Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community - GM Pony is back! Camaro Concept unveiled!

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- - GM Pony is back! Camaro Concept unveiled! (https://thetfp.com/tfp/tilted-motors/99656-gm-pony-back-camaro-concept-unveiled.html)

GM Pony is back! Camaro Concept unveiled!

<DIV class=storycontent><DIV class=rightbox><IMG title=jan7cam.jpg alt=jan7cam.jpg src="http://www.leftlanenews.com/wp-images/media/jan7cam.jpg" border=0></DIV><P><EM>Road and Track</EM> magazine has leaked a photo and video of the 2008/2009 Chevrolet Camaro Concept on its website. The car is due this week at the Detroit auto show. They’ve pulled their article on the car, which is believed to have been published prematurely. The official announcement is expected Sunday or Monday. We’ll keep you posted as this story develops. <STRONG>UPDATED: More photos after the jump…</STRONG></P><A id=more-1264></A><P><TABLE class=artimage cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD><IMG src="http://www.leftlanenews.com/wp-images/media/jan7cam_2.jpg"></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></P>
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Interesting but uninspiring especially after seeing the Challenger.

It's like the bastard child of a Chrysler 300 and an Aston Martin...

I don't like the styling on this one at all. Give me my '79 T/A over that thing any day.

i like the cabin-back, but there's something about that front... i'm not sure what it is

but regardless, it's about damn time!

even though i think it's interesting that in bringing back the GTO, GM argued endlessly that they didn't like the idea of going retro and insists on giving a vehicle that "moved forward, not looked back" and yet here we have a retro-styled camaro...

i have to say i can't wait for a couple years to have the mustang, challenger, camaro shootout!!! :D

I think Im going to have to see one in person, cause this doesnt impress me one bit

GM is too busy buying guns and shooting themselves in the foot. If I saw this on the street, I would assume it was the new Charger if not for the bow tie on the grill.

I agree, it looks too Chryler-ish from some angles. But I think this has potential for success and GM sure needs it.

Personally, I like it, though I'm more interested in what the FINAL version looks like, as GM products have a tendancy to change drastically between concept and production. A key factor in my final opinion will also be drivetrain choice. I sure hope that, at the VERY least, the LS2 is the engine for the Z28 and/or SS versions.

As a former f-body owner, i can't wait for the general to come out with a new camaro, but if it looks like this, I'll be in line for the challenger instead.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Poppinjay

If I saw this on the street, I would assume it was the new Charger if not for the bow tie on the grill.

Agreed. The hood is the only thing that says "Camaro" to me.

new pics from NAIAS

http://www.fast-autos.net/chevrolet/camaroconcept.jpg

http://www.fast-autos.net/chevrolet/camaroconcept2.jpg

http://www.fast-autos.net/chevrolet/camaroconcept3.jpg

http://www.fast-autos.net/chevrolet/camaroconcept6.jpg

Quote:

Source: Chevrolet

The Camaro Concept embodies the performance and passion that have made first-generation Camaros some of the most sought-after collector cars, updating the formula with a fuel-efficient powertrain, sophisticated chassis and contemporary design execution. The goal is to make the sport coupe relevant to younger enthusiasts while retaining its appeal to its current fans.

“Millions of people of all ages fell in love with the Camaro for all of the right reasons,” said Ed Welburn, GM vice president, global design. “Camaros were beautiful to look at and offered performance that could rival expensive European GTs. Yet they were practical enough to drive every day and priced within the reach of many new car buyers.”

The long hood, short deck and wide stance of the Camaro Concept leave no doubt that it is a serious performance car. Those looks are backed up by a 400-horsepower aluminum small-bock V-8, a six-speed manual transmission, and a sophisticated chassis with four-wheel independent suspension.

Like its forebears, the Camaro Concept would be practical enough for everyday use. It features fuel-saving features like Active Fuel Management™ cylinder deactivation technology, yielding highway fuel economy of 30 mpg or better. Its overall size is a comfortable fit for city streets and suburban parking lots, and its back seat provides occasional seating for two adults.

Lean, muscular design

Because of Camaro’s powerful heritage, the GM Design team chose a theme that pays homage to the original Camaro, while being instantly recognizable as an all-new car.

Said Bob Boniface, director of the Warren Advanced Design Studio, “The fact that the Camaro has been out of production for a number of years made it particularly important that the Camaro Concept honors the Camaro heritage in the right way.”

The 1969 Camaro, considered by many to be the best first-generation design, was a significant inspiration. But as GM design teams in Warren, Mich., worked on alternatives for the Camaro Concept, they also turned to the latest Corvette and to aircraft like the YF-22, seeking a design that encompasses the spirit that made the 1969 Camaro great, but interprets that spirit in a fresh, exciting way.

“The overall proportions, long hood and powerful fender forms say, ‘This is a front-engine, rear-wheel drive performance vehicle,’ ” said Tom Peters, design director, rear-wheel drive performance cars. The prominent front grille and hood bulge hint at the power of the Corvette-inspired V-8 engine. Large wheels and tires, exposed high-performance brakes and prominent fender shapes signal that the Camaro Concept has the handling and braking to go with the powertrain.

The cockpit of the Camaro nestles between sharply defined fender forms, a design element inspired by fighter planes and the new Corvette. And like any high-performance vehicle, the clean, purposeful design is integral to the aesthetic. “The Camaro Concept isn’t just a styled shape,” said Peters. “The design incorporates what the vehicle needs to perform to its optimum level.”

The same purposeful design is reflected in the interior of the Camaro Concept. The gauges and splash of orange trim hint at classic first-generation Camaros, but the overall design and execution reflect the no-nonsense functionality that drivers expect from a high-performance Chevrolet sports car.

Performance for the real world

The Camaro Concept features the latest generation of GM’s legendary small-block V-8. The 6.0-liter LS2 engine features an aluminum block and heads for light weight, and Active Fuel Management™, which shuts off four cylinders to save fuel when the engine is lightly loaded. This concept version of the LS2 is rated at 400 horsepower, yet it could also deliver more than 30 mpg at highway speeds.

The Camaro Concept’s six-speed manual transmission provides a wide spread of ratios for aggressive acceleration off the line, confident passing and merging and efficient highway cruising.

Modern sports cars are about more than just straight-line speed, so the Camaro Concept features a sophisticated rear-wheel drive chassis. Its independent front and rear suspension features progressive-rate springs and gas-pressurized dampers. Four-wheel vented disc brakes with 14-inch rotors provide confident stopping under all conditions.

Enhancing both the performance and appearance of the Camaro Concept are unique five-spoke cast alloy wheels, 21 inches in the front and 22 inches in the rear.

and for those who think it looks too much like the challenger then look at the originals...

70 Challenger...
http://www.fast-autos.net/dodge/challengerta2.jpg

69 Camaro...
http://www.fast-autos.net/chevrolet/69camarozl1.jpg

long front hood, comes to a slight point in the middle, almost identical front chrome grill, almost identical roof sloping into identical c-pillars. a rise in the beltline near the rear wheelwell. slightly sloping trunk lid.

wtf do you expect, they gave it the chevy cowl hood, three "vents" in front of the rear wheel, ice-cube tray front grille, 2 round headlights with lower round fog-lights, dual exhaust, a lip on the back. there isn't too much to the original camaro that screams "original!" anymore than there was to the challenger, the form differences were slight at best... the thing that separated the two visually was chrysler's crazy paint jobs.

hmmm a little more impressive...

let's see it on the street.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cynthetiq

hmmm a little more impressive...

let's see it on the street.

A friend of mine was in Detriot today for the unveiling and sent me quite a few pics. It seems that the car IS going to get the 400HP 6.0L LS2 as at least an option. The comment was made that there is another 100HP+ available from that engine if need be. I'd say that makes it formidable competition for what's out there right now. :thumbsup:

Holy god the Camero concept is ugly.

Really. Ugly.

Damn. It took work to make a car that ugly.

I'm not an automotive stylist, and no, I coulnd't to one better myself, but man is that ugly.

GODAMMIT

Sorry, but, I have to ask GM if they discontinued their eyesight along with the Oldsmobile branch. Except for the new Corvette, all of their cars have become uglier (or ugly to begin with). I think they took the worst feature from every generation and tried to cram it on to one hideous vehicle. I am personally a huge GM fan, and I'm afraid of what's in store for the future.

As a former Camaro (and Firebird) owner, I'm just not feeling it.

If it doesn't get the 400HP LS2, what else would they put in it? Seems that engine has become the bastard child for all the cars they want performance in not called Corvette.

It's alright, it's nothing great. Kind of retro-newish looking like the Mustangs. Except, I think the new Mustangs with no wheels, or Saleen/Roush body kits, are as ugly as anything else.

But, like many others, I just don't feel the Camaro being done justice.

Is Chevy copying all of Chryslers designs now? First the HHR which is a PT Cruiser with a fatter body, and now this which looks like a 2 door Charger. What an ugly, uninspired design, but typical of American automakers.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kurant

There is some good discussion about it over on LS2.com in their "GM News/Corner Garage" forum. That engine has a ton of potential, and is already making a name for itself as a solid performer. I believe a comment was made at the show about it having 100 more hp "readily available" if/when need be, without making it terribly inefficient. :)

Quote:

Originally Posted by silent_jay

That car looks nothing like a Charger.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kurant

If it doesn't get the 400HP LS2, what else would they put in it?

May I humbly suggest the LS7 ;) Now that would get my attention and I could live with some external ugliness, especially if supported with a nice suspension and brakes ...call me weird, I like to stop sometimes. They already have the tranny and rear to go in such a creation.

I'm waiting for the cost of a new reproduction '69 Camaro to come down under $35k and then simply throw an LS7 crate motor in it (under 17k according to the latest HotRod mag) and be done with it ...other than the cruisin' with permanent facial muscle cramps from the big smile on my face.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Poppinjay

GM is too busy buying guns and shooting themselves in the foot. If I saw this on the street, I would assume it was the new Charger if not for the bow tie on the grill.

My thoughts exactly

Lockjaw

Quote:

"That car looks nothing like a Charger"

Well according to at least three posters so far, it does

Those new picks look a lot better than the first ones, but I am still liking the new challenger pics better.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lockjaw

That car looks nothing like a Charger.

Maybe not to you, but it does to me, or I wouldn't have posted it. Also as Daoust pointed out, three other people have said the same thing, so there must be some resemblance, maybe you just aren't looking hard enough.

3 people having an opinion doesn't make it fact

at least 10 responses in this thread haven't mentioned a thing about it looking like a chrysler vehicle

maybe we should make a poll about it so we can settle it once and for all. let it be known among the nations that we, the TFP, will decide the general concensus on the new camaro styling!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tech

3 people having an opinion doesn't make it fact

No one said it was fact, just that three people have mentioned the resemblance between the two cars.:rolleyes:

People see what they want to see in a car, especially a concept, I and some others happen to see a 2 door Charger, some people won't see the resemblance between the two, much like some people will like the car and some people won't. I myself am not a fan of it, but thats my opinion. We all know what opinions are like, right?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tech

I'd take the Dodge hands down!

:thumbsup:

http://www.maximum-cars.com/Cars/Dod...lenger-c/2.jpg
http://www.fast-autos.net/chevrolet/camaroconcept.jpg

Apparently I'm one of the few here who does, but I really like the design of the concept. Could just be because I've always been a Chevy guy. I've never been a fan of the vents in front of the rear wheels but other than that I like the design. I think it does a fairly good job of taking a classic design and modernizing it. Hopefully it will make it to production and not get changed too much in the process.

I must admit that I like it in silver better than red and the larger pictures give me more to look at (obviously)

I like both rides for different style cues.

make that 4 for thinking it looks Chargeresque. Ugly too. That grille, yikes.

Saw this beauti on another forum a week ago and fell in love:D

Now all they need a a Limited SS/RS edition with the vettes LS7 and im sold :thumbsup:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pain Train

Saw this beauti on another forum a week ago and fell in love:D

Now all they need a a Limited SS/RS edition with the vettes LS7 and im sold :thumbsup:

Good luck, only way that'll happen is if it costs more then the Vette, unfortunatly.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kurant

Good luck, only way that'll happen is if it costs more then the Vette, unfortunatly.

Still be fun as hell to drive:D

i think it looks more like a batmobile than anything with that front end

It looks like it got droped on the head as a child.

I love both the Challenger and the Camaro concepts. Absolutely beautiful. Yummy.

I've looked at this about 10 times now.....and it still looks like the Mustang and the Grand Am had a baby, and not in a good way.

I don't really mind the look, though the front grill has to go. I think it might even look better as a real machine, as I hope to hell they lose that front grill. Though, while I dont think it looks bad, and I really do think it will look better, I as well, as a fan of the old ones, do not feel it.

As to what exactly makes me feel the way I do... From the side, the cabin is just a hair to long, and the hood would look better comming out more horizontal at the tip. I think the whole thing rounds down too much. I'm sure it's not beneficial in the wind tunnel however, lol.

I also think the rear fenders flare too much, i like the nice wide ass on the car, but i think the doors/sides dip just a little too much. That and take the windows and make em just a little less rocketship-square looking, and we might have a really nice car.

Just my 2 cents though.

EDIT: It should be noted that of course the silver ones look better, they are press photos taken from the angles that make that car look the best, and run through some digital enhancments before they ever get to us.

Quote:

Originally Posted by krwlz

I like the grill because its just like the 69, if it wasn;t plastic that would be better!

Quote:

Well according to at least three posters so far, it does

Quote:

http://www.chargerforums.com/gallery...m/P1000755.JPG

http://www.fast-autos.net/chevrolet/camaroconcept3.jpg

http://bradbarnett.net/mustangs/conc...pConcept01.jpg

http://bradbarnett.net/mustangs/time...asonPort-2.jpg
Yep they must have been seperated at birth oh what was I thinking? :crazy:
GM Ford and Dodge secretly all are one company. :thumbsup:

Im a mopar man an older one but I think if you put most of the muscle cars of today together youll see the look alike due to aero dynamics of them and you can also see the older cars in each one of them i think it looks kinda cool but Id like to have my ole 69 Charger with the Hemi :) but I dont own a bank to keep gas in it :)

Well I liked the camaro a whole lot less before it was put side by side with a profile of the new mustang. In that comparison, the Camaro looks simply stunning.

well at least the back doesn't look as bad as the Mustang's rear end; if ever a car was designed with a rear face-lift already in mind....