Autoblog

Click above for high-res gallery of the Camaro in many colors

The 2010 Chevy Camaro is a foregone conclusion. It's definitely coming on schedule and it will give GM's value division a credible competitor to the current generation Mustang and new Dodge Challenger. But, just because the Camaro of old is best remembered for its fire-breathing V8 engine options doesn't mean that a significant portion of sales won't be comprised of the somewhat less-hot V6 model. Rising gas prices will make sure of that point, and GM's execs know this fact just as well as we do. Mark LaNeve, GM's vice president of sales and marketing, is quoted on Inside Line as saying, "Everyone thinks we'll be positioning the Camaro as a burn-ass hot rod. But that's only about 30 percent of the business. The other two-thirds will come from 27-mpg V6 sales, with a significant female share."

This truth, in fact, mimics past Camaro and Mustang sales. Sure, a large portion of the past pony car segment was made up of the go-fast models, but the largest percentage of sales has always been of lesser performing and therefore less expensive models. As we've reported in the past, a four-cylinder model is also being considered, though that option is not yet ready for prime time, according to LaNeve. Not surprisingly, he also suggests that it's not just the Camaro that is likely to get smaller, more fuel efficient engine options. For our part, we'd gladly welcome GM's fine turbocharged, direct-inject Ecotec engine as an option in more models.


[Source: Inside Line]

2009 will mark the 45th year of production of Ford's iconic Mustang, and while the handsome pony car won't get its skin changed until MY2010, it will receive some festive badging to celebrate the occasion. The Stang fanatics over at Mustang Evolution got a hold of a picture of the new badging, which includes a galloping stallion over a horseshoe with the obligatory 45th Anniversary text below. The snazzy-looking four inch chrome badge will only decorate V6 Mustangs, which we're sure won't rankle many future GT owners. Thanks for the tip, Brent!

[Sources: The Mustang Source, Mustang Evolution]

Autoblog drives the 2008 Bullitt Mustang

The Ford Mustang has been the lone-surviving pony car since the last Camaro hit the chopping block back in 2002. Even though the Blue Oval no longer had any competition in the rear-wheel-drive muscle car market, the Mustang was given a major overhaul for the 2005 model year, and to keep the RWD coupe fresh, limited edition variants have been popping up with regularity. One of our favorites is the understated Bullitt Mustang, which we reviewed earlier this month. We had so much fun with the 315-hp retro coupe that we put it back on the street for some video love. Hit play on the video above for just over three minutes of a beautiful green Bullitt in glorious motion. It'll be worth your time. High resolution photos from our earlier review are available below, as well.

The hits just keep on coming for fans of the Chevy Camaro. Just yesterday, we quoted Bob Lutz as suggesting that the Camaro could get a four-cylinder engine option. Now we hear that Mark LaNeve, VP of sales and marketing for GM North America, says that, "We won't position it as a muscle car," speaking again of the 2010 Camaro. Sure, you could spend hours debating the terms "muscle car" and "pony car", but we're pretty sure that very few ever thought of the Camaro as a fuel-efficient option. But, that's exactly how GM will position it. "The mainstream positioning will be fuel economy, design and a V-6," says LaNeve.

The truth seems to be that GM just cannot afford to sell a couple hundred thousand Camaros a year with V8 engines rated at around 20 miles per gallon combined. But, before V8-lovers get too upset, remember that it is the fuel efficient engine options which make the fire-breathing V8 an option at all. Without mainstream options like either a direct-injected V6 or even a small turbocharged 4, there is simply no way that Chevrolet could ever reintroduce the Camaro at all.


[Source: Business Week]

click above to view video

With all the hype surrounding the upcoming production versions of the Dodge Challenger and Chevy Camaro, it's easy to forget that the Mustang is still king of the hill when it comes to pony car sales. We've had the very competent current model since Fall 2004, while any competition continues to be stuck in future-tense. Even without any direct competition, Ford has stayed on top of its RWD V8 American icon, and the 2+2 pony car is still the stuff of dreams. The marketing geeks at Ford picked up on the phenomenon, and the result is a :30 spot with some lucky Joe performing power slides and donuts in a red Mustang GT while the fuzz give him the thumbs-up. Ford added a hot brunette driving a Mustang convertible for good measure, and you've got the ideal REM of many-a-man. Check out the spot after the jump.

Thanks for the tip, Mike!

click above image for more high-res pics of the Dodge Challenger

The production Dodge Challenger won't arrive until next year, but Dodge is already planning on how it's going to get the most out of those first three examples, which are all scheduled to be top of the line SRT-8 models with HEMI Orange paint, hood stripes and the 6.1L V8 engine. Car No. 1 that leaves the Brampton, Ontario assembly plant will go to the winning bidder of an auction to be held at the famous Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction in Scottsdale, AZ, which runs from January 12-20 of next year. We'll be there to watch the gavel fall, and when it does, all proceeds from the sale are going straight to notMYkid, an organization that promotes understanding of youth behavioral issues. The right to own Car No. 2 will be decided by an auction that starts earlier on Sept. 26th, 2007, though this one will be a private auction just for Dodge dealers. All proceeds from the sale of the second car will go to the United Way of Southeastern Michigan. Car No. 3, meanwhile, will be auctioned off on eBay, though Dodge reports it will have more details on that auction later.

[Source: Chrysler LLC]

Chrysler picked a pleasant midsummer afternoon on Tuesday to show off its upcoming Challenger pony car to the media, but the party was briefly interrupted by the appearance of its soon-to-be showroom rival. The boys from Chevrolet picked this moment to roll through with a car transporter carrying its Camaro concept, which was on its way towards a media event of its own.

Jason Vines, Chrysler's VP of communications, dismissed the "lameness" of what he claimed was a "wuss" stunt, and pointed out that his company's muscle car didn't need to be brought to the event on a trailer. The Camaro is very much drivable, as we know, so maybe the best way to handle this little squabble would be for each automaker to stop jawing and head over to Milan Dragway to settle the dispute like real men. We'd pay extra to see the PR guys take the wheel and line 'em up; that'd be some quality entertainment.

[Source: Detroit News]

The Sports Car Club of America will keep the longest-running U.S. road race series on track for at least another year. With 2006 marking the 40th anniversary of the famous series, two events are scheduled at Heartland Park, Topeka, Kansas, starting with "Trans-Am Thunder in the Heartland" in September.

Heartland Park Topeka owner Raymond Irwin says that he and the SCCA are trying to keep the Trans-Am series alive in the hopes that the new generation of Ford Mustang, Chevy Camaro and Dodge Challenger will bring back the series' glory days of the late '60s and early '70s, when factory-sponsored Mustangs, Camaros, Challengers, Barracudas and Javelins fought it out on America's road courses.

Parnelli Jones, who drove for the Ford factory team, says it best - "The Trans-Am was a no-holds-barred, highly competitive series. We had the best American drivers, we ran on the best North American circuits, and we drove cars that were spectacular to watch and that the fans could easily identify with. The Trans-Am was the greatest road racing series that has ever been run over here..."

In the meantime, the Historic Trans-Am Group is keeping the memory alive, actively racing the cars that actually competed during the heyday of the series.

[Source: SCCA]

Chrysler CEO Tom LaSorda says the company may have a go/no-go production decision on the Dodge Challenger, a concept car hit of the Detroit auto show (above), as early as September.

It's been widely assumed that the Challenger was destined for production, to take advantage of the resurgent interest in muscle cars triggered by Ford's hugely popular new Mustang. Not only does the Chrysler group have a history of bringing low-volume, niche-market vehicles to production, but the Challenger also can be based on the existing platform and powertrain underpinning the Chrysler 300, Dodge Magnum and Dodge Challenger, which should help make the Challenger a profitable venture.

[Source: Autoweek]

The '71 Challenger that Chip Foose whipped into shape on TLC's "Overhaulin'" TV show back in 2004 must have been a big hit, because Foose is partnering with Texas-based Unique Performance to build a limited production run of Challengers based on the TV version.

The limited edition muscle cars will be quite a bit more capable than the TV car, featuring either 347 cid or 426 cid HEMI powerplants, married to a TKO 5-speed transmission driving through a Unique Performance Parts rear suspension. The updated '70 or '71 Challengers will roll on 18-inch versions of the TV car's 19- and 20-inch Foose wheels (a take-off on MoPar's classic "Rallye" rims), backed by Wilwood disk brakes front and rear.

Foose and Unique Performance have teamed up on a variety of limited production pony cars, including the Foose '69 Camaro and various Mustangs. The Challenger will be launch in July.

[via Autoweek]