Supercars 2020: General Motors, Ford release incredible new images of Supercars next generation
Ford showed off its stunning new Mustang on Tuesday. General Motors has answered back with the incredible Camaro. Let the new Supercars V8 war begin. SEE EXCLUSIVE PICS OF BOTH CARS
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The Camaro will be officially confirmed as the Commodore’s replacement with Supercars reaching a historic agreement with General Motors to turn the American legend into a Supercar.
Keeping the famous “red v blue’’ rivalry alive by starting a new V8 war, the Camaro will go head-to-head with the Mustang as Ford and General Motors battle to be Australia’s best.
News Corp Australia has exclusively obtained the first images of the game-changing Camaro with General Motors on Wednesday signing off on an “intellectual property” deal that will allow the American icon to become a Supercar.
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The sleekest Supercar yet, the Camaro looks almost identical to the road-going ZL1 in a design coup that paved the way for the future proofing deal.
Supercars are expected to release full details of the deal at Bathurst on Thursday, which was made possible by a category changing plan called “Gen 3”.
Following on from the “Next Gen” platform that superseded the “Car of the Future”, Gen 3 opened the door for the Camaro by developing a “Halo” car that features a one size fits all chassis.
Triple Eight Race Engineering are expected to spearhead the Camaro’s entry into the sport with the current Holden factory team at the forefront of the deal.
Walkinshaw Racing and Erebus Motorsport will also make the switch from the Commodore to the Camaro following the demise of Holden.
Championship winning outfit DJR Team Penske will be at the Ford forefront with an all new and improved Mustang that actually looks like a Mustang.
With General Motors and Ford expected to commit the new look series in 2022, Supercars are boldly predicting the category will also feature a third manufacturer.
Seven-time series champion and Supercars Commission member Jamie Whincup predicted Gen 3 would prove a game-changer.
“I just think from what I have seen it is all positive and it’s happening, it’s a happening thing,“ Whincup said.
“I think it is going to change the sport, it is going to be fantastic. It’s all really positive.
“I’m really happy that it is so positive because I love the sport so much and I can see a really bright future.“
Whincup was confident the sport could continue to thrive without the traditional Holden versus Ford rivalry that has defined V8 racing in Australia for decades.
“The sport has been made up of Ford versus Holden, but that will one day change,“ Whincup said.
“I think there will still be GM cars out there racing Fords, but I think there will be a few other contenders come in and play with us, which is great.”
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LONG LIVE THE V8
Supercars will defy a global push towards smaller engines by recommitting to the V8 engine under the future proofing Gen 3 plan.
News Corp Australia can reveal the sport will be a V8 only race category with both the Camaro and Mustang to be powered by eight cylinders.
Detail of the engine plan which be released today include;
*The Gen3 Supercar will have a V8 power plant with the V6 engine developed under the Next Gen plan to remain on the scrap heap.
*The new engine is likely to be less powerful than the current engine in a bid to extend life and improve fuel economy.
*The maximum engine capacity will also be reduced.
*The engines are expected to include high tech components and current equipment.
*A Supercars-branded generic engine option will be available to competitors.
Supercars legend Jamie Whincup declared long live the V8.
“A bit similar to the V8 engine. It’s been made up of V8 engines for a long period of time, I think V8 engines are going to be around for a long time, but I think other types of engines will come into the pit and play with us.
“It’s all good stuff.”
FORGET ELEANOR, THIS MUSTANG IS SET TO CHANGE THE RACING WORLD
Here are the first images of the car that will change the sport forever — and it’ll be gone in far less than 60 seconds.
This is the Mustang that will go to war with the Camaro in a V8 battle for supremacy.
With General Motors expected to be announced as the next Supercars manufacturer later this week, The Daily Telegraph has exclusively obtained the first images of the Mustang that will lead the Ford fight.
Part of the future proofing Gen 3 platform that has been four years in the making, the 2022 Mustang will pack a V8 engine and cost up to 40 per cent less than the current model used by Tickford Racing charger Cameron Waters.
More importantly, it is a Mustang that actually looks like a Mustang.
While the current car looks as much VW Beetle as it does Mustang after being squashed onto a Ford Falcon frame, the new Ford is almost a road car replica.
Set to hit the grid in 2022, the Mustang will use the same frame as the Camaro should General Motors enter the sport as expected.
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Supercars is poised to release details of the Gen 3 plan at this week’s Bathurst 1000.
The Daily Telegraph has learned:
● Called a Halo car, the new version will be rear-wheel drive with a front-mounted engine;
● The Halo car will open the door for other manufacturers to join the series by being able to fit several “road replicas” on a universal chassis;
● Gen 3 will require the race cars to have the same key dimensions as the road car on which it is based;
● Many components, including doors, roof, windows and bonnets, will have to be interchangeable with the road car on which it is based;
● Gen 3 will slash acquisition and operating costs by up to 40 per cent;
● The Halo cars will have an aerodynamic reduction off up to 50 per cent on the current model Supercar;
● The Gen 3 chassis is described as hybrid ready and will be able to accommodate future technology;
● Supercars plans to have a prototype car on track in the middle of next year.
The Camaro could be confirmed as the Mustang’s next great Supercars rival this week because the sport is close to securing the rights to race the famous American muscle car.
It is understood Supercars has already reached an intellectual property agreement with General Motors and is only waiting for the paperwork to be finalised.
Supercars will also enter talks with other manufacturers and is confident of having at least three different makes on the grid for the start of season 2022.
The Camaro would be welcomed into the sport with open arms following the demise of the Commodore.
Set for an official farewell at Mount Panorama this weekend following the collapse of Holden, the Commodore is still likely to be used as a Supercar next year.
