answer I would like from gm is a modders car. A car built stronger with the intentions of its buyers to mod it and the car to handle it (to a degree of course; disclaimer added for our numbnut nicpickers). Give us a car with a solid rearend, hell stronger driveline all together. Dont throw a sc on it, just forge the engine all up and let us beat the hell out of it. Get rid of the two peice driveshaft ..... eh thats cheap enough to change i guess. Drop a few airbags if legal, shave some weight.

I just feel these engineers get to caught up with whos sticker stats are better. Build us a car we can build on withought having to replace everything.

[snizzle]

Originally Posted by n2oSS

Chevy got hit below the belt, I would even venture to say that ford releasing the info same time chevy did was with out class.

I disagree. That's competitive business. They're trying to sell cars. They're not holding hands or going out to dinner every Friday.

Originally Posted by n2oSS

i could give a damn less about what a cars power is from factory, I will void the warranty in less then 1000 miles anyways.

You probably aren't the target audience then. If you are willing and able to DIY, make a better car.

[HEMI DAVE]

Originally Posted by Pappa Joe

Sweet car BTW,Was going to buy one until the ZL-1 came out! Rumour has it that Dodge will be bringing out a Supercharged or twin turbo version of Challenger...Sweet! Although I'm buying a ZL-1 I have always thought the Challenger is the best looking of the big three!

Thanks PAPA ........

No matter what the ZL1 is gonna be a bad azz car........

If you really want a ZL1 it's not gonna matter what Ford brings (650 HP is sick though)

.......and since the ZL1's primary function is a twisty track then you got more than you probably expected with that great ring time..

.........it's not gonna be too shabby at the drag strip either

[Houston94vert]

Guys, I’ve been following the Zl1 with excitement just the next guy.

I really don’t think guys arguing that the ZL1 will out perform the 2013 shelby has any real legs to stand one. Simply because previous spy shots shown the ZL1 testing and going after the current Shelby. Which is fine. 2012 vs 2012 come this spring, ZL1 will be the fastest muscle car you can own. They’ve done their job. However, come that summer, the tides will change a bit. I’m sure the 2013 ZL1 will also be closer to coming out, as well, as it will require just more refinement, not a completely new developmental process.

I’m loving the comments on hp is just numbers on a page, does everyone here suffer from short term memory loss? There was a point where the ZL1 was just numbers on a page. It takes a few months to actually get the product out to the people; you know this if you’ve been waiting on the Camaro. How long was the first Transformers out before we all actually saw a production Camaro??

People responding that this is a low blow by ford or just retaliation or last ditch efforts. Of course it is! It’s marketing, producing a competitive product, and then ultimately selling your product. There are lots of strategies in play, and it appears at the moment that Ford is playing the best one. Prior to this, I’m sure GM felt they were ahead. And guess what…5-7 months from now, it will be a different conversation yet again. GM will release information about the 2013 ZL1 and it will be numbers on a page. LOL

All in all, I’m super excited about all of this. This just means better cars and features for all the consumers. Poor Dodge is left in the dust on all of this…or do they have something up their sleeves as well!!! Only time will tell.

I know, this summer, I’m planning on purchasing a new performance car and trade in the current Shelby. Right now I’m leaning more towards the newest 2013 Shelby, but I’m not 100% made up yet.

[djinva]

Jalopnik morning shift today November 17th. Looks like Ford is chicken.

http://jalopnik.com/5859957/the-shel...e-la-auto-show

1st Gear: Chevy Challenges Ford To Muscle Car Fight, Ford Takes Bat, Goes Home
After Ford brought out its potentially ZL1-killing 650-horsepower 2013 Shelby GT500, Joel Ewanick, global vice president of GM marketing, decided to drop the gauntlet down at the feet of Ford. "We should take a Camaro, Ford brings a Mustang, we each pick our drivers, and see who has the best time on the Nürburgring," Ewanick said to Scott Burgess of the Detroit News. Jim Farley, who heads Ford's global marketing, wasn't taking the bait despite professed claims to a desire to "take a bat" to Chevrolet. "I wish we could," he said, after hearing about Ewanick's challenge. "Who wouldn't want to do that?" Huh. Sounds to us like maybe Ford's chicken. Hey, Farley — bawk-bawk-bawk-BA-kawk!

[shreded1]

I was born and raised Chevy. I don't care how much hp Ford comes out with, it's still an UGLY Mustang and will never match the looks of any Camaro!!!! I'm very happy to be getting a ZL1.

[2010SS2SS]

Just what I thought! ALL that HP and they aren't hitting the mark on times at the "RING".
If so they would have jumped on the chance to prove it

[motorhead]

Cool! let's get it on. Why Nurburgring though? Let's do it on American soil at a track that neither car has ever ran on.