I notice that alot of people around here, want to compare the upcoming 2010 Camaro to the 2005 Mustang or the 2004 GTO or the 200x whatever. Too bad those cars are pushovers compared to the gauntlet which Camaro will actually face .

A month or two after Camaro is released, Hyundai will have it's new RWD coupe available for sale. It'll be abit smaller than Camaro. About the size of an SN95 Mustang. It's chassis will be all new and completey modern. And Hyundai has already committed to it coming in under $20K - and that's with a turbo motor. A 300+ hp, 3.8L V6 version, will also be available for about the price of a current Mustang GT. Oh, and Hyundai also has a V8 which will fit this architecture.

Think about this for a second. If you are a 20-something, do you spend $19,xxx on a tidy, RWD, sport coupe with a version of the Caliber SRT-4's motor as standard - or do you spend $23,xxx on a big honkin' Camaro with a V6?

Anyone who think's that this Hyundai isn't going to put a large dent in the sporty coupe market is not dealing in reality. These cars are going to fly off the shelf.

Shortly thereafter, a new Mustang will hit the scene as well. All indications are, that it will have more agressive styling than the current car. It's powertrains will be lightyears ahead of what Mustang has now. It's chassis will be far improved as well. Ford was originally considering adding an IRS to the current D2C architecture. However now, the Mustang is rumored to be moving to the all new "Huntsman" architecture. If that's the case, expect an up-to-date chassis, radically reduced rear overhangs, and a smaller overall Mustang.

These two coupes specifically, will lay the gauntlet for Camaro. And we haven't even mentioned Challenger and other competitors.

Let's hope - let's really hope, Camaro doesn't bring a knife to a gunfight.

 

And what brought about this fear-mongered reality check?!?!

 

Ah, just thinking out loud. And hoping GM hasn't ended up targeting the current Mustang too closely. Also concerned that the Camaro may end up being too large to compete effectively in it's segment into the next decade.

 

i for one will be looking at the hyundai coupe. the camaro isn't even on my list.

 

Just curious, how come?

 

I agree with your concerns greatly. The top of the line Hyundai in my opinion will be more a of threat to the v-6 Camaro, 350z and G37 more than anything. As for the Huntsman chassis that will not debut until 2010 for the 2011 model year. There will be a significant update to the S197 chassis for 2009 though which includes a revamped body with the "hips", with a more aggressive overall appeal. Engines for the 2010 Mustang will be a 3.5 V-6, 5.0 V-8, revamped 5.4, new 5.8 and possibly the 6.2 OHV V-8 for the upper models. The 2011 Mustang will have the 5.8 TF and 6.2 TF.

From what I've gathered so far in regard to the Huntsman it will be significantly shorter in length, wider and will house a IRS. 2011 will be a complete redesign from the chassis to the body to the drivetrain.

I also hope the new Camaro isn't bigger in all dimension then the new 2010 Mustang and its close competitors. The Challenger will be a pig and hopefully the Camaro will not as far as size and handling.

Also one thing I wish GM would do away with are these wheel wells that can accomadate 24" wheels . NO car should have 24"s they're ugly, performance degrading and heavy. Why even let the owners have the option to ruin the new Camaro with these wheels.

 

Picky, picky, picky!!! This is probably one of the only guys who would actually kick a hot, young blonde out of his bed if "something" about her wasn't quite "perfect" .

..... there's just no pleasing some people, eh?

 

The Mustang could have the 3.5, TF 3.5, 5.0, TF 5.0 and POSSIBLY a 6.2 and if required a 7.0 is doable.

Model Year Wise
The 2009 is the same as the previous year, could have a BOSS/MACH1 with 5.4
2010 is a reskin
2011 sounds like the new engines will be ready
Hunstman is 2012+

 

The folks at GM are now so narrow minded to not know what is coming else where. They have not shown all their cards for the car will see in Febuary 09 let alone in the following years.

Besides Chevy has an Ace, heritage. Like the Harley, Ferrari or Corvette have. Many years of heritage can not be bought, designed or fabricated with out time. Many buyers will be in line just because of the cars image. This is something Honda failed to under stand with the NSX and many of their bikes. It may have been a good car bike but it was not a Ferrari or Harley Davidson.

Like many already have on the Malibu don't under estimate our friends at GM.

Hyundia has greatly improved but still have not gotten it spot on. You get what you pay for and many are finding it out where I work with their Hyundia's. Failure of items not under the good warranty have cost them in the end. I have seen a lot of early brake wear and leaking struts.

As for Ford they are just playing catch up to where they think Chevy will be.

 

Mustang's playing catch up? That's an interesting twist.

 

Ford playing catch up? Where have you been the past 40 plus years? I was born in the 80's and I still know GM has always played catch up to Ford as far as Camaro and Mustang goes. With the exception of better 1/4 mile ets and top speed the Camaro has never been as successful as the Mustang. Why was the Camaro/Firebird even created...in response to the Mustang.

The new Malibu is a great car but...like you mentioned with brand heritage it will not compare in sales, reliability and consumer image like the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry.

As for Hyundai being competitive to the Camaro I think that new Genesis coupe will be a threat, but more for the v-6 crowd. Also Hyundai is a very booming company, when a company 20 years out of the gate has better interiors and overall quality then a 80 plus year old company like GM you'd think someone would seriously be worrying at GM.

 

I would agree that the this new Genises coupe will be eating at some of the market Camaro and Mustang will be at, it just means that Camaro needs to have more to offer.
Even more reason to have a lower output V8, even more reason to up the content on V6 models, even more reason to get the car right. As for its size, the Hyundai will have to sacrafice some interior space, and I dont think that they will be able to get the handling and performance of the vehicles down just yet. It will be a solid car, but I just dont see it being THAT big of a threat right now.
Mustang moving to a smaller chassis, maybe, but it will be some time. Ford Oz just finished thier new RWD set up, so it will take a whole new cycle for Ford to come up with the next generation RWD cars, and 2012 seems a little too close. Id say that in that time, GM could easily have an Alpha/Zeta hybrid to offer a smaller Camaro if so needed.
I think that GM should not benchmark the Mustang, but should have put up goals as for wha the car needed to win over the market.
Interior quality is up, overall quality is up, performance will always be there, handling will be there. I think that GM has focused enough of its energy into this car, and we can see what happens when GM does this. I think Camaro will come out just fine, and will win a lot more then just enthuisasts hearts, but just win over people in general.

 

Are you saying that Mustang is playing catch up to Camaro? Care to elaborate?

 

I don't know why you'd say easily Al. I couldn't imagine anything easy about it.

Besides, GM is commited to Zeta for the foreseeable future. Certainly commited to Zeta in the context of Camaro. It's just too bad that in the end, Zeta could only spawn large cars.

 

Why could it only spawn larger cars??? It's a flexible platform. I know the plan for it is to create larger cars, but whats to say they go the opposite route on a model or two and create a smaller car for a brand or two? Not saying Kappa small or anything, but just smaller than a V8 muscle coupe?