How does the GT500 get past the gas guzzling tax?

[REAPER SS]

I was just curious as to how the 2013 GT500 gets away with not having the gas guzzling tax and the 2012 ZL1 gets stuck with it. Is it that the GT500 engine is that much more efficient?....or are they going to get stuck with it once the smoke clears from the hype?

[HEMI DAVE]

Superb engineering I would guess..........

[mcamisgroup]

My dealer told me this morning he does'nt know how they will get by not having one and as you pointed out, it may happen after all the hype and marketing smoke clears.

[rayhawk]

By certing the car's mpg with a "standard" set of numerically lower rear gears, then sending the optional gear equipped cars to the magazines for performance testing.

[Mojave]

Originally Posted by rayhawk

By certing the car's mpg with a "standard" set of numerically lower rear gears, then sending the optional gear equipped cars to the magazines for performance testing.

Yep, that's it

[Buelligun]

That and using a modern engine design with overhead cams etc

Surely pushrods should be in the museums now??!!!

[Betiwin]

Lighter weight guys. TVS require little power in bypass mode to turn. Way better than the stander m122 the old gt500 had. 3:31 gears help too. Doubt they will have Peformance gear. Why would u need it with 650 hp and 600 trq

[REAPER SS]

Originally Posted by mcamisgroup

My dealer told me this morning he does'nt know how they will get by not having one and as you pointed out, it may happen after all the hype and marketing smoke clears.

Yeah, that was what I was thinking because we have not seen any price details from them yet.

[hognutz]

As a former mustang owner it is not cams and newer technology. My 4.6 got worse milage than my C6 vette. My musuem pushrod Z06 gets 24mpg on the freeway. 3.42 gears and lighter which is better the the exotic overhead cam current gt 500.

My .02 would be 3.31 gears and 400lbs of wieght advantage. Weight is a huge factor that people forget. They have not avoided it yet though. I think they could though. Big torque and tall gears helps. That is why the Z06 avoids it.

[ffrcobra_65]

Obviously, the main benefit to using aluminum block was lighter weight at the front which was Ford's way of improving the handling which has been burdened but a heavy front end in the past. But as a side benefit, the aluminum block is more efficient, mileage increased by 1mpg, enough to avoid the GG tax.

[Grabber]

Originally Posted by hognutz

As a former mustang owner it is not cams and newer technology. My 4.6 got worse milage than my C6 vette. My musuem pushrod Z06 gets 24mpg on the freeway. 3.42 gears and lighter which is better the the exotic overhead cam current gt 500.

My .02 would be 3.31 gears and 400lbs of wieght advantage. Weight is a huge factor that people forget. They have not avoided it yet though. I think they could though. Big torque and tall gears helps. That is why the Z06 avoids it.

So, your 3100-3200lb car only gets 24 MPG?

My 05 GT with 4.10's, about 500lbs more weight gets 22-23 MPG on the highway and nearly 18-19 on the street.

Pretty sure it has to do with the efficiency of the motor, all of the cooling mods, the difference in weight between the ZL1, etc.

[8cd03gro]

Weight.

[Betiwin]

Originally Posted by mcamisgroup

My dealer told me this morning he does'nt know how they will get by not having one and as you pointed out, it may happen after all the hype and marketing smoke clears.

Dealers are clueless. They have no idea what makes a car pass or not for being applicable to the GGT. Ford worked extreamly hard for the 2011-12 gt500 to miss he tax. I see no reason why the new car won't be he same. Its only 55lbs more plus the gear went from a 3:73 down to a 3:31 plus a more efficent engine.

[1st Gen Forever]

Originally Posted by Buelligun

Surely pushrods should be in the museums now??!!!

That's an interesting take from one who chooses a Buell as a sportbike!

I don't dissagree but I did get a chuckle...