Excellent post. You saved me the trouble of responding to those who criticize the design details that characterize past Camaros. Those subtle design details are necessary... if a baby is born with a pointy nose... its likely its inherited that pointy nose from either its mother or father... you get my drift!

 

I've been thinking the same thing and have just been too frustrated to post.

Somebody want to take a look at any Camaro built since 1982?

Sheesh.....

 

To further illustrate...

Subtle point (but still apparent)...


In 1970, we got even more "pointy"


3rd Gen...I think you get the idea....

 

I personally think everyone who's complaining should be happy that GM is actually DOING something, and bringing the Camaro back. Like the styling or not, Chevy will again have an affordable muscle car for enthusiasts to enjoy.
BTW-Look at the front end of your 4th gen, it's a bit pointy, my friend.

http://www.radiantvegas.com/sam/viperandss.JPG

 

The car is simply stunning. I love the front end and grill; looks like it's gonna eat you up, pulverize you, and then spit you out. I love the gills in the 1/4 panel. And I love the tail lights. Very different and modern.
I love the fact that it's not roundish and smooth. Chrysler and Cadillac have proven that roundish and smooth are out and that sharp, chisled creases are in. And this new Camaro has it in spades. The rest of GM's products need to move in this direction.
I like how it appears as a tight skin pulled over a muscular frame. This car screams muscle car. And it still looks like a Camaro. This car looks so much better than any of the novice concepts we've seen over the years.
My only concern is the kinda squished greenhouse. Maybe if it were an inch or 2 taller in the mid-door glass to rear-door glass area, that would look better. But then again, maybe not. I'd need to see the car in person for final judgement.
Which brings me to my next question: where else will the concept be shown after Detroit? Any chance GM will bring it to the Syracuse car show in early Feb? And if not, how close will it get to Syracuse and when?

And all you guys that wish it were an evolution of the 4th gen; what did you expect GM to do to the car? Make it even lower and sleeker than a 4th gen? Isn't that one of the reasons why the 4th gen didn't sell as well as the Mustang? Didn't we already figure this out years ago? Didn't we all determine that if the next Camaro was to sell as much as the Mustang, it would have to appeal to more people? Now we got that, and you are complaining. If they made it any sleeker, the winshield would have to be laid back almost horizontally and you'd have to practically lay down to drive the thing. Why not give you a door stop wedge with some big wheels on it and a huge motor? Is that what you really wanted? Or maybe some car that looks like it was drawn by a 14 year old in study hall. Really, I don't get all the complaints. I'd like to hear some comments from a person who has actually studied Automotive Design. They'd be able to tell us if the car is a good design. Not that that would make you like it, but good design has certain elements that make it a good design. I believe this car has them but I would like to hear from an expert.

 

I am an industrial designer and I have studied auto design and I have made my assesment and feelings known. I know Dream94'Z28 is an industrial designer too and much more experienced than I and without putting words in his mouth, I think he feels the same as me. I haven't seen his direct thoughts on these current pics though and I am very interested to hear them.

 

What 4th gen! All I see is a GORGEOUS red VIPER!

 

LOl, that would be the silver thing to the left of the Orange viper!

 

As another designer, with some experience, I think it is just over the top (usual for a concept car) enough to be toned back down to production, and really be a hit.

People are complaining it is not sporty enough, or looks too much like the challenger.

I went to Troy Trepaniers shop when he was working on Joe Rogan's Dodge. It had no front fenders and no rear clip. Doors 1/4s and hood were all that was there to view. It looked like a Camaro.

Not sporty enough? If it looked like a low slung 2 seat road rocket, it would endure the fate of the last. I am sorry, but personally, I want to see twice as many Camaros out there as I do Mustangs. Not so much as cutting into Mustang sales (as I want it to stay too) but transcending to other groups.

It all depends on final dimensions. If it has a usable back seat, I will buy one, as will many others. If it does not, I won't. Wheel base tells a lot about a car, but seeing it in person tells even more.

Design ques I am critical of, are the generic looking grill, and the gills. The slit in the front is fine for a SS, but keep it off the base models, as it looks like an afterthought. The gills should be dropped, and it will make it a more elegant looking car.

The design is Retro. Period. The overall shape of the car, the buldges in the 1/4 panels, the grill shape are all influenced by the 1st generation. Remember we did't even have 1/4 windows from 1970 to 2002. The ducktail spoiler, not on any new car out there. But it has been turned into an altogether new car. The GT, copy of a GT40, they changed the body panel lines, and that is pretty much it.. The mustang, modern interpretation of the 67 FB, but it works. But it is much more retro in that it incorporates the headlight buckets, hockey sticks, three bar lights, etc.

The Mustang is much less of a risk than the Camaro. They sold 2.5 Million 64-65 Mustangs. GM sold 4.5 Million vehicles in the US in 2005. The Mustang would have sold higher, if it were priced lower, but with the features and what you are getting, it is priced correctly. The original sold so well because it was so cheap, because it was based off an economy car.

What is the biggest make or break feature of the Camaro? The back seat.
GM's quality has been phenominal lately.
GM's fit and finish has been phenominal on all their newest cars.
This car needs to B-slap the BMW 3 series in the face and come in around 20k or less with the V6.

But what I want, is a huge hit, make that Massive history making hit. I want GM to sell 300k units in 2008 (of the 2009 model), and sell more than 150k units a year after. I want this, because this is what GM needs. Look what the Mustang has done for Ford, and what the 300/Magnum has done for DCX....... If GM offers a sporty 4 door on par with the Camaro (if the Camaro meets my hopes) than we will see increased numbers at GM.

 

The more I look at it the more I want it (especially that silver one on the front page). I think they got it just right. As for the interior, add a single decent cupholder and I'll be happy.

I just dropped some shiny new coins into my 5th gen piggy bank. I can't wait...cruising up the 101 in that baby on a nice summer day.

 

VERY well said.

Personally - I dont like the grill. Dont know why. But then again I love the HHR (I'd take a supercharged "2LT SS" if they made one, and I'm hoping they will) but the first thing I'd do is change the silly chrome grille to a non chrome one on the HHR, and I'd bet we'll see different grills for different models, much like the days of old (new mustang does it too).

Also the addition of the 1/4 windows I think is a GREAT thing. After driving my convertible 95 and my ex's 98 mustang convertible, they really do help a bit in visibility. I accomidated for not having those windows in my car - but many people (like my ex) cant. So strike a good one for GM I think. Cause visibility in the 4th gens was terrible.

Next the back seat. More room and a longer wheelbase means there might be more room in there. A backseat the size of a GTO backseat would be a step up. I've sat in there and been much happier than in our cars. Not to mention for a set of back seats, the GTO ones look and feel great.

Again, I think overall the car is a good one, I have my complaints and my praise. When I see one in person I'll really make my decision though.

 

What horrible let down. Good job GM destroying another nameplate.

 

how is it destroying the nameplate?

man whats it supposed to look like, I tell you if it was something else everyone would be saying "that dosnt look like a Camaro it looks like a celica"
If you wanted an evolution of the 4th gen, well tell you what thats what alot of people hated about the car...ohh but performance enthusiast loved it...well GM makes cars..the more they sell the better, not cars like the 4th gem held together with spitballs and tape..outdated platform and quality was not the best..you can deny it but performance aside these cars are built as well as they could be and thats not saying much...
GM sells what is "IN" now and right now the big boxy beefy image is in, how do you take the sleek 4th gen styling and make it boxy? ala CTS,300 and Charger..you cant so you take the car to where it was beefy. the 3rd gen and the first gen..

its going to be funny when it sells alot more than the 4th gen..and people will say yea they are buying cus it looks like a 1st gen Camaro...yea exactly it is a Camaro...
I really dont know what people were looking for..

 

i think this front looks way better http://www.popularhotrodding.com/fea...09phr_5camaro/

 

I'm glad they didn't make it look like that. Compared to the real concept, that is ugly as hell.