Road & Track NEXT CAMARO!!!

[lio45]

Originally Posted by 91z4me

GM will have a very interesting show at NAIAS. All the hints have pointed to that, if you don't believe them then go buy a Mustang.

Oh yes, I believe GM will have a very interesting show. Shows are always interesting with GM. It's what makes it to production that's not interesting.

[Mischief007]

Originally Posted by lio45

Oh yes, I believe GM will have a very interesting show. Shows are always interesting with GM. It's what makes it to production that's not interesting.

How very well said. Great shows and concepts, make you drool, and then something totally different comes up.

[camaro chris]

Originally Posted by Mischief007

How very well said. Great shows and concepts, make you drool, and then something totally different comes up.

this was my greatest dissapointment ever in a concpet not making production.......

[ZillaZ]

Originally Posted by coolcaddy

I hope this isn't a dumb question, but can't GM tool up for sigma-based cars in Canada?

After Mustang and Charger (and now talk of a Challenger), I don't think there's any way around it it--this must be a Camaro. As in C-A-M-A-R-O.

Don't get me wrong, I hope they call it Camaro! I was just saying, if they want to build one fast they'll have to build it on Sigma in Lansing, which is why I don't think they can call it Camaro. I suppose they could tool up for sigma in Canada, but I don't think it is likely at this stage. There is only one GM car plant here (+one truck plant and one cross-over plant) and the car plant runs full shift to produce the Grand Prix, Monte Carlo, Impala and Allure/LaCrosse.

Maybe the Camaro will come out of that plant if they tool that plant for Zeta, giving them the option to make the same Front wheel drive vehicles plus Rear and All-wheel drive versions and other vehicles like Camaro. GM, I have given you so many good ideas; you can hire me as a project manager any time now!

[camaro chris]

also it depends on the exact wording of their promise. maybe theres a loophole? maybe they said if there is a new camaro and firebird it would be in canada, but if there is only a camaro they could make it in the US?

[Corr69]

What motor will be in these cars? Is there any rumors of a 7.0L sliping into one of these things?

[camaro chris]

Originally Posted by Corr69

What motor will be in these cars? Is there any rumors of a 7.0L sliping into one of these things?

no one knows exactly but from what i understand the v8s will be a 5.3 and a 6.0

[MN12Fan]

As long as it doesn't exceed the Corvette, otherwise you'd have a paradox on your hands.

[camaro chris]

i think they could match the vette though, they did that in the early 70s

[BigAls87Z28]

Originally Posted by lio45

That's part of it. The Charger name has been on and off, applied to Peugeot-powered FWD 4-cyl cars, etc. It's clear that the backlash isn't going to be as big for the Charger with its up and down history than for a car like the Mustang or Corvette that's been true to its heritage since the beginning. BTW, there were a lot of very upset folks on Mopar forums at first (can't tell now, I'm mostly only on GMI), but I guess they finally accepted the Charger since all main attributes were there: large, RWD, V8, and affordable. And Charger didn't really stand for "sporty car" (read: 2 door) as much as the smaller Mustang or Camaro anyway; it's a larger car, which makes the 4-door part even easier to accept.

How big was the backlash about the fact that the 94-96 Impala SS had four doors? Not that big, I guess. Why? Well, since the Impala SS was mainly about being a RWD/V8/large car, the 4-door part was easier to forgive: the most important, at least, is there. It's the same with the Charger.

The reason why it's grouped with the Mustang is because they're the only two modern, American, affordable (blue-collar brands) V8/RWD cars. Simply. It's not about the number of doors.

Answers your questions?

Ok, now answer me this. How come the GTO never got the acceptance? If anything, GTO stuck much closer to its previous image of a 2dr large coupe then Charger did. It packed more HP then Charger RT and only costs a little bit more. I still see many more people balk at the sight of a GTO, then Charger. Now, I guess its popularity has picked up with its higher hp engine and low price.

[TiburonJT]

Originally Posted by BigAls87Z28

Ok, now answer me this. How come the GTO never got the acceptance? If anything, GTO stuck much closer to its previous image of a 2dr large coupe then Charger did. It packed more HP then Charger RT and only costs a little bit more. I still see many more people balk at the sight of a GTO, then Charger. Now, I guess its popularity has picked up with its higher hp engine and low price.

I think the exterior design hurt it, but with 400 hp it is difficult to ignore.

[ZillaZ]

Originally Posted by camaro chris

also it depends on the exact wording of their promise. maybe theres a loophole? maybe they said if there is a new camaro and firebird it would be in canada, but if there is only a camaro they could make it in the US?

Good point! You should be a lawyer.

[silverado_13]

I don't think a retro Camaro is the way to go. Although, it definitely needs to have design cues that reflect the original Camaro. For example the big back fenders and the general boxy shape of the front end. I don't think covered lights are going to happen. If they won't put them on the vette they won't put them on the Camaro. They should incorporate the double lights on the back. Keep up with the theme that the Cobalt and Corvette got. If GM styles and prices this right they could take the Mustang down.

As for the engines they got all the right parts now except one. The got the 3.9 OHV V6 for the base engine. A little tweaking could give it 250-260hp. This compared to Ford's 200hp should give GM a big advantage in the sales between the base models. Who except die hard Ford fans would buy a 200hp car over a 250hp car. Up from that the 5.3 OHV V8 with between 320-340hp should be enough to beat Fords 4.6. I do believe that the 5.3 is capable of this kind of power because it is based off the LS series and they have a lot of potential. Next of corse is the 6.0 OHV V8. This engine is capable of at least 430hp as shown in the SS concept. Finally the Camaro needs an engine to compete with the Shelby. They could follow Fords lead and S/C the existing LS2. An article about Chevy making a S/C LS2 for the Silverado SS said it was capable of up to 600hp. According to this they could easily find the right balance of kicking Ford's ass with power and reliability and useablity. I however believe that another LS engine is a better move. It would be more reliable, easier to build, cheaper to build, cheaper to design(bore and stroke a LS2) and Chevy couldn't be accused of copying Ford. A 396(6.6) with about 460-470hp would do the trick. They could easily market a 396 using the same method Dodge used to market the Hemi. They could even call it the rat motor.

[actionjack]

If the Camaro is due back in 2007 and will be retro I think GM had a lot to work with the Kris Horton design. Granted some changes would be needed to fit it on available platforms. Still Kris hit a homerun in his design.


And yes 'BigAl' the GTO is bland and boring and Kris' design is full of heart and soul. But, i have a feeling you will never understand that since you are constantly asking why the GTO looks bland...


Kris Horton's design:







AND


another artists rendition:






Big Al here is the concept GM had for an AWD GTO in 1988:




I see some similiarities to the Firebird...



AND

would something like this have any hope for a bow tie RWD V8 (or AWD):

[New_Mexico_Sunset_on_Rt66]

Originally Posted by actionjack

My choice for the '07 or '08 Chevrolet Chevelle, with very minor massaging. This car is pretty. Even some elements of retro, or heritage, that is very subtle. I like it.