scottmhr1

No way you will see this car in 2007. There would already be contracts in place for the parts. Most those concepts did look retro-like. Many too much like the 80's version of the camaro, worst looking one by far. They would have to come out with a kick-butt car to do well at all. Watch out for the Mustang. Everyone went crazy for the retro look but after seeing so many out on the streets already I am bored to death with them. Remind me of the 70's econo version. Think the sales will really drop off after the stang freaks get their new one and people get sick of seeing them out on the road. Most car companies are staying away from the performance cars and going for the everyday type cars. Look at Toyota, GM, Even Honda with the exception of the s2000. Ford is doing well with the Stang cause it is the only "muscle" car left. Chrysler is doing OK with the Hemi right now but that will fade if they dont improve other factors of the cars and make them affordable.

bmcc49er

Man, I live in a small, I mean very small town attached to an Air Force base. I swear I see a new Mustang every day. Sickening, when I first saw the retro coming back in a magazine a few years back I was pumped because I rode around in a 66 and a 67(my friend's) in the 80's H.S. The only way to have one of these Mustangs is to spend alot of dough to make it very unique. They are all over the damn place and alot of those awful V6's. But, if the Camaro can even come close to a couple of those drawings I will definitely take a hard look. Somehow I get a feeling the final product will disappoint. By the time they take a beautiful idea and hack it up it won't resemble the excitement some of those pics brought. Hope they prove me wrong but the Mustang's initial concept was amzing looking and the final product is just ok imo.

therm8

The first 2 sets of drawings were never GM concepts. Some college kid did them up in a graphics program about a year and a half ago. I posted some of them about a year ago. It would be very nice for GM to bring back the Camaro, however I believe that the Camaro is dead forever. Though I wouldn't be surprised to see a worthwhile replacement based off a new chassis inspired by the Kappa cars. GM has a nasty habit of being inspired by the competition, when they should be the ones inspiring the competition. Hopefully Lutz and his Kappa cars signal a change in that direction.


Edit: I'm not yelling Repost or anything, it's been a year after all, and obviously many haven't seen the pictures.

rx8wannahave

AMEN to that! Don't worry about the repost thing...I thought someone else probably posted those here before...but I've never seen them and as you have seen alot of other people haven't seen them either.

GM would be stupid to allow the Mustang to take in all those sales without even making an effort to dent those sales. Gosh...they just gave up on the Camaro and allowed Ford to take the pony car war. What a shame...BOB LUTZ....HELP!!!!

LucasET

Yeah, these are really old pictures. But, the designs are still awesome. I could see something produced using the C6 platform. GM needs to stop putting SS badges on trucks and SUVs and come out with some original products (the Solstice and Sky are cool, but are too nichy).
It is sickening how many Mustangs we all see out there, but you have to give Ford credit, they didn't stray very far from the concept. Bill Ford couldn't be happier, I'm sure. AND, when sales start to dwindle a bit, there will probably be different versions released, as well as a ton of aftermarket parts.
What I have a hard time understanding is that GM knew Ford was coming out with a new Mustang and did nothing (I suppose the GTO was a feeble attempt). It just makes sense that a new Camaro would do extraordinarily well, especially if they produce something close to any of those renditions. Sometimes you have to ignore the statistics and just take a chance...like Ford.
My guess is that they DO have something in the works and are keeping it hush hush until maybe the NAIAS. The time-line would be just about the same as the original release of the Mustang (1964) VS the Camaro (1967).

playdoh43

i think the camaro died due to uninspired styling, the older F bodies were pretty unappealing. These pony cars arnt about performance. Like 5-10% of all sales are the GT,ZZ,Z28 trims. They've got to get the styling right to appeal to their target audience, Casual drivers who wants a sporty looking car. I think this retro styling is a fad that will die down soon, If GM can come out with attractive and appealing styling (not necessarily retro), then its going to sell lots of cars. This segment really is all about looks. Once they get that right, they can throw in a detuned ls2 or whatever in a SS trim to please all 12 of us auto enthusiasts out there :p. I personally rather spend that kinda money on a used C6 vette or used C5 Z06.

LucasET

I totally agree about the unisnpired styling. They just seemed like a big straight-line tire burner. The thing I like about these designs are that they are obviously an eloboration of the original Camaro but have some very modern lines present. It seems like these designs would lend themselves to a more performance oriented model. I don't get that impression from the new Mustang. If I saw that Z28 without ever seeing a '67, I'd still think it was an awesome car. The Motor Trend versions are IMO the most "production looking" designs, but I love the *** end of the green one.
The engines are all there. Obviously, the V-8s are covered. I could see a version of the in-line 5 from the Colorado/Canyon being the base engine...or the 3.5 from the G6 or even the 3.9 from the Impala....which all have adequate HP for a base enginie. Now, there just needs to be a higher up that will give a design team the go-ahead to make a concept.
I love sitting here speculating about this stuff.

Saint_Spinner

Ok...uhhh...as someone else here already mentioned. A) Those pictures are old and B) most of them were done by students as part of a class project. Unfortunetly, I don't have any friends designing for GM right now. I have two friends designing cars for Ford but not GM. I'm sure they'll know someone though. I'll try and ask them about the future of the camaro.

rx8wannahave

Yes...but you forgot that some people (like me) need those back seats. I also was looking into a used Vette but I knew that if my wife and I were starting a family there is no way I could be driving a Vette (well...without being rich).

That's why (I agree with you about looks) they need (IF they build a new Camaro) to get it right...looks, V6 performance, quality, and interior comfort.

RedRexNJ

Ugh, people like you need to realize that cars like this are NOT made to haul around the family on grocery runs. People like YOU could go buy a more family friendly car, like a Malibu or something, and leave the sports cars to people that know what they're made for. People like YOU are the reason the new Charger has four doors instead of two the way it should have been built.

David_M

Those pics are a few years old. They keep popping up though. I think I first saw them in an issue of Super Chevy about two years ago.

All that aside,I hope they do return to their senses and make a new Camaro. I don't think they should bother with the V6 though, let the V6 mustang have the oficiall chick car moniker.

PaulieWalnuts

LOL. And YOU own a what? ...uhhhhh, a four door four seat RX-8?

NVMYGT

IMHO, I think this is just silly. Cars are not life. They're a great hobby, but they're not everything. I must be one of those people that you despise. I bought the 8 because it's a fun sports car with one of the "must haves" being 4 seats.
Why do you own a 4 door 4 seater 8?

RedRexNJ

I own a 4 door 4 seater RX8 because that's what it was designed as, and it wasn't a "re-imagining" of a classic design, like the new Charger. The RX8 was designed ground up as a 4 seater, with no previous heritage model to draw inspiration from, so that's cool. A 4 door 4 seater Charger is a bastardization of the name and heritage of the original. And IMHO, a new Camaro designed as a "family truckster" capable of hauling the snot nosed rugrats around would be a horrible thing. Why not just go back in time and kick the designer of the original Camaro in the ***** and save the insult of a re-imagined Camaro?

therm8

Do you know how much crap you could haul in a 3rd or 4th gen F-body? In golf bag terms you could easily put 5 or 6 in there without touching the front seat. People-wise, you'd better be small if you're going in the back seats, really small. My driver's seat almost touched the rear seat, and that was with the seat back in a normal position.. If people like him (and I), continue to bring high performance 2+2's to market, I'm happy.

The Camaro has always had rear seats.

rx8wannahave

1st, the Camaro has ALWAYS BEEN...a 2+2 (wake up)
2nd, if you are putting seats back there...WHY DON'T YOU MAKE THEM USEFUL?
3rd, who the heck are you to tell me what type of car person I am and what I should be driving?

Most people have families and declaring that sports cars should only have 2 seats or made as RedRexNJ declares it should be made is as IG-NANT as it comes. They don't make cars for you...they make it to appeal to the broadest amount of people possible. 2 seaters have always been slower selling than every other car type so either stick to the Camaro heritage and make it a 2+2 (useful 2+2) or move on to a Vette.

I've been a sports car guy since I was way young and all of my cars have been 2+2's. I know most 2+2's are virtually useless (less the GTO and RX8) and in my "opinion" it's just stupid to put seats back there if you can't use them...it's a waste of space, weight, and comfort.

I got the RX8 because in the future I could drive around with 3 rug rats...teaching them how a sports car should be built (if it's a 2+2) and the ways of ZOOM ZOOM ZOOM. I have no use for a 2 seater but I wont compromise my love of the “sports car” because people LIKE YOU want to force me into it.

You might be in a minivan one day...but you will never see me driving one that's for sure.

LucasET

A) I know and B) I know
It's still fun to speculate. Unfortunately, I too don't have any friends designing for GM right now. So, I'll be waiting on the edge of my seat for your report from your friends.
AND when the Hell did this post turn in to a bash session? RedRexNJ, you are a tool. You obviously don't have any understanding about what goes into making a successful model of automobile. You can't target a niche when producing a car like the Camaro or Mustang or Charger or any other car you want to be a sales leader in your lineup. More than 80% of sales of the Mustang are V6 models. Sure, I would only buy one with a V8, but some people can't afford the high performance. SO, having an entry level car with a design very similar just makes sense. And the back seats are a necessity for the same reason. You aren't looking to sell these cars as a second vehicle, or to a successful, single, businessman/woman. You are looking to sell these cars to the average person as a daily driver. Get a clue.
And BTW, I got the RX8 instead of the 350Z or Crossfire (which I almost bought) because it had a back seat.

rx8wannahave

Yeah...me toooooooooo....

David_M

How much crap you could haul around in the latter day Camaros was what ultimately killed it. Size and weight, too much of both. Combine the actually quite large cargo capacity with the children only rear seats and instead of gaining appeal to small families you lose appeal by losing focus on what a musclecar should be. RedrexNJ has a point, sort of. Not every car made needs to be for the family. I'm probably not alone in thinking that a return to the roots of the musclecar would be best for any future Camaro. A mid to small sized car with big power.

As an aside, DC has been doing real well with car design lately I'll excuse the new Charger but I'll never buy one.

LucasET

I'm not at all saying that the next Camaro should be a family car. But, an actual back seat is very important to have. It appeals to a much larger market, and, lets face it, Chevy won't bring the Camaro back unless they can hit a huge target. My dad had a '67 when I was a little kid, and it had a decent back seat. That was definitely not a typical family car, but it did the job until there were three of us kids. It still baffles me how the last generation of Camaro could be such a large vehicle and have a back seat like a 911.
And I agree, DC has done an outstanding job with their recent designs. It's too bad the Charger wasn't closer to the 2002 concept (which, inicidentally, had four doors). That was a cool design. Instead, we get the 300's red-headed step-brother.

cas2themoe

You almost got a Crossfire? I should slap fire out of your ***! :p

rx8wannahave

Who is saying the Camaro should hold 5 people while being able to be your work truck?

My whole point is that if you are going to have back seats...why not make it useful? Why add weight and size to a car only for a symbolic rear seat setup? It's a stupid waste really...

The Camaro has always been a 2+2...so make it a useful 2+2 or else save me the weight, size, and space by adding useless rear seats. I'll tell you this...if the Camaro was a 2 seater I'll bet you they could only sell 1/3 of the Camaro's they could sell as a 2+2.

I'm trying to keep the Camaro close to it's roots...while it seems what some of you are suggesting is for it to become...what GM already has...the Vette.

Again...make the rear seats useful or leave them out all together!

LucasET

Amen brotha

LucasET

Hey, it handles ALMOST as well as the RX8, and I actually love the design. I could have leased it for $299/month which made it very attractive, especially when I 'm paying $432/month after putting $4000 down for my 8.
I had a burrito last night. I don't think you want to go near my ***.

rx8wannahave

AMEN! That's all we are saying...