Sorry if this is a repost or if you've all already seen it, but here's Scott's response to the pictures. If you don't know, it was a contest for a poster like in my sig.
AND WE HAVE A WINNER.............
There were a couple of reasons we put this contest out there.
Many of you have come up to us over the years and said "hey -- the new Camaro has to SOUND mean ......." --
Well -- I'm here to tell you that we agree!
That said, there is a Federal Noise Driveby Standard that every manufacturer has to meet. ( Exterior Noise Passby ) -- and the law essentially says that we must pass a commonized, repeatable test -- a series of sound measuring devices -- and that under no conditions can the vehicle create -- I'll use the generic 'noise' -- higher than 80db.
Now -- this can also impact tires as well! On many trucks, tire tread specs have had to change because some tread patterns will violate this standard.
Historic Tidbit -- take a look at some 1996 and 1997 Camaros or Firebirds with LT1 engines -- with the Automatic Trans -- note that the PRNDL does not include a first gear -- and the reason is that if you downshifted to first gear-- you would exceed 80db.
Second sticker content does not have to meet same limits as I recall.
There are a lot of engineers in that room -- as well as Tom Peters from Design -- and we were comparing exhaust notes on various entries that are available on the market today -- as well as a few we've got under development. We also listened (previously) to several 'historic' Camaros and Firebirds.
Exhaust notes are interesting -- you want some 'burble' and some "growl' but you don't want 'spitting' or 'whistle' -- and exhaust notes change based on interior noise -- driveby at cruise -- driveby at W.O.T. etc.....so we were also looking at graphs to determine 'sweet spots' and such.....
We want you to be proud of the stock exhaust that we offer on the new Camaro.
And yes, we want to make a Mustang owner green with envy.
(and yes, we know some of you will rip the stock exhaust system off in about 5 seconds and put an SLP loudmouth -- or a chambered -- or perhaps Corsa on your new Camaro.....)
The point? We DO sweat the details. More than you'd ever imagine.
The winner?
Well -- the first guess said something along the lines that we were listening to the LSx based engine. Not true. We were listening to competitor engines -- so JCAMERE94Z28 -- our friend from South Florida wins!
Jonathan -- send me your mailing address along with a telephone number -- and when I return to Detroit next week, I'll get that poster out to you!
Oh -- and for those of you who thought we were looking at commercials? We're not working on that as of yet.
Cheryl - John - Scott