Filed under: Car Buying, Coupes
Breaking News: Chevrolet Camaro concept "confirmed" for Detroit
Not really a surprise, what with all the pirated pictures of a clay model floating about the 'net, but
AutomoBear reports today
confirmation that a Camaro concept car will appear in Detroit at the North American International Auto Show. Still no
official word from GM, but there now seems very little doubt that Autoblog's NAIAS team will get to feast their eyes on
a new Camaro in January.
Judging by the pirate photos (yes, we've seen them too), the 5th-generation Camaro concept car will be strongly
reminiscent of the legendary first-gen car, and I think this is a very smart move on GM's part.
No technical details, but let's speculate a bit. Certainly, Chevrolet has an embrassment of riches in the powertrain
department, so we can expect a long list of V6 and V8 engine options, culminating in Corvette-derived high-performance
versions. In the chassis department, who knows, but I think it would be a smart move to go to independent suspension
all 'round - nicely differentiating the Camaro from the live-axle Mustang.
[via GM Inside News]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Shawn 10:50PM (12/18/2005)
Holy crap... I've been waiting to hear about this. Maybe I'm the last Camaro fan on earth that hasn't seen the pirated photos. I'll have to look for 'em. I'm happy they're going back to their roots for the next gen. So long as they don't over-do it, it should make for a wicked car.
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Engo P 10:50PM (12/18/2005)
Long live the Camaro! I like Mustang but man, a new Camaro sounds so good. Hopefully GM will LISTEN to the fans (particularly me) and have several engine choices. I personall belive that the 3.9L OHV V6 in the Pontiac G6 would make for a good base engine. this model would be the basic Camaro. Then we can have a Camaro RS with the 4.2L L6 found in the Envoy/Trailblazer. From there we have the Camaro Z28 which would be home to the 5.3L OHV V8 and the Camaro SS with the 6.0L OHV V8 from the base model Corvette. As you can see, I already had this all figured out.
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2Suave 10:50PM (12/18/2005)
Oh, heaven help us! Will this be yet another worthless concept tease that'll never be produced or end up like the Buick LaCrosse with a drive line that's old enough to vote?
GM should cut the crap and build the damn car already if it makes marketing sense.
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Lee Gibson 10:50PM (12/18/2005)
Wake me up when they hit dealer lots. Until then, it's all speculation.
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naggs 10:50PM (12/18/2005)
yeah the pics are pretty hot. im not sure that a irs would be the way to go. the camaro has always shined as a drag car, even more so than the corvette. and a irs just cant put the power down in a launch like a solid axel.
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Desri_005 10:50PM (12/18/2005)
http://www.fronic.com/?p=26
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s 10:50PM (12/18/2005)
Woopee Doo!
Another under funded vehicle when it comes in to production because they had to cut corners.
Hello, don't expect much. GM does have the cash.
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s 10:50PM (12/18/2005)
Woopee Doo!
Another under funded vehicle when it comes in to production because they had to cut corners.
Hello, don't expect much. GM doesn't have the cash.
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Mal Fuller 10:50PM (12/18/2005)
"....but I think it would be a smart move to go to independent suspension all round - nicely differentiating the Camaro from the live-axle Mustang."
Of course doing the above would also nicely differentiate the Camaro from the Camaro!
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mike 10:50PM (12/18/2005)
I think I'm the only person in the world that loves solid axles. I hope that this Camaro has them.
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Matt Keegan 10:50PM (12/18/2005)
#4: Thanks for the link to the pictures. I like the aggressive front end as well as the rear design. The interior is a bit sketchy, but that will come along.
The Camaro salutes the 1968 model but points to the future. A nice combo of retro/forward thinking, I might add.
Dodge Buzz: Upcoming Models --
http://www.thearticlewriter.com/dodge-buzz-upcoming-models.htm
Ford Mustang: Retro Cruiser --
http://www.thearticlewriter.com/ford-mustang-retro-cruiser.htm
Coming to a Car Dealer Near You --
http://www.thearticlewriter.com/coming-to-a-car-dealer-near-you.htm
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V?or Rubiera 10:50PM (12/18/2005)
Just wait a minute......... here comes the DODGE CHALLENGER!!!!!!!!
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ptschett 10:50PM (12/18/2005)
Meh. Having lived with both IRS ('96 Thunderbird) and live-axle ('73 Cougar, '05 Dakota) in RWD applications, to me it's not a big deal what type of rear axle the car has, as long as it can put the power down and let it handle. I'm looking forward to a renewed pony car battle -- if the Camaro and Challenger go to production they'll about fit in with when I'll be wanting a new car.
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KS 10:50PM (12/18/2005)
Being a Chevrolet Camaro enthusiast, I am a bit disappointed in the renditions that the link #5 posted (Thanks for the link). I love the idea of the retro look of the 1st gens, but the rendition looks more like a stretched out Mustang. I sincerely hope that this isn't the final decision on GM's part. I have seen better drawings from a teenager!! Lets honor the 1st gens properly, don't slaughter it!!!!!
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bernie 10:50PM (12/18/2005)
This kind've reminds me of the NFL sending the Houston Oilers (a good team) to Tennessee, only to award Houston a franchise (one that has stunk since it's inception) a year or two later. GM is waaay too broke to pull it off, and it won't be anything special if it ever sees the light of day... sorry motorheads.
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Christian 10:50PM (12/18/2005)
Here's a more appropriate headline:
"Breaking News: GM without a volume performance car for the better part of a decade"
Nice work, General Malfunction
-C
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Carmen C. 10:50PM (12/18/2005)
GO CAMARO GO CAMARO ITS YOUR BIRTHDAY! :) All jokes aside GM LISTEN to ME! You NEED to make this RETRO CAMARO and KILL Chrysler and Ford who have been eating you alive lately with the Mustang and the 300 and Charger. Dont get me wrong the C6 is better than ALL of them combined the latest Vette was aimed at throwing spit in their faces and you did VERY well. We should all BOW to the C6. But what about a RETRO MonteCarlo??? Give it an updated 1986 look with a nice big V-8 and how about a RETRO GTO with styling from the 1970's ERA. Come on GM you have the power and the history to show them how its REALLY done. What are you waiting for? CRUSH EM!
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Bow tie optional 10:50PM (12/18/2005)
No volume performance car?? Hello the sunfire DID have a GT model, yeesh
Seriously, get that damn car built while there still is a market for these bad boys, and i will buy one to go with my new jean jacket and hockey hair.. let the good times roll...
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Michael Warren 10:50PM (12/18/2005)
Guys
I just spoke a GM rep this evening at my local new car show. He is a big Camaro fan and he said that it will defintely be a Camaro, not a Chevelle. Also, he pointed out that the car has been in development for about 3 and half years, not just this year.
I speculated that the car may have some hints of the 69 Camaro and probably released in '09. He said there will be a 69 on display with the car and he would not confirm that the car would have 69 hints. But why put a 69 on the platform with it, right? Also, he don't expect Chevy to wait until '09. The car will be very close to production and you might see it in dealers as soon as early to mid '07. No word as whether it will marked as a '07 or '08.
Can't wait until the Detroit show to see if any of this will be true.
bigMIKE
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Jeff M 10:50PM (12/18/2005)
No new ground broken here. Despite the obvious retro-cues, GM is doing little more than mimicking design trends that have alread been put into the market. GM is partially in a dire situation because of its failure to anticipate the market and push the envelope. There's more than 1968 that's old in this design-- this wouldn't have been interesting as a concept in 2000, much less now. GM (and Ford for that matter) can no longer wait until they see the public respond well to a competitor's design so that they can mimic it. Notice the Ford Passat, er Five Hundred, isn't exactly screaming off the lots? What was new and refreshing on the market five years ago simply won't cut it now.
GM should let the Camaro name rest for another decade and bring it back on something truly innovative. This sorry stab at a Charger/Mustang rival makes me feel there is really no hope for GM to survive.
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