Quote:
Originally Posted by 69bossnine
If you believe that GM was unaware of Ford's ongoing plans to counter their ZL1 with an improved/more-powerful GT500, you're deluding yourself. They knew damn-well that Ford wasn't just going to say "let it ride" and continue status-quo. Insiders in Detroit all know what the other team is "working on" in their skunkworks, to think otherwise is naive'. And what the heck, GO AHEAD and compare against the 2012 GT500... In a drag-race, man, it's a driver's race, very close, slight edge to ZL1 because of launch-control, but stock 2011-2012 GT500's run 117-118 in the traps day-in-day-out.
And I don't see GM countering with a 715hp ZL1 for 2013, which is what they'd have to produce in order to just EQUAL the 2013 GT500's power/weight ratio.
Let's be realistic, they came out with every bullet they had in their gun, that allowed them to arrive in the mid-$50K price range. GM could make more power (a la ZR1), but the mill would add alot more money to the car, and then they'd be spending boatloads of cash re-calibrating chassis and re-durability-testing a car that they just FINISHED spending all those development dollars on.
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One thing to remember, and it is very important, the GT500 is Ford's top dog. Chevy is limited to what they can do and what they can charge due to the Corvette. Ford can do whatever they want and charge whatever they want, hence the $65k+ price tag for the fully optioned model of the GT500. If GM was to do this, they would eat into sales of the Corvette creating a zero sum game. Not using this as an excuse as the '13 GT500 has completely dethroned the ZL1, however, it is something to keep in mind.