For the cadre of camera wielding auto spies chasing the 2009 Chevy Camaro, life has just gotten a little bit easier. Mere hours after a new batch of spy showing a camo-covered Camaro hit the interweb, Chevrolet General Manager Ed Peper posted a message to the GM Fastlane Blog declaring that all pre-production Camaros would be stripped of their camouflage from now until production starts. Apparently, Bob Lutz decided that the camo was causing too much interference with cooling and aerodynamic testing and it needed to come off. Since everyone pretty much knows what the Camaro looks like already, it won't make much difference, but here for your edification is the first official pic direct from GM.[Source: GM Fastlane Blog]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
HotRodzNKustoms @ Jan 3rd 2008 1:14PM
Bob Lutz has spoken! Obey Maximus Lutz!
Haha I love how Lutz is portrayed in the media. Yes that includes you Autoblog.
Newsflash: Prices on spyphotos just dropped 50%.
John Neff @ Jan 3rd 2008 2:02PM
I totally agree. This just ruined the spy photo market for Camaro pics.
mike @ Jan 3rd 2008 1:28PM
You do realize that it will make the cars stale in pulics eyes. Remember ALL cars get old on the eye in about 4 years.....when most companies do major re-skinning. Well i have seen pictures of Camaro for at least 1+ years. This wil achieve TWO things
#1 Convince the public that managment has some hot stuff up their sleeve, Wagoners main goal. He needs something to justify his performance.
#2 Make car less sellable in the future because everyone will get tired of it.
Look say what you want about Accord but most people did not know what Accord would look like untill the very end, yes there was a concept, but Camaro is completely overexposed.
why not the LS2LS7? @ Jan 3rd 2008 1:33PM
I don't think the public views spy photos. A small group do though.
I think that the people most amped on the Camaro who are so anticipatory as to view spy photos are also likely to buy one in the first two years when it still isn't "worn out" to them anyway.
tbyron @ Jan 3rd 2008 1:35PM
While that may be partly true (aging of the design), it has the potential of eat up Mustang sales this year while not cannibalizing any sales of any current GM vehicles. On balance, a pretty sharp move marketing-wise.
Speddy @ Jan 3rd 2008 2:39PM
I just hope the Camaro's price isn't inflated 50%! ;)
(Bummed. My lease is up next year. I so wanted a Cammy...but not the first model year...please don't be a lemon!)
Mke @ Jan 4th 2008 12:59PM
What?! People actually pay for spy photos?
Darnit. I saw an IS-F half covered in bright blue tape/fabric a looong time ago on Highway 5 toward SF. :(
J. D. Billiford @ Jan 3rd 2008 1:15PM
>>> *Yawn!*
mike @ Jan 3rd 2008 1:40PM
@TO WHY NOT LS
I saw Camaro on one of the nightly news.
My point is that this car has been over exposed to general public...not just car nuts. In addition to that i have seen Camaro on Nightly Business Report as well as News with Jim Lehrer.
why not the LS2LS7? @ Jan 3rd 2008 5:18PM
Yes, you saw it on the nightly news. What did dropping the camo have to do with this? If you say that means it is overexposed, it was already overexposed, and the camo didn't stop it from happening.
why not the LS2LS7? @ Jan 3rd 2008 1:15PM
Nice. Makes sense to me. Free publicity is good anyway.
Greg @ Jan 3rd 2008 1:17PM
So now they're going to take the camo off the interior too, right? Right? Please?
A&W @ Jan 3rd 2008 1:17PM
Looks good-even in white. But it would have been better if he said "No! That is not the production interior!"
Aetius @ Jan 3rd 2008 1:19PM
Beautiful proportions for a coupe. Now GM, hope you have the REAL interior hidden somewhere!
Xcountryflyer @ Jan 3rd 2008 1:24PM
That's one ugly interior--its like 90's Pontiac redux.
VP @ Jan 3rd 2008 1:25PM
Don't worry guys, I am sure that is not the production interior. I would think that was to throw the wolves off the scent. After their recent product portfolio i don't see Lutz & co making that kind of a mistake on their most hyped car of the decade.
why not the LS2LS7? @ Jan 3rd 2008 1:32PM
If you ask me the Volt is the most hyped GM car right now.
Alex Nunez @ Jan 3rd 2008 2:22PM
VP, based on some stuff I've seen, that is most likely the production interior. They have some very cool lighting in store for it, too.
Chris @ Jan 3rd 2008 1:35PM
Now, unless they airbrushed them out, the rear fender vents are gone. Dammit.
John Smith @ Jan 3rd 2008 1:53PM
For the millionth time, the rear fender vents are very much there:
http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2009-chevy-camaro-spy-shots/555813/full/
http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2009-chevy-camaro-spy-shots/555817/full/
http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2009-chevy-camaro-spy-shots/555818/full/
I would say it was well done. I liek it a lot.
Now, if only more car enthusiasts would frequent this site. Maybe then we'd have more knowledgeable commenters. Not like the ones who think that is the production interior.