I don't mean to get ahead of something that isn't available yet, but...

The redesign of the Camaro gives strength to the first-gen Camaros. They are timeless. But a redesign begs the question- where next? The redesign is certainly modern in its own right, yet the message of its roots is clear. Cars inevitably evolve, but where does the (dare I say it) 6th generation go, after such a deliberate return to the foundation of the Camaro? Or the Mustang for that matter?
Just a thought.

 

A 6th gen wouldn't need to be a modern version of a 2nd gen. They'll probably evolve the 5th gen's look further. Look at the Giugaro Mustang - that's where Ford will be heading with their styling. Still somewhat retro, but sleeker, more modern.

 

Actually this has been discussed in the past. (Sorry but I'm too lazy to search for the thread.)

As I suggested previously, they should not simply create modern interpretaions of each previous generation. That would be silly.

What they should do is continue to refine and tweak the current design, change the grill, nose, tail lamps, etc. About every 3-4 years should be enough to keep it fresh while not increasing development costs significantly.

Think of the BWM 3-series and the Porsche 911s for example. Subtle refinements without any major redevelopment.

 

These are the type of questions that make people want to bang their heads against a wall. Repeatedly. Why is it that people look at the 3rd & 4th gen Camaro, the past 4 version of Corvette, and then believe it's the 5th gen Camaro or the current Mustang's design that can't evolve??


Where did the design go last time when these designs that the new models are based on were around??

Where does the direction of other car designs go??

The new Camaro has a grille. It has a 3 box design. It has angles, it has curves. It has shapes. It's Grille and lights have shapes. It has creases. It has stamped in gills. All of which can be manipulated. All of which can be changed. All of which can either be removed completely or added to or reshaped.

If there was ever a vehicle that could be easily restyled in an evolutionary direction, it's cars like the Camaro, Mustang, and Challenger.

On the other hand, you look at the cliche wedge styling of the 4th gen, THAT'S a dead end.

Corvette also still looks similar to the way it did decades ago.

When you get as far as you go with a design, you move on to something else. And it DOES NOT mean that you repeat the same direction as before, either.

 

I agree with most of what you had to say but one could argue that the C5 had a "dead end" "wedge" type styling as well and the C6 despite this is arguably as or more attractive despite the fact it is no longer as sleek in design.

 

I'm not saying that the car can't/won't/shouldn't evolve. If anything, I think quite the opposite. But I don't think there's a definite answer for this, it's just something I've been thinking about...

The fifth-gen will be a re-birth of the first gen. For good reason too- it's not only a timeless design, it's a symbol to muscle cars, excess, and nationalism and America. I am not questioning or doubting the new car by any means. But with a deliberate homage to the old Camaro, you can only massage the fenders, lines, etc. so much before it becomes something else. Still a Camaro? Probably. But it wouldn't follow their honoring of the first-gen. And that doesn't seem like their intent. Not in my mind, anyway.

In architecture (my field), periods ebb and flow. The Renaissance, for example. A rebirth of classical ideas. It's happened a number of times since antiquity. Obviously the timeline is stretched out, but is this what we can begin to expect (on a MUCH shorter timetable) from the auto industry?

The Corvette hasn't had any time off, so the evolution of the Corvette is irrelevant. The 4th gen design was a dead-end, so they moved on to something else? Not so much. I would argue they looked at precedent to find a direction that spoke to their intent. But if that is modernism, what can we expect for post-modernism?

 

Oh, you mean the mustang that looks like a 5th gen?

 

I noticed that the first time I saw that Mustang. The Camaro just makes the Mustang look bland.

 

As the current owner of two first gen Camaros, I completely disagree with the comment that the 5th gen Camaro is a "rebirth" of the first gens. While it fits the basic styling cues, it has more in common with a modern Corvette or Cadillac, yet still comes off as a modern translation of the original idea, much like comparing a 1965 Porche 911 to its 2007 counterpart... similar, but with 40+ years of innovation and refinement.

The 5th gen, quite simply, shows us how the Camaro could have evolved (should have?) had the designers stayed closer to the original concept. (Heck, that formula has worked for Porsche and Ford over the years.) Future generations should continue refining the current shape, rather than reinventing the wheel.

 

Maybe we should get the Zeta in production first, then worry about it's replacement.

 

I would have to say: whichever way the wind blows in 4-5 years. There is no telling what the market will want then. If you would have told me 5 years ago that the next Camaro would fufill MY wish and be a homage to the 1969 Camaro, I'd say you were crazy. (even that there WOULD be a next Camaro for that matter.)

 

Maybe one day my kids will be driving a new retro camaro based on the 4th gen. How funny would that be.

 

...you never know!

 

It'd be even better for the guys who have kept theirs around for however many years it takes to get there.

 

Let's just enjoy the 5th gen. Why worry about a redesign already. LOL.