GM sales exec says Chevy is looking at Camaro four-cylinder, but "doesn't have it done yet."

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Filed under: Time Warp, Trends, Coupes, Sports/GTs, Marketing/Advertising, Chevrolet

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-*** 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.

Gallery: 2009 Chevy Camaro - colors


[Source: Inside Line]
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From the linky...

SANTA MONICA, California — Rising fuel prices be damned, GM is not giving up on its plan to launch the much-anticipated 2010 Chevrolet Camaro. What it may continue to fine-tune however, is the Camaro's powertrain options and its approach to marketing the new performance muscle car.

"Everyone thinks we'll be positioning the Camaro as a burn-*** hot rod," said Mark LaNeve, GM's vice president of sales and marketing. "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."

LaNeve also said that GM is "not operating under the assumption that fuel prices will go down," and that Chevrolet is "looking at plans for a four-cylinder" for the Camaro, "but we don't have it done yet."

Consideration of small engines won't end with the new Camaro either. LaNeve said that due to consumer demand and CAFE concerns, "We are looking at everything to improve fuel mileage. Cars that use primarily 8s we are looking at getting 6s in them. Cars that use primarily 6s, we are looking at getting 4s in them."

 

What the heck is a "burn-*** hot rod"? I can't say I have ever heard the term "burn-***" before, and the more I think about it, the more that I start laughing.

 

So the DIV6 gets 27 mpg

 

I stated laughing after reading this. Sounds like some hippie talking about grass more than GM's VP of sales and marketing. Are we sure those were his exact words. Those guys are usually quite a bit more polished than that.

 

Love that burn-*** hot rod Camaro dude!

 

c'mon now.... We've all heard of the burning *** syndrome before... Just doesn't follow "hot rod". Maybe hot chili pepper.

 

should be the title of next podcast
"Episode 144: The Camaro Causes Diarrhea"

 

Ford sold over 87K V6 Mustangs last year and about 78K GTs.

2/3 take rate on Camaros, especially with a DI V6 as mid engine, sounds about right.

 

is the seat mounted on top of the motor?

 

Most likely Highway mpg. Not that impressive.

 

It's not?! That would be 29/30 something under the old EPA system...
And considering it's got 300-some hp? I'd say 27mpg in a "gas-guzzling" muscle car is gonna look pretty good to buyers.

 

Doesn't matter. Most buyers won't be "musclecar" buyers. 30 mpg hwy is kind of a minimum now a days to buyers Think of GM's commercial touting all their models with "30mpg highway or better." The camaro NEEDS to be part of that group.

Now *if* for some reason that's city, or even a decent "average", then yeah, that's pretty sweet. But for some reason, when talking fuel mileage, all car companys want to tote is the hwy mileage when in the real world the majority of drivers drive city-ish driving *most* of the time.

Edit: Mustang sales are down 45% for May, down 32% for the year. Yes, the car needs a refresh, but it's still a stylish, good looking car, and has the market almost to itself (but not for much longer.) Fuel mileage is a huge concern now. The Camaro's success (or lack of it) will depend on it, along with an affordable sticker price.

http://mustangs.about.com/

 

Hell the an 02 Z28 6 speed was rated 28 on the sticker and it could get 27 easily in real world driving on the highway. Sometimes I think we regress.