Camaro confirmed for Europe, may not be branded a Chevy
Wayne Brannon, Chief Executive of Chevrolet Europe, has confirmed that the UK will be getting its own right-hand-drive version of the Camaro when it goes on sale in early 2010. 1,000 coupe and convertible variants, powered by a 400 bhp, 6.0-liter engine, will be produced with RHD, and it's suspected that about 300 units of each will make their way to dealers in The Kingdom after the Camaro makes its European debut at the London Motor Show.
However, there is some debate about where the Camaro will be sold. Chevrolet is considered a budget brand abroad, so there's apparently some consternation about selling the Camaro with the bowtie badge. While it's likely that it will still be sold through Chevy dealers in Europe, there's a possibility that it will be marketed as a separate brand in the UK, similar to Corvette.
[Source: Autocar]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Allan 9:07AM (6/03/2008)
And Chevy is not a budget brand here in the US? I mean, it's no Kia... but it's the bottom of the GM ladder, no?
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Dazza 9:20AM (6/03/2008)
Allan: in Europe, all Chevrolets are rebadged Daewoos, with the exception of the Trailblazer sold in a few select European markets.
Willem B 9:21AM (6/03/2008)
I saw a Chevy Dealership when I was in the Netherlands Last year. They had Cobalts, malibus and a bunch of others...
Dazza 11:23AM (6/03/2008)
Willem B: those were likely tax-free vehicles for US servicemen based in Germany and the Benelux. Neither the Cobalt nor the Malibu is officially sold in Europe.
Avinash machado 9:22AM (6/03/2008)
Chevrolets sold in Europe are basically rebadged Daewoos. It is only natural that GM would not wish to dilute the Camaro image by associating it with rebadged Daewoos. Imagine going to your local Chevy dealer to service your Camaro and rubbing shoulders with Daewoo customers.
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Ensega 9:34AM (6/03/2008)
It's been done before (at least in Canada). Look up the Chevrolet Optra and the Epica. The USA has them as Suzuki models.
Chris 9:55AM (6/03/2008)
What makes Daewoo customers any worse than Aveo customers? Oh wait...
416Hammy 10:04AM (6/03/2008)
That must be how Corvette owners feel taking their cars to Chevy dealers.
ML 10:25AM (6/03/2008)
Oh . . . God forbid you get some nasty-ass Daewoo owner's germs on you! Ever hear of "discrimination" Avinash? If you're new to this country, you have a LOT to learn pal.
Yaroukh 10:34AM (6/03/2008)
ML: I would like to hear you speaking like that if it would be your business. Pretty quickly you would forget about this "discrimination" B.S. If you don't know what brand-image is you got a LOT to learn pal.
ML 10:40AM (6/03/2008)
Oh, so . . . let's see if I get this Yaroukh. "Brand image" (i.e. what kind of car you buy and how much more expensive and exclusive it is from other people's cars) is what makes you a better man than the guy next to you, who might brush against you? I think your concept of yourself needs some re-thinking on your part. If your identity is tied to what kind of car you drive, then you're a pretty shallow individual. What DO you drive Yaroukh? A BMW, a Mercedes, is it 'expensive'?
EuropaCar 11:45AM (6/03/2008)
ML: that's the whole idea of brand imaging... the product defines the customer's way of life.
If most of the world didn't behave like Yaroukh and weren't so "shallow," as you say, then brand imaging wouldn't exist.
Azael 9:27AM (6/03/2008)
Is this correct? Only 400 hp from a huge 6.0 liter engine? Where's the beef?
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Justin 9:30AM (6/03/2008)
How is it a huge engine? What are you comparing it to? A "huge" DOHC v6?
rouse42 9:35AM (6/03/2008)
you forget its GM were talking about,
not honda with 100+ hp per liter.
Ensega 9:42AM (6/03/2008)
That engine is good. The horsepower may be low to you but despite having 6.0L it's extremely efficient for its size (possibly better than a number of 4.0L to 5.0L alternatives) and has massive torque down low.
Proof of its worth is the fact that a number of European car makers use the engine.
why not the LS2LS7? 10:21AM (6/03/2008)
Displacement is not a measure of engine size. A pushrod V8 like the LS3 you speak of is significantly smaller than a DOHC motor due to having a LOT less parts inside.
The LS3 motor is smaller and lighter than BMWs 5.0L V8 from the M5 a few years back, and it made only a "mere" 400HP.
James 6:12AM (6/04/2008)
I'm not sure why you're reading this blog if you don't understand how that 6.0 liters are calculated.
It's not the physical size of the engine. It can be significantly less. How do you think people build their engines out to a larger displacement? The actual engine block size doesn't change.
The LS7's external dimensions are not much larger than my 3.5L V6, and its certainly not almost double the size.
I thought this was basic stuff everyone even remotely interested in cars knew.
rouse42 9:31AM (6/03/2008)
"budget brand" chevy already is a budget brand. if only they would lower there prices to match there quality.
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rsfourever 9:47AM (6/03/2008)
"their"