BINGO!

 

Just a few things.....

1. When was Solstice given the GO?
2. They dont have to call the next gen Camaro concept a camaro.
If they show a 2+2 version of the SS and calle it RS or Z28 we know what they are getting at.
3. I think It will be something based off the "serched for solstice platform or a GTO size Sigma platform RWD Monte/Chevelle/Next GTO

 

Dammit! How dare you!! J/K

I remember Bob Lutz saying not too long after Camaro and Firebird were officially written off that we'd see a Camaro Concept. I thought he said it would be before the last Camaro was produced ... but, maybe he said/meant before the last Camaro was sold off the lots

Like Scott Settlemire likes to say: "Keep the faith!"

OK, after all my babling... what I'm saying is, that there is a chance it could be a Camaro... I would agree in saying that it is by no means a guarantee...

Just keep your fingers crossed, knock on every piece of wood you see, rub your lucky rabbit's foot , etc etc etc

EDIT: Speaking of Scott... he hasn't posted in a long time... anyone talked to him recently? Perhaps he is too busy with this upcoing Camaro Concept!!!

 

Shakespeare said it first...

Evil Turbo SS makes a good point... they could display a concept car and simply call it Z/28 or SS and we would know it was an intended Camaro replacement. My understanding of the CAW contract was that it claused a section stating that GM could not produce a vehicle under the name "Camaro" or "Firebird" in any other plants than St. Therese for the stated life of the contract ('til 2005?) or they would be in violation of said contract and liable for financial disbursement to the CAW (that means pay out big-time $$$ to the CAW workers). Maybe I have it wrong - I don't know. But that would mean that GM can't use the name - doesn't mean they can't make the car and call it something else. It would DEFINITELY put a lid on using the Camaro name for a few more years - unless GM wanted to pay-off the contract, which is very doubtful.

That being said, I guess a "Camaro" concept could be possible, but I still doubt it this soon after production halted. If there are still 1 or 2 thousand F-cars left on dealers' lots right now, how hard would they be to sell if you found out a new Camaro was already on the way? Talk about hard-to-move inventory...

OK - Since this is like a crap-shoot or a poker game, I'm gonna place my bet - here goes...
We are going to see the first imported GTO in the flesh.
We will see a GTO that has had a few VERY minor adjustments made to it over the rendering we all know so well too. I think the "big suprise" will be that GM actually heard all the rants and raves (good and bad) about the car's looks and took some action. Think about how many discussions we have had here on this board alone, and how many times we have read the words "wait until you see it in person to decide". This has been a huge issue for months now, and I think there has been more than ample time to get a test mule ready for the upcoming show, not to mention getting some early production units going for journalistic duties and long-term testing here in the States.

Like Z28Wilson said, I hope someone bookmarks this thread, then we can reopen it in January and see just how good we all did! This could be fun.

 

Wishful thinking

 

....now on Special Assignment with Jon Moss' group and has even moved his office..........so yeah, he's been a little busy.

As for as the concept......I'd be shocked if the word Camaro was even mentioned in Detroit..........

 

I've been saying for some time that that there was going to be some type of coupe for Chevrolet at this year's auto show, so I'm guessing that's the big surprise.

Whatever the surprise is, for Mr. Lutz to say it alone would make it worth going to Detroit's show means it has to be something that hasn't been shown before! That leaves out Cien, Solstice, or any concept drawing GM has released. That also rules out any announcement on any car or truck that may have been displayed already. The new Corvette's design is evolutionary, so I'd rule that out as well.

At Chrysler, Mr. Lutz's enthusiasm, though abundant, seems to pale to his assertion about GM's display this year. Could be Camaro afterall.

 

We still don't have any confirmation of this rumor, and that's probably because it's just that...a rumor. Why GM would willingly allow the CAW to tell them how they can/can't use their own car's name until 2005 is beyond me. My offical guess is concept Chevelle, with the word "Camaro" being avoided like the plague.

 

So true...

If I could have one question answered other than "When is Camaro coming back?" It's be the answer to this question... it would answer a lot of things.

I am with you though, I just don't see why GM would agree to a condition like that in the first place...

 

Well .... here's my thoughts on this article. First of all, this magazine has never mentioned either Firebird or Camaro. I have received many editions of this mag and have yet to see anything from the performance side of GM. It has more shots of Azteks, Vibes etc than any sane person would want to see.

(Translation ... the magazine is designed for a soccer mom)

In my humble opinion .... this should not be a reference to the GTO. If it is ..... then this is another example of poor communication. Why hype the introduction of a car (The GTO) in a Canadian Magazine that is not going to be sold in Canada.

So this clearly shouldn't be the GTO ... it may be a vibe-aztek hybrid or something equally annoying, or something more interesting .... but it should not be a GTO.

I remain confused .... and mildly annoyed at GM.

Ted

 

Canadian magazine, true. But the quote was concerning the DETROIT Auto Show. Not all cars at the Detroit Auto Show are destined for sales in Canada. While I see your point, I still have to stay with my feelings on this one Ted.

Look at when the car is supposed to debut... Isn't it about time to start drumming up some real media excitement for the actual car itself? Remember we had months of shows and journalists reviews of the "Terminator" Mustang before Ford actually started cranking them out as the Cobra. The hype was definitely beneficial to sales too IMO.

The whole world has talked and talked upcoming GTO... what better place to bring the first one to life? It IS a big deal to Lutz and GM, I think. Look what they had to do to get the project pulled off. It's time for "basking in the glories". My cards are down!

 

Proud Pony you could be right ..... I hope it is the GTO and hope that GM canada is smart enough to import it. Is this too much to ask for?

Sentenced to a lifetime of vibe commercials .....

Ted

 

I'll also pipe up again-

I was thinking-

Compared to the other cars on the "young male" buying lists (integras, preludes, civics, mustangs, etc) the camaro was increasing in price, and with quality an issue compared to nissan/toyota/honda it was too expensive for what you got many have said. Most people didnt want to pay for insurance and gas on the v8, where a high revving I4 engine would spit out 210+HP in a lighter car with a better feel and lower pricetag. Better gas milage, less insurance, and to some it was too much power or too expensive to maintain and pay the bills on. My fiancee wanted the v6 Mustang. She could have bought the v8, but didnt want the power. She even thinks my Lt1 is as fast as any car on the road should be. I disagree

Then another issue was that Chevrolet always had two supercars. The camaro and the corvette. Old magazine ads showed a woman in a sweater standing between a red vette and red camaro "We'll take on any two other cars in this magazine" And recently, now to keep up with sales and keep costs down, they bumped the camaro to the same engine and similar drivetrain to the corvette. To keep up with compared sports cars in it's class, they needed to add handling and performance. It got to the point where they were underrating and detuning the engines in the camaros to show better numbers for the corvette. The handling in the corvette was not much better for the average driver, and Camaro's rising price with it's rising performance was getting it closer and closer to it's "older brother" They had commented it was becoming a car that was the highest power in it's class, but also the highest priced, and many werent willing to pay it, as well as getting too hot onto the heels of the Vette - which is apparently one possiblity to add to the list of why it was axed, along with dropping sales.

Then perhaps, it does lead us somewhere to continue - Look to GM's future plans - Bob has already said he loves the camaro (wahhoooo!) but it probably wont creep up any time soon. They have a lot of work to do. The GTO poses a similar power car, but more room, something the GTO actually had over the vette back in the day (well, a little more room) and perhaps it will intice buyers for a little bit to buy it. Lets hope it does well, as compared to the "thunderbird"... lets hope they sell like New Beetles and the PT Cruiser.

So anyway, my thought has always been GM has the potential RIGHT NOW to have some serious fun. Think about it. The LS1 engine and it's derivates inlcuding the 5300 series and 8100 series engines for the trucks, all use similar parts. If you did your build on a c6 corvette properly, you COULD potentially create a universal chassis that would accept any LS series engine with only different injectors, a bigger radiator, and a different ECU. The clutch, tranny, and rear could all be built to handle the HP. With The LS1 cars getting such good gas milage, perhaps this will continue with DoD and when they convert to DOHC...

I have always thought the biggest downfall as of late in the vette was the single engine. That was the coolest thing in the 60's and 70's. Your list of engine options was longer then the list of every other option on the car! Comon. If they even intruduce a Limited edition LS1 derivative with 454 cubic inches in a larger block and label it as such, dont you think it'd sell to enthusiasts? A NEW performance big block with modern technology?

The camaros on lots need to sell. Period. The 5th gen NEEDS to be cheaper then the 4th gen. In order to do this, they need to cut costs, and cutting reliability is NOT an option. So they need a simpler platform that can be done cheaper. Using similar engines was a start. They need to continue that idea. Not to mention chevy dealerships need to stop charging $24,000 for a v6 5spd camaro! Like that will EVER sell!

They need something with a v8. If they loose the v8, it'll loose respect. Put a 210HP v6 in it, or the 240/280HP GTP3.8L motor in, and then the 345/340LS1 in. Lets see whos attention we get now!

But cheaper is #1. Same problem with the Ford Taurus. They redesigned it and upped the price a few grand, and put themselves into Toyota Camry price range. Who would buy a Ford Taurus over a Toyota Camry? Geez. Dumb question. I'll take the Toyota - in 5 years, it'll be worth something, and I'll pay less for maintenence till then.

GM needs to make up for this. I hope Bob has some ideas...

 

I would not take this as a good sign for the Camaro!

The Camaro team got blended with the Corvette team when the F-Body died, and if Scott is now working with Jon Moss's group which makes cars GM never sells THAT'S THE END FOR ANY RETURN OF A CAMARO!!!

HOLY $HIT!! I KID YOU NOT!!!

Scott Settlemire has been the point man for getting a 5th gen, and if he's been transferred off the Corvette team that's it!

The Camaro truly has died.

I think I'm going to be sick!

 

Dont get bummin yet. What exactly has GMPD - as offically named - produced? John Moss had his little gang produced cars we all gawked at but could never have, but now that we have an offical division, things might get interesting.

Why would GM dump a bunch of money into a division to make it offical and then not plan to produce any of the cars it makes? If they didnt plan on any of these cars seeing the light of day, they coulda just kept it the way it was.

Or maybe its all just wishful thinking.