A Friendly Reminder
By Bob Lutz
GM Vice Chairman
At this point I need to point out to you that, while I’m sure you’re enjoying GM’s Los Angeles show coverage, the North American International Auto Show in Detroit is nearly upon us. You can follow all the action on GM’s webcast.
I recommend you take advantage of this inside look at the Detroit show, beginning with our press events on Sunday.
And I highly recommend you tune in on Monday morning at 10:30 a.m., for a very special introduction that I know a lot of you will be interested in, especially you rear-drive fans. That’s all I’m saying.
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I’ll be waiting!!!!!!!!!!!
You’re working on Saturday? Thats the spirit!
I hope the power for that rear driver will come from GM
Canada Powertrain
Can anyone hear “Camaro?”
Do you mean the Camaro Concept that R&T is showing on their website in picture and video form? (thanks Autoblog) It looks mean! I love it… build it now and reap the rewards. See you at the NAIAS 2006.
Could it be anything with Corvette>? Would it could it? Please….
I’ve see video of the new Camaro on Road and Track’s website it looks great. I can’t wait to see what else GM has at the show.
The Camaro returns.
Bob, increase your warranties.
Thats all I’m saying.
ooo boy… sniff sniff.. is that.. sniff… a Camaro… sniff hint… that I … smell????????
mr. Lutz, mr. Lutz, mr. Lutz, if the red camaro in the road and track exclusive and the gminsidenews.com site is what you are talking about……. WHAAAAAAAAAHOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!! BOUT TIME AND SPOT ON!!! i know the details may change for production but… remember out of all those giving their 2 cents, YOU ALL ARE THE EXPERTS!! thats why you’re designing the cars and working at gm. do what you have to do to make it streetable, but dont water it down!! the most sucsesful designs to put rubber to pavement were polorizing in some way! thats what makes them so memorable when they become “classics”. i can’t speak for others but my money is where my mouth is!! there WILL be one in MY driveway when they become available.
OK Bob…you got my interest going with the reference to the 10:30 AM announcement! Will we be able to view this at the Warren VEC?????
Bob,
I’ll be there, and as you know I never doubted you, Rick or GM for a single second.
Okey Mr Lutz, I will stay tuned on Monday morning. I’m eager to hear good things from you and GM!
CAMAROOOOOOOOO
This one is gonna steal the show and go down in history as the beginning of GM Design’s renaissance.
10:30am Monday morning Detroit time is 2:30 am Tuesday morning in Melbourne Australia but I wouldn’t miss this one for the world!
Bob,
If you can bring more cars like the Solstice, the Cadillac V-Series, Escalade and Torrent to the market, GM may just start winning business from nontraditional sources. Of course, you know that. What I will say, is the mainline lineup is still too conservative. I don’t believe the designers are allowed to, or if they are allowed to, taking enough risk.
I’m not a big Camaro fan but I can spot a hot design. If the recently circulated pics of a Camaro concept are accurate, you need to get that car out the door WITHOUT letting anyone dumbing it down. You would finally give all of those Chevy enthusiasts who cannot afford the Vette something to buy. Of course, I’m sure you knew that too.
Have you seen Foose’s SRX? That is closer to the SRX we should have a chance to buy than the bland, arcane looking version that is in the showrooms. I realize that is an expensive makeover but the sheetmetal of the factor SRX could be more appealing.
Getting better but still not good enough and definitely not with enough urgency.
The new camaro is finally going to be introduced! I love the photos I have seen!
A release date of 2009 ?
Wow by then those wanting one now will be too old and ready to buy a Caddie.
Come on -
Mustang 475 HP for $40,000, Dodge charger 450 HP about same money and here we are with a C6 (warmed over C5) Corvette with 400 HP for mid 40’s and up
Wake up GM before its too late. New lower pricing coming up is whats needed today.
Thank you thank you thank you….
ALAS after waiting all this time the Camaro faithful can smile again… Thank you from the bottom of my heart Mr. Lutz. We appreiate the efforts that have gone into our beloved coupe and hope that it hits the street quicker than the Solstice which i’m sorry to say took a little longer than expected.
Oh yes. I LOVE the car… can’t wait to see the unveiling!
Saw the Camaro on R&T!!!!! BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Keep it like that and it’ll sell like like crazy!
It will be best to have this concept into ASAP lest the heat dies down and everybody comes along with an affordable yet sexy sports cars. There are too many concepts that fizzled commercially due to slow introduction. I hope Camaro is not one. Really.
The Camaro and the Buick look terrific – how about getting them into production way sooner reports seem to suggest…I fear you’ll be too late to make a difference.
I guess I’m in the minority on this board, but I’m really disappointed that GM went the retro route with the Camaro. Sure you’ll get some sales from pent-up demand early on, but in the long term, I think going retro is a mistake. There’s no way to redesign it. That’s why I suspect all the retro designs on the market (Thunderbird, Beetle, PT) will last only one generation.
That said, the Camaro looks way better than the new Challenger, an ugly remake of an ugly car.
Bob, If I die now, at least I got a chance to see the gorgous Camaro concept on R&T. You have to build it. This is what the Camaro die-hards have been waiting for. Just check out GMI or Cheers and Gears websites, it’s quite unanimous, almost all bloggers love the new Camaro. Make it as close to this concept as you can and you’ll have a winner. Thank you so much for bringing our old friend back.! Mike, an American in Finland.
Looks like this blog is full of ehhh….slightly older car lovers…..the RWD sure does seem to have hit the mark. I’m sure that the new platform will succeed (albeits two years + behind the 300C), but we’ll have to see what the marketing folks do to get the masses into the showrooms.
Since this one’s been on again / off again on the list of developement programs, the 2009 date doesn’t surprise me. GM needs (as do most) 24 months to execute a good launch and we surely don’t want to be here in early 2009 complaining of how GM had a “near miss” with a poorly executed vehicle, do we?
Anyway, I look forward to seeing the concept car on Thursday at NAIAS…hope it’s there.
It’s just too bad that, as usual, the great cars are “just a few years away”
Wow, GM is once again (or at least starting) creating excitement in their vehicles. Way to go Bob and team. Also, I’m glad I’m again seeing exciting vehicle colors, I don’t think I could stand one more year of Pewter, Silver or Sandstone.
Please don’t make the Camaro SS faster than the Goat, I’m begin’ ya.
Finally i can say my mind has been put to rest were back and ready to whomp on some mustangs the car looks incredible keep it up
Bob,
Got to give you guys some more Kudos. I’ve been very critical on this board but execution and winning designs/product get big brownie points.
The New Saturn Vue is HOT. Cleaner styling, a fantastic hybrid system tremendous cost/benefit function and under the Saturn brand first. Get Rick to quit working at home and dam*it that new Camaro needs to get into production without changes. More aggressive execution, more edgy products and customer satisfaction. I’m impressed so far with the car show announcements.
It’s beautiful! Now just tell me how soon I can have one and how much it’s gonna cost! I love it! Great job!
why do so many people assume that only “older” enthusiast like RWD, let alone camaros?! i’ve loved camaros of all generations since i could identify cars! and knew RWD WAS THE ONLY WAY TO GO SINCE I COULD DRIVE! which was long long after the camaros “hey day” in the mid 90s. america is the only place in the world where “young enthusiust” think FWD is even viable for performance. though i must add that its hardly the train of thought of the majority here. i spent 3+ yrs in japan and if you talked to anyone young or old about “peformance” cars very near NO ONE would mention any FWD car in that class. especially when you consider how popular drag racing, street racing, highway time attacks, and drifting is in the Land of the Rising Sun. europe is kinda along the same lines except for the lack of cheap RWD platforms.
The New Camaro is AWSOME!!!
Please stay true to the concept #1.
#2. Put it out asap… 2009?…too long.
Congrats. to the design team.
If you’re not going to produce this thing until 2009, you should have waited until 2008 to unveil it. Now if you could only make it as affordable as a new Mustang, there may be hope.
The Saturn Green Line looks good. Couldn’t you have squeezed another 1+ mpg if it had a 6 speed auto transmission?
I am hoping to hear more details on the Saturn Aura.
To Mr. Lutz:
As far as GM products go, i’ve never looked twice at buying one, simply because nothing you have ever appealed to me except now. the new Camero looks awesome, i’d buy it in a new york minute, do not make the mistake of changing that car in any way shape of fashion, its time GM learned what you present in concept is what the public expects to see on delievery. built it.
The Camaro exterior and interior styling are awesome! I was blown away! PLEASE stay true to the concept!
It has been the talk among previous Camaro owners and car enthusiasts at the office. GM stole the show with the Camaro.
Would be nice if the Camaro will also offer “Genuine Room for 4″ like the GTO. Is there any way you could do with the Camaro what has been done with the Corvette (Z06)?
I’d choose it over any competitor of similar cost OR performance including sedans.
Stay true to the concept and you’ll have hit a home run!
I love the Camaro. Has a great blend of modern and retro.
It would be great if the car could be a showcase for some engine technology that provided not only the performance we want from a muscle car, but inovation in fuel conservation as well.
I have been thinking about this for some time and now with the introduction of the new Chinese vehicle, it is time for the American dealerships to take back their business. it is true that Americans are feeling blue and helpless with the war and with the state of the economy, we watch as our jobs are outsource and feel that we have nothing left to claim as our own. With the success of the PT crusier, it had somewhat classic lines from the 30s and dealerships could not keep them in stock. What about a “TAKE BACK AMERICA” Campaign in which a 57 chevy is brought back, long sleek fins, a convertible version, could be several versions with a range of options, could be just what america needs to remember some of our most productive and happy times. I have bounced this concept off of several my friends, if a new 57 chevy were available would you buy..they all would. Give it some thoughts, instead of producing the same old vehicles, where you cant tell the difference from the last or from your competitors, just put it back out there, everyone knows what a 57 chevy was, and dont forget the turquoise color. Pleae let me know what you think.
andrea
Bob, NOVA SS NOVA SS NOVA SS NOVA SS NOVA SS NOVA SS NOVA SS
Would be nice if the Camaro will also offer “Genuine Room for 4″ like the GTO. Is there any way you could do with the Camaro what has been done with the Corvette (Z06)?
I saw the Camaro at the website and viewed it this evening at the LA autoshow. A failed exercise that smells of all the least desirable results of the SSR. At least it was red. A couple of styling cues from a ‘69 do not a car make. The rear is just hideous. The front profile looks too much like a 300C. The front exaggerates features which will not enter production while underemphasizing those needed for performance. Specifically, the hood scoop. Bob, any airplane you flew with such a small intake would have taken you to your maker before you ever made it to the auto industry. The oversized wheels, rear fenders and undersized rearview mirrors say cartoonish visual gimmicks are more important than performance. There’s little in the vehicle that says GM has any confidence in its designers. This pony car was designed by a commitee and looks like a camel.
Love the Retro Camaro. Any retro Firebirds or GTO’s in the near future? What’s up with the Buick Lucerne advertising? Beyond Precision … give me a break, what does that mean??? Or the “Designed by control freaks for control freaks”??? I don’t know anybody that would like to align themselves in that camp. Find a new advertising agency!
Dear Bob,
I love the new Camaro. I love my Chevy Trailblazer too. I do know that your company is going to come back stronger than ever. I have tried to contact your ad agencies with a great ad concept that I would only share with GM since you are my brand. They don’t answer. Why doesn’t anybody seem interested in hearing advertising ideas from loyal customers like me?
to me the belair still looks best bring out it in rear drive and v8 with room for us to put bigger v8 in at a low price so budget people can afford it. sorry but the camaro looks like it has a mustang front a 300 roof and a cuda rear i had chevys for43 years but if no rear drives like a belair or something close or maybe the camaro with some of the old style wheels and tires . and soon not a year from now either the belair could have been on the road by now but you let ford and dodge walk away with the gold.
GM,
I am a current FORD employee and I have always loved my FORD trucks and mustangs and I always will, but then I saw the new CAMARO @ the L.A. Auto show when it was introduced on monday 01/09/2006 and I was speechless!! It is one of the best car designs I have ever seen. That is what the BIG 3 are missing, designers and engineers with brains and “know how” on how to make the perfect muscle car. The shape,interior,the improvements with the engine, everything stands out. I think the reason why Chrysler still has good sales is because the designers and engineers are making cars for us young and first time buyers who appreciate the fact that there are cars that look like $1 million bucks and dont have to spend that much to have one and Im glad that GM is following, I hope FORD does the same!!! CONGRATULATIONS on what I thought was the best car @ the L.A. AUTO SHOW….I hope to see it on the road ASAP and I hope to see more from GM, like the new “CHEYENNE”…