Camaro convertible already approved?
Haven't gotten the latest issue of Motor Trend in the mail yet, but this article from Post-Gazette.com references the current July issue out on newsstands that claims General Motors has already approved a convertible Camaro for production. Umm ... now we all know the Camaro Concept (and the Dodge Challenger Concept, as well) will likely go into production, but last we heard the business case was "still being fleshed out." Reportedly 100,000 Camaros will need to be sold in order for Chevy to start profiting from the Camaro's return. A convertible model would no doubt help the cause, so we're not surprised it's on the table. Indeed, debuting a Camaro Convertible Concept in the intervening years before the actual coupe goes on sale will keep the car's buzz at a fevered pitch until production starts sometime in 2008 or 2009.
Check out another sketch after the jump, both of which are courtesy of John McBride as seen in Popular Hotrodding.
[Source: Post-Gazette.com]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
Sid 8:33AM (6/02/2006)
I got my copy of MT and they claim it's been green-lighted by GM.
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Tony 9:04AM (6/02/2006)
That is hot! I now want it versus the coupe.
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DarkKnight67 9:42AM (6/02/2006)
I knew that this would be done ... they couldn't afford to allow the Mustang to be topless and not match it with the Camaro. Now, the wait is going to become even more unbearable.
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BREW730... 9:50AM (6/02/2006)
SWEEEEEEEEEEEET!
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Zac 10:06AM (6/02/2006)
Here is the fundamental problem with the Mustang/Camaro/Challenger:
They are designed to make 19 year old men salivate (I know I did when I was 19), but they end up being too expensive for that age bracket. It is fiscally impossible for most 19-24 year olds to finance *AND* fully insure a muscle car, in fact insurance for an under 25 driver in a V8 powered car is extraordinarily expensive, probably more than $500 a month.
Meanwhile the over-25s who actually have the disposable income to afford these relatively "affordable supercars" have tastes that are far too sophisticated to be met by a muscle car. Historically the build quality on these cars has been subpar (don't get me started on the craptasticness of the 2006 Mustang I rented last month) as well as the feature set and the utility that they offer. Someone with disposable income *AND* real-life needs is going to take a BMW or a WRX every time over a Mustang/Camaro/Challenger.
So Big 3, here is what you have to do... go one of two directions with these cars:
- Cheaper... make these cars Scion/Hyundai cheap, which probably means maxing out with a 230 hp V6, but you know what; if you keep the car light thats plenty.
- Nicer... forget the "target" under 25 market and actually bring the quality and utility of these cars up to the standards demanded by the more affluent demographics. Maybe this means that all the Camaro is is new sheet metal on the Corvette platform?
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Rob 10:55AM (6/02/2006)
Zac, you bring up some good points, however, sales of mustangs haven't slowed or diminished due to people's need to be more sophisticated. In fact, I'd argue that as the boomer generation retires and nostalgia sets in, they will long for that older stang, camaro or challenger they had or didn't have as a kid. The problem is who can afford a "great one" that can be driven day in/out with AC and reliability which doesn't cost $100,000+ from Barret Jackson. Thats absurd money!
Many adults are buying SCION's and Elements because they are a good value
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Cameron 10:57AM (6/02/2006)
I think #5 is right on the money.
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Mr. Carmen Eletto 10:57AM (6/02/2006)
When will they bring back the rumble seat?
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#5 is on it... 12:10PM (6/02/2006)
On the crack pipe.
Yes, the car he describes will sell like hotcakes. Anytime you make something higher spec and sell it for less, it sells well. But do you make any money on it?
19 year olds aren't as large a market for Camaros anyway, because the car insurance alone is prohibitive on a car like that for an under-25 driver.
Skip the cheap. Don't make is super expensive, but getting down to Scion prices isn't important at all. Have a entry model (straight 5?) that clocks in south of $25K, preferably just over $21K. Then have a model the retro-boomers with a DoD V8 between $25K and $29K.
Honestly, I dunno how well it'll sell anyway. These cars have almost no utility, it's the nature of a coupe. The Solara is derived from the most utilitarian car around and it still shows the limitations.
The Corvette platform cannot do a 4-seater. And it's quite expensive to produce. So that's out. This is almost certainly a Zeta.
It's amazing to me that 230HP is "enough" nowadays. 230HP is well more than enough. Are people street racing or something?
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Michael 12:24PM (6/02/2006)
I was 20 when the first Camaro appeared on the streets of America. I drifted into Ford products and some Europeans over the years since then. When Ford announced the new Thunderbird a few years ago I was first in line until I saw the price. There's a huge difference between what I can afford and what I will afford.
The new Mustang is intriguing but this Camaro is drop dead gorgeous. If Lutz and company price this new Camaro in the mid thirties and up it will bomb just like Thunderbird did. GM has an opportunity to regain market share (me included) if the prices make sense. An IROC-Z for 38K, fine; but the basic V-6 five speed car better be around 22K and not be a strippo. Lutz promised the Solstice would start below 20K. It did, at $19,995; for an engine and four wheels, EVERTHING ELSE IS OPTIONAL!
GM has the opportunity but corporate greed and desperation to increase profits will probably mean prices will start way too high for the average American. In that respect Zac, (#5) was 100% right.
GM will join Studebaker, Packard, American Motors and so many more if they don't sell smart! This Camaro could do for Chevrolet and GM what the K-Car did for Chrysler.
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howellvette 12:42PM (6/02/2006)
First and most important is a mustang will not even keep up with most full size pickups (SS) V-10 DODGE AND FORD LIGHTNING so now we are all on the same page the camaro is not going to be the king of the road that honor is saved for the VETTE so lets be honest their will be that group that wants to ride in a muscle car this will be that, but lets remeber when you speak of any car (chevy). Does this phrase sound familiar " It has the vette motor " but this is not nor intended to be the baddest around so calm down . Would you want a 19 yr old driving these horses on youre street . get for real
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Woody 1:02PM (6/02/2006)
Hey if I can drive a car that make me feel like I am under 25 again I am going to do it. ;-) And if its a convertable all the better!
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Ray David 1:19PM (6/02/2006)
Muscle. Convertible. I would love to feel this ride in the California Sunshine!!!
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steve s 1:19PM (6/02/2006)
This is also the same MT that claims the Mitsubishi Evo X will come out this year. They are full of crap half the time.
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Lee Gibson 1:23PM (6/02/2006)
I think howellvette's off his meds.
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steve s 1:26PM (6/02/2006)
The Mustang is selling just fine as long as the offer a v6, v8 with DoD and a high hp v8 they will sell just fine. The young ones can get the v6 or with mommies and daddies help the v8. The older ones can get whatever they want. Not everyone who is 30+ wants a bimmer. After it's been out a year or two I might get one, might be a second car but if the wife can have a minivan then I can have a coupe.
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felonious monk 1:51PM (6/02/2006)
GM would be stupid to not push the Camaro into production. It's the shot in the arm they need to get out of the slump. It's pretty much a no brainer.
As for "still being fleshed out", that just means they're still figuring how much we're willing to go into debt for one. And judging by the trend in rising costs of everything, it's probably not going to be pretty.
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Paul Courson 2:03PM (6/02/2006)
Camero convert looks great but not if the price is in the mid to high 30!s. Thats what killed the Thunderbird.I am up in years but I still would like a big coupe or convert. like the old Cadillacs and Lincolns.Frankly I dont care what the horsepopwer is or how fast it might go.
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stan 2:06PM (6/02/2006)
First of all, the idea that the mustang and the camaro for that matter need to be cheaper to appeal to younger audience or more refined to sell to an older demographic does not match the market data. In 2005 the mustang sold 192000 units; that is remarkable for a coupe. Secondly, the free publicity that the camaro would generate in magazines is alone worth its production. Ford lost money building the GT, but it was a hell of a way to get their logo on the cover of every automotive magazine for two years.
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ZoomZoomin' 3:18PM (6/02/2006)
As long as it means the coupe will be built. The new Camaro is pretty interesting (though the big question will be how does it handle). I really dislike convertibles. I like the styling of a few convertibles and roadsters, but I hate the idea behind them.
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