Camaro Concept: tell Lutz what you think
"Maximum Bob" Lutz is nothing if not leading edge (well, by GM standards, anyway) - he's posted a Camaro Concept vodcast on the GM Fastlane Blog. In the vodcast (video podcast), Lutz is interviewed by the Wall Street Journal's Detroit Bureau Chief Joe White about the design and heritage of the Camaro Concept.
As you might expect, the comments section of the blog is receiving plenty of traffic, so if you've got something to tell Bob and GM about the new Camaro, here's your chance!
And in other Camaro news, GM today received the EyesOn Design Award for "Best Concept Implementation" at the North American International Auto Show. (That's GM VP Global Design Ed Welburn holding the trophy, at right.)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 15)
Rodney Diehl 9:57AM (2/07/2006)
Nice car but by the time it gets built the market will have changed.
You should have brought some of the designers with you when you crossed the moat.
GM cars (Chevy is really bad)is dowdy and unatractive. The new Buick (except for the overstated chrome badges) is OK and the small Caddy is great as is the G6, but the rest of GM line is just plain unatractive. The basic platforms are OK but it's what the front and rear appearance look like that catches the buyers eye.
WHERE IS THE REAR DRIVE DEVILLE?
Best bet is to beautify the volume lines, provide cars the people want to buy, and worry about Camaro after money is being made again.
Reply
tom bedan 4:41AM (2/08/2006)
I WILL BUY THIS CAR!!!!!
I love the interior ,I love the exterior ,however try to keep two things in mind when building it.one price dont put this car out of the average americans price bracket. two weight of the car ,please don't make it a pig .I own and love the 1998 camaro z/28 that I bought new and can't wait for this car as I informed my fiance that I'm opening an account just so save for this car.
you've done a great thing my lutz!
Reply
Chevy Owner 2:11PM (2/08/2006)
Dear Mr. Lutz,
As an owner that is tired of a gas sucking '68 camaro, but one that loves the look of the car, I do think that chevy needs to come out with a retro version of the camaro, but this concept just isn't it. Just from looking at this concept you can tell it will not be affordable to most. Remember that most sport cars are sold to younger people and most of us aren't exactly rollin in money. Chevy Camaros and Ford Mustangs have been rivals for years and it is time that we show the mustangs what real muscle and power is. First off, the front end has got to go- it needs to say muscle, not what the heck is that. Not only that, the camaro has been gone to long and when it comes back it needs to say I mean business (not I am gonna get spanked by a pony). Also, take another look at those wheels, this is a camaro not a Escalade. Be a little more realistic with the wheels and the interior. Remember it is what is under the hood that counts. Thanks for listening...
Reply
J Weber 10:33PM (2/08/2006)
Bob Lutz,
If you build it as presented I will come back. The Soltice is a good first step, but history will be recorded as a journey of more than 1 step. I have 6 classic Chevy's, my Dad was 44 years at a Chevy dealer..but other than the Corvette their is little to be passionate about from GM over the past years.
with respect to the Camaro i think it a perfect blend of aggressive stealth fighter angles with a hint of 69 which for my money was the Camaro with the most personality. The roof line is ideal for a convertible...us the G6 technology and build a hard top covertible.
"There is nothing that ails any car company today that good product can't cure" Carlos Ghosn
Go ahead Bob grab your collective corporate 'balls' and build it.
Reply
Gardiner Westbound 7:49PM (1/10/2006)
I like the 2003 Chevrolet SS concept better.
http://www.seriouswheels.com/top-2003-Chevrolet-SS-Concept.htm
Reply
Ken 7:50PM (1/10/2006)
My 13 yr old son says "we've got to get one"! I would agree! Go for it Bob!
Reply
RUDogg 7:54PM (1/10/2006)
This thing better have tons of HP for very little $$ in order to compete with the Mustang if this concept isn't going to be built until 2009.... otherwise the camaro will lose that battle before it even begins
Reply
RayBob 7:56PM (1/10/2006)
Please Build this Car!!!
Reply
MDJ 7:57PM (1/10/2006)
That is the biggest banjo-playing mullet-havin' Busch-swilling POS I have ever seen since the last Camaro!
Reply
tom goeke 8:00PM (1/10/2006)
Do your best to save the company..great products that meet consuumer demands, it is not complicated. corvette, cadillac and some new products are hitting the mark. Camaro is on target. move, move, move. my father worked for 40 years for GM and it feed, clothed and educated us....get the job done!
Reply
Frank Skurnowicz 8:02PM (1/10/2006)
Build it as a 2007 model. Don't forget a Z-28 model with at least 475 HP. If you build that one my check is waiting.
Reply
Bob White 8:05PM (1/10/2006)
3 years ago, this would have been a show stopper. Today's Mustang looks a whole lot nicer, and the new Dodge Challenger concept(especially Hemi powered) blows them both in the weeds. As usual under Waggoner's watch, GM is late to the party.
Reply
James P. Brown 8:11PM (1/10/2006)
i think that going retro is not a good way to go. If you design a fast looking car with fine lines (camaro SS) with an engineered presence you will not fail. Let Ford go retro. Young people today say that American cars are for the old people. They believe that the Asian cars have higher quality. I know people who have had serious quality issues with their Japanese cars-yet this is never mentioned in the news. If you go reto you are locked in a design frame not easy to get out of, which reinforces the "old". GM cars have good quality and engineering. Go for beautiful lines.
Reply
Surfer-X 8:13PM (1/10/2006)
Typical GM crap, a rebadged Caddy XLR. GM deserves to go bankrupt.
Reply
Byron Ho 8:15PM (1/10/2006)
Although it was sad to see the Camaro phased out in 2003, it was probably for the best. The latest Camaro rendition had none of the muscle car look left in it. In fact, to me it resembled a door stop, much like Porsche's 996 model, there were no buldging fenders or agressive stance left. It is no wonder why Ford's Mustang has taken a comfortable lead in pony car sales. In fact there is no real competion left since Camaro has been in moth balls. I can only hope that GM does it right this time. Look to the past to set a course for the future. Look to what Ford has done with the latest Mustang. And rather than offer basic performance options every year in a weak attempt to enhance the brand, do it right and offer us a full meal right off the bat. The American buying public is not stupid and we want your best shot up front. That is why I buy imports today, because I am frustrated with American manufacturing mentality. Do you think Porsche holds back horsepower, transmissions or options so that they can stretch the life of a model? Hell no, they do it right the first time and continue to make marked improvements to keep things fresh. The way it should be done, the way GM should start doing things or face further erosion of market share. So let's see what you can bring to the table.
Reply
Tom 8:19PM (1/10/2006)
Make it asap, 2009 at the latest
Make is affordable, don't let cost creep make it too expensive like the last version
Make it insurance rate friendly to anyone 21 yrs and older (find out how to make it affordable to buy and insure)
Make it in North America
Make it sound "cool" like the current GTO
Make it a Program for GM workers (GM and Salary) that want to work on the Program. There is passion out there for many GM employees that would enjoy bringing this car back and may want to work long hours to make it happen
Reply
Alex Wilson 8:21PM (1/10/2006)
Well it is ok, but ok won't cut it. By the time this comes out the Mustang GT will have an older brother (Shelby GT500) and the GT itself will have near 400 horses, but maybe if GM had put this out instead of the lowly '94 on Camaros they would have never disappeared but it is '06 now not '94. Once again Chevy is waaayyyyyyy behind, usually they are ahead of Dodge and behind Ford, but now I think they are in trouble. Bottom Line If The Camaro costs anywhere near the Mustang it will flop, and if they try to go to much lower they take $$$$$$ away from Solstice. If they go higher Chevy's own Corvette will take sales.
Reply
motorman 8:24PM (1/10/2006)
since GM has a agreement with the UAW that the "camaro" can not be built any place but where they were built in canada and since GM has bulldozed the plant down and the contract runs till 2007 you will not see this camaro till a 2008 model
Reply
Frank 8:28PM (1/10/2006)
You better build it before you go belly up GM.
GM is a prime of what's wrong with coporate america. Big, bloated and full of waste. This car is another example of the crap coming out of GM.
This concept will never see the light of day. It'll end up looking like a Monte Carlo by the time their done with it.
And while you build this big stinking piece of crap, why don't you lay off another assembly plant, cut workers wages and benefits and then at the same time build this waste of metal in China or better yet, Mexico. Just think of all the profit you could make just by exporting the assembly south of the border.
I WILL NEVER BUY ANYTHING GM, GM CAN BURN IN HELL!!!
Reply
David Estes 8:30PM (1/10/2006)
The Mustang looks like a Mustang. The Challenger looks like a Challenger. The Camaro looks like God only knows what, but is isn't a Camaro.
Reply