Reuss on Camaro: "... not going to be heavier"

12387 Views 93 Replies 48 Participants Last post by KarFan, Dec 11, 2014

Tone

Discussion Starter · Dec 4, 2014 (Edited)

Mark Reuss talks future product with Motor Trend including the next Camaro. See QA below and start reading the tea leaves!

MT: You brought up the recent ponycar comparisons. How fair is it for us to compare your current, mature Camaro to the all-new EcoBoost Mustang? I remember when Camaro first came out and we were pretty critical of it, and to your credit, your team fixed a lot of things very quickly. What does this say about the next-generation Camaro? Will it come out of the gates swinging or need some time to mature?

MR: No. It's not going to need any of that. And that's the maturity that I think we have as a company, from the engineering talent and execution standpoint. The first-gen Camaro was a bit of a tortured birth because the architecture was something that was sort of loosely based on Zeta at the time but then brought into the United States, and we made a Camaro out of it -- off of a concept car that wasn't completely architected yet. Flip over to what we're going to next on Camaro. The next-gen Camaro I can tell you after driving it extensively and then taking it onto the autobahn and Nurburgring in Germany a week before last -- that car out of the gate, the SS version, with a great powertrain -- which you can imagine what that might be -- off a very mature and exclusive architecture, is not going to be heavier. There is some physics here. Look at what some of the competition did on their next-gen -- it's heavier; it doesn't quite perform as well as the last one. I can tell you that. If you think about Z/28 and ZL1, SS -- think about the satisfaction that a ZL1 offers you today off of current Zeta. Think about that satisfaction moved down from an accessibility and model-range standpoint. Think about that. If you like the ZL1 today, you're going to love the SS tomorrow. Think about that from a philosophical standpoint.

Read more: http://blogs.motortrend.com/1412_gm...ns_and_the_next_gen_camaro.html#ixzz3KwufH8OD

Rough calculation: to get the power-to-weight ratio of today's ZL1 with the LT1's 460 hp would require a roughly 3400 lb car. Just sayin'.

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CamaroCrazy

· #2 · Dec 4, 2014

All good stuff to read. I'm looking forward to the reveal.

I already told my wife that we're getting a 2017 50th anniversary edition Camaro.

Reactions: 1

usa1

· #3 · Dec 4, 2014

Not much news there. Did anyone think it even could be heavier? Dodge proves it's possible to make a heavier pony car, but that's Dodge.

gopedxr7

· #4 · Dec 4, 2014

i wonder when they are going to go retro based on the 90s generation. i really liked that rear hatch

Reactions: 2

guionM

· #5 · Dec 4, 2014

Yep.

Even with today's Camaro 1LE, add an new LT1 with a set of Z/28 rims and tires you're most likely to match the Z/28's track capabilities.

The current performance difference between the 1LE and ZL1 can easily be closed with the 45 ft/lb boost in torque and an additional 34 hp of the LT1 over the LS3, and the loss of the extra 200 pounds of the ZL1 over the SS, again with the current Camaro.

Of course the new Camaro isn't going to be any heavier...... But as I've been saying for months, it's going to be an entertaining whiner's-fest the day the new Camaro info comes out. Whole lot of people out there who still think the next Camaro is going to be a small reskinned ATS coupe weighing in at 3200 pounds instead of a visually tightened up car nearly the current size with only a 100-200 pound comparable model weight loss.

It's going to be a much more formidable and much better Camaro in every area. But as with any internet site, there's going to be that contingent who are going to bash the thing because it doesn't fit what they dreamed of in their imaginary land.

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Reactions: 3

63Bonneville

· #6 · Dec 4, 2014

It will get lighter and more sophisticated with the new Alpha underpinning it, but I hope that they don't shrink it in size. It's hard to tell by the spy-shots of the mules. I can see if it's the same length, at least, and maybe wider for a better stance, and it would be good to lower it a little, like Ford did with the Mustang. I can see lighter, higher-tech materials applied, too. Even if better performing and higher-end and more content, if it's smaller than the current model, and looks like a peanut in comparison to it, as well as the Mustang and Challenger competition, then that's off-putting. At least the Corvette C7 grew slightly, as well as being more upmarket and aggressive.

BlackGTP

· #7 · Dec 4, 2014

Not a surprise that it won't be heavier, still good to hear it from Reuss's lips! I think GM really knows how to build performance now**, I'm expecting great things from the new Camaro!

** they always did straight line well, now they've gotten into handling, steering feel, ergonomics, etc. - meaning they now understand that there is more to a great car than 0-60

Z284ever

· #8 · Dec 4, 2014

Tone said:
Mark Reuss talks future product with Motor Trend including the next Camaro. See QA below and start reading the tea leaves!

MT: You brought up the recent ponycar comparisons. How fair is it for us to compare your current, mature Camaro to the all-new EcoBoost Mustang? I remember when Camaro first came out and we were pretty critical of it, and to your credit, your team fixed a lot of things very quickly. What does this say about the next-generation Camaro? Will it come out of the gates swinging or need some time to mature?

MR: No. It's not going to need any of that. And that's the maturity that I think we have as a company, from the engineering talent and execution standpoint. The first-gen Camaro was a bit of a tortured birth because the architecture was something that was sort of loosely based on Zeta at the time but then brought into the United States, and we made a Camaro out of it -- off of a concept car that wasn't completely architected yet. Flip over to what we're going to next on Camaro. The next-gen Camaro I can tell you after driving it extensively and then taking it onto the autobahn and Nurburgring in Germany a week before last -- that car out of the gate, the SS version, with a great powertrain -- which you can imagine what that might be -- off a very mature and exclusive architecture, is not going to be heavier. There is some physics here. Look at what some of the competition did on their next-gen -- it's heavier; it doesn't quite perform as well as the last one. I can tell you that. If you think about Z/28 and ZL1, SS -- think about the satisfaction that a ZL1 offers you today off of current Zeta. Think about that satisfaction moved down from an accessibility and model-range standpoint. Think about that. If you like the ZL1 today, you're going to love the SS tomorrow. Think about that from a philosophical standpoint.

Read more: http://blogs.motortrend.com/1412_gm...ns_and_the_next_gen_camaro.html#ixzz3KwufH8OD

Rough calculation: to get the power-to-weight ratio of today's ZL1 with the LT1's 460 hp would require a roughly 3400 lb car. Just sayin'.

Anyone who has driven an Alpha ATS or CTS can strongly speculate that the Alpha Camaro will be a blast to drive. If the next Camaro SS is going to be that good, it brings up the question if GM would want to consolidate it's Camaro performance models.

Reactions: 1

spd98

· #9 · Dec 4, 2014

I don't think you can the comment about the ZL1 and weight so literally. I'm sure the car will be some lighter but I wouldn't expect it to be that light. I think the comments are separate, the car will be lighter, the car will have incredible driving dynamics out of the box. The ZL1 is awesome because of it's ability to put down power, not simply because it has so much power.

dslay04

· #10 · Dec 4, 2014

Z284ever said:
Anyone who has driven an Alpha ATS or CTS can strongly speculate that the Alpha Camaro will be a blast to drive. If the next Camaro SS is going to be that good, it brings up the question if GM would want to consolidate it's Camaro performance models.

As a CTS owner, the Camaro will be like crack. Alpha has an amazing symbiotic character to it.

Reactions: 1

Z284ever

· #11 · Dec 4, 2014

Just an aside: Eventhough the entire planet was disappointed in the new Mustang's mass - the new Camaro would still have to lose mass just to match it.

Reactions: 2

posaune

· #12 · Dec 4, 2014 (Edited)

Z284ever said:
If the next Camaro SS is going to be that good, it brings up the question if GM would want to consolidate it's Camaro performance models.

I'd see no reason to consolidate. Those special performance models help generate buzz throughout the life of the car.

In fact, I'd add another special model for the 50th anniversary with a 327 designation.

Reactions: 1

EJD1984

· #13 · Dec 4, 2014

Nice interview, but way too short. I want more!!!

*Along with what was said "off the record"

b4z

· #14 · Dec 4, 2014

as a former 2011 cts Fe1 owner and a '06 GTO on coillovers owner the ats rides AND handles AND feels noticeably better than the larger 2011 CTS. The Camaro will be awesome if they can impart the ats feel to it.

posaune

· #15 · Dec 4, 2014

EJD1984 said:
Nice interview, but way too short. I want more!!!

*Along with what was said "off the record"

Yes, and again, he hinted at a wagon but not at Cadillac. Wonder what the plan is there???

Tone

Discussion Starter · #16 · Dec 4, 2014

posaune said:
Yes, and again, he hinted at a wagon but not at Cadillac. Wonder what the plan is there???

Regal?

EJD1984

· #17 · Dec 4, 2014

posaune said:
Yes, and again, he hinted at a wagon but not at Cadillac. Wonder what the plan is there???

I'm thinking the next-gen Regal will get an awd wagon - Like we almost did a few years ago.

June 27 2011

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Cajun G8

· #18 · Dec 4, 2014 (Edited)

"And then with a car like the Z/28, that car was mission-built. And there were people within the company that said no one was going to want to buy something like that. Well guess what, they do."

That pretty much sums up how I feel about the Ute.

Reactions: 1

b4z

· #19 · Dec 4, 2014

I for one hope for no rear hatch again. loss of structural rigidty is the major issue. less important is road noise.

richmond2000

· #20 · Dec 4, 2014

posaune said:
Yes, and again, he hinted at a wagon but not at Cadillac. Wonder what the plan is there???

remember a BROWN DIESEL WAGON

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