Cruising with the Camaro
GM Chairman and CEO Rick Wagoner met with members of the media Friday at the Athens Coney Island in Royal Oak, Mich., to talk about the Chevrolet Camaro. The new Camaro will be built at the Oshawa, Ontario, car plant with early production versions at the end of 2008 and sales in early 2009.
See more photos from Friday’s event and the annual Woodward Avenue Dream Cruise on Flickr and our FYI blog.
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How about a hybrid version?
The Camaro will now be an import. I am not buying an import. Engineered down under, manufactured in the great white north. Not building it here says something about the desire for domestic auto plants to obtain this platform. Truly sad but, only for me and some others I know. I would like to know the nitty & the gritty on how any of the US plants missed this opportunity. Norwood, Van Nuys…remember when.
Now here’s a picture you don’t see everyday. A GM CEO actually in a car, and smiling – and, AND, it’s a good looking car. And, and, I think it’s a genuine smile, not one of those manufactured smiles. You remember…
“Yeah don’t worry about that plant closing on Christmas we are going to be bringing out a new Camaro on the Cimeron front drive platform, barrowing the facia from the Sierra and we will all be back at work in no time. Got the bean counters working on the design now.”
Well we know it was a touph time so this car is for them.
Here is an interesting fact for the day, this from a Saturn fan.
In two years the oldest car at the Saturn dealership will be the Saturn Sky. If people look at GM and don’t see that things are changing, either they are blind, work for a rating agency or they are an analyst.
Don’t worry GM you are almost there and not until we get an investment grade hike, not until we are better than junk, not until we are fully restored to investment grade…you keep that heavy artillery coming.
Just drive that FJ Efigy down Wall Street with that Corvette engine if they don’t see a change at least they will hear it.
I’m tired of being knocked around. Did you call Ford yet to do more drivetrain ventures yet? I had to stop at Bold Moves. Oh yeah, they got designs on the fastlane, well at least they got their blinker on.
I can’t just stand by and watch. You got Toyota running a marathon, you got Nissan doing karate, GM is doing sumo wrestling and you got Ford over here doing yoga.
But I think if they stay on track and they are serious about product development they might be where you were one year ago. Anyway I hope they continue to follow your lead.
So lets all hope you know where you are going -
-in that Camaro.
What a gorgeous car from every angle. Those of us on the West Coast can’t wait to have a Woodward Cruise of our own.
Rick,
Any chance we’ll see the Camaro exported to Europe? A British magazine commented that too bad it isn’t pedestrian friendly. Is it true that it can’t meet the new safety standards for Europe?
If so what a shame, I’d love to own one here in Finland.
Thank you again for bringing back our beloved Camaro. Just find a way to bring it to Europe too.
Mike in Finland
What a stunning car. As good as the new Mustang looks, the new Camaro trumps it, hands down.
Just dont come out with those commercials touting the great American Muscle Car like you did a few years ago. Its being built in Canada!
I am working at Foster City, CA (10 mile from Silicon Valley) got a Buick Lucerne last week, but get rediculed by my friends, they all say that it is a great vehicle based on styling, pricing, performance, but they said that I (31 y old) should not buy old man’s vehicle and I am really upset.
I do notice that the only vehicles here in Bay area by big Three are trucks and SUVs, 90% sedans are either Japanese, German or Koreas, very few Chevy, Saturn and I have not seen a single 04/05 Ford Taurus. GM has a perception problem here in San Francisco, I can assure you that you folks make great vehicles, maybe due to bad perception, or bashing by media, Toyota and Honda dominated sedans here, Toyota Camry/Corolla, Honda Acccord/Civic comprise about 70% of all sedans here. Please do not give up, please revamp your product line and be more aggressive here, I am sure you folks will succeed!
Get this awesome car on the race track as soon as possible and kick some Mustang butt! Please keep it as light and nimble as possible. Build it and they will come (to buy).
I LOVE THIS CAR.
Congradulations
Awsome Car, world-beating Plant; the Camaro has the makings of a WINNER!
Rick,
I see you’ve taken to hiding your wedding ring after finding out first hand that chicks dig the Camaro. Good luck with that…haha!
I’m still single and I’m looking forward to EVERYTHING the Camaro has to offer.
Thanks for making my mid-life crisis about as good as it can get!
Building the all American sports car in Canada, funny!
Camaro was always built in Canada. Both Oshawa and St. Therese built Camaros at various times. St. Therese eventually became the only plant building Camaro. While Van Nuys and others did build Camaros, there is no perceived price/ quality/ rarity issues associated with where the car was built. In fact, GM Canada is actually able to provide better documentation on older cars, and could actually make the Canadian built cars more valuable. These factories are owned by an American company. The profits go to an an American company. What makes this Camaro any less an example of “American Muscle” than a 69 SS Camaro built at St. Therese? Global design and manufacture are here to stay, and the customer will benefit greatly. Cheaper, safer, stronger vehicles will be the norm, not the exception. Safety standards from around the world will be applied to vehicles sold in markets that don’t mandate the features. The customer wins. My wife and I are both very impressed with what we are seeing at GM, and look forward to buying the new Camaro. Of course, I would buy a Holden SSV (in left hand drive) this weekend if I could.
Only in Canada, eh?
I’m loving it! LOL
GM made the right move to build the Camaro where it always was built…in Canada.
Oh, and Rick, you look really cool dude behind the wheel. Keep that same attitude when you drive other GM products, and make sure they live up to the smile.
GM gives more smiles per mile than any other make. Rah!
Rick
After 20 years of doing the wrong things GM is finally doing things right. Roger Smith wrecked the GM lineup now GM is on the rebound. I was very encouraged to read in my local paper that GM also plans a g-8 (GTO) and rear wheel drive Impalas and Buicks off the same divetrain. This is great news because serious cars are rear wheel drive. Specialty cars like the Camaro can help revitalize the image of the American car and take the sting out of the SUV decline. I believe there is a inverse relationship between coupes and SUVs. It is time for sexy feel good American iron. I can almost guarantee you that GM will be
rewarded for going back to rear wheel drive. Roger Smiths monumental bungle of the mid-80s is slowly being reversed. I would suggest that the next gen Monte Carlo have a simalir look and relationship to the
Camaro. In the 90s I used to always feel that the Ford Thunderbird should be a big Mustang or Mustang like. I think the same about a future Monte Carlo. Let is be Camaro like but on a longer wheelbase. Now that the Camaro is back how about a rwd Eldorado. I have been upset with GM since 1986.
In that year and subsequent years almost every GM car line was ruined. Now GM is finally reversing its mistakes. The formula for success is to change consumer perception. This can be done with rear wheel drive cars with distinct American styling. RWD, styling, performance and quality. That what GM stood for from the 40s to the early 70s. After CAFE everything went kaputt. Part of the success of SUVs was that Americans wanted RWD and that the cars of the late 80s and 90s were so stodgy. Cars like the Camaro and a GTO will reverse negative perceptions about the whole GM line.
One more thing. Get rid of daytime running lights and black boxes. Also the idea of automated driving is a bad idea because it will destroy the romance and relationship between car and driver. GM needs people to love cars and driving and to feel that they are in control not some computer communicating with computers in other cars.
The Camaro always was a North American built vehicle whether it was assembled in Van Nuys, St. Therese or Oshawa. It certainly is no import.
The GM shareholders support the decision to build the Camaro in Oshawa. This facility has proven time and again they get the job done with industry leading awards in productivity and quality.
Way to go GM.
Welcome back , Camaro!!
Bob
Oshawa,
Ontario
Yeah Rick. You look downright spiffy with that Camaro. Your smile also looks genuine as others have noted.
Even “little things” like that should help increase sales.
Love the car, wife wanted one, but since we believe in the U.S.A we wont be buying one now.
The Camaro should be built in Canada, it always has been and the Canadian plants have recently been building the highest quality cars.
Plants that build low quality vehicles shoiuld be the first to be shut down, like whoever makes those awful Minivans.
About the Camaro-awfully small windows aren’t they? I hope drivers won’t feel like they’re in a tomb.
Thank you bob for stopping the “camaro being an import” idealism. The Camaro and Firebird have spent most of there production years assembled in Canada. A large quanity of GM vehicles are built in Canada. 2009 seems a bit to far off I think GM needs some quicker production unless EPA certification is the delay.
As other people there, I agree that Rick’s smile in the picture looks genuine. If he was forcing a smile, we would see some tension around the neck region. So, more than proved that the excitement with the Camaro is from inside.
And, as said in other times, it’s great to see GM coming back to the RWD vehicles. On the Zeta platform, but using the long wheelbase, you can build the GTO, in a way to make it fully different from the Camaro. It would also open a slot for a new-gen Firebird, but, instead of simply making it a Camaro clone, you can style it based on the 2nd to 4th-gen cars. Or even make this new ‘Bird a bit smaller than Camaro, using a stretched Kappa chassis with V6s (maybe the HF/Alloytec ones) and LS V8s (as said other times, Mallett Cars put a LS2 into a Solstice bay and the car is only a bit heavier than the original Ecotec powered).
As you are seeing, even people from outside US are wanting something like the Camaro. Isn’t it time to revive in Europe the tradition of RWD Opels. Well, you have the new Opel GT, but it’s only a roadster and some people would like a passenger car that seats five people. Make a new Omega or even ressurect other nameplates of RWD Opels, as Rekord.
I read recently some rumors about finally making the real-world version of the Torana TT36. It would also be great for all the group, because of the lack of a RWD platform smaller than Zeta and bigger than Kappa. For my country (Brazil, where you worked for some good years and we thank you for the Omega A), it would be a perfect fit for the huge slot of size and price between the Vectra Elite (for people outside Brazil, our Vectra is in reality an stretched Astra C in a sedan body) and the Aussie Omega. Build it in Brazil, maybe stretching the wheelbase to something near 2,8 m, Coke-bottle the rear part of the beltline, extend the rear overhang to make a sedan back and voil√†, you can name it as a car that a lot of people here love and miss: Opala. People here are returning to buy other sedans than the compact ones. You can see it when looking the good sales of the Mexican-built Ford Fusion, outselling even smaller and cheaper cars as the Renault Megane Sedan. But Fusion is FWD and nowadays, the most affordable RWD car sold is the BMW 120i. Isn’t it time to consider a comeback of the philosophy that ended with the demise of the Omega A in 1998? You would also have a huge base of buyers in the public organs (the Opala family was the preferred by police) and particular uses. If you see the history of Opala, in the first half of the 70s was the second most sold Brazilian car, losing only to the Beetle (and, as said other times, Opala wasn’t thought to be a people’s car, so it was an honor to be outsold only by the Bug) and outselling Ford Maverick by a 5 to 1 margin. We should also remember that GMB was the biggest producer of FR-layout cars here in Brazil, counting something by 2 million units of Opalas, Chevettes, Omegas and their derivatives, a good number of them still being used as daily commuters and in good shape, proving how well built were. A new big, spacious, RWD, Brazilian-built and affordable ride would be a hit as the LX cars are being there in North America. And, as said before, a platform shared with Torana could also be shared by Pontiac to make a Civic competitor, in a shortened wheelbase, and even by Buick, to make a sub-Lacrosse very away from any geriatric fame.
GM has an impossible job.
Car enthusasists petition it to build products with manual trans, RWD, and lots and lots and LOTS of tire smoking HP.
THEN they whine because the vehicles are not built entirely in the USA.
Just be glad GM listened to you, and is building the Camaro and other performance cars you have been yelling for ever since the outdated F-body design stopped being built because they were_not_selling !!!.
And do GM a favor, open up your wallets, and BUY THAT CAMARO !! If it still doesn’t melt tires enough for you, go to your friendly speed shop or tuner house!
Mr. Wagoner,
It is inspiring to see the CEO promoting the Camaro. This is what we’ve been saying should happen. Tell the media GM “cars” are the best. This car will work wonders for GM when it hits the streets, trust us.
The Camaro should have some engine choices to please both performance and economy minded customers. Stay with a nice wheel, don’t skimp on the entry level wheel design. The cloth seat should not be the usual corduroy. Make the cloth fibers tighter. Employ GM ergonomics, this is GM’s chance to sell its own vision of what a car should be, so make it especially GM, and don’t back away from saying so.
Offer the MP3 or latest technology gizmo for audio.
Use the Camaro product to go local, touch the customer in his or her hometown, start a GM “performance shop” concept at the local Chevy dealer, with Camaro accessories to order, if you want to know more, “visit your Chevy performance consultant for details.”
Arrange Camaro car club displays at local movie theaters for whatever movie GM is sponsoring.
Mr. Wagoner, this car has got to be a reach out and touch the people product, it has to go farther than it has ever gone before with a personal touch to the customer. It is a GM cares about you product.
This car should be marketed to non-traditional Camaro buyers too. It can be a car for everyone, its the car GM enthusiasts want to share.
Market this car to the noncar guys and gals, the ones who are buying the stuff from the foreign rivals. Its GM’s chance to say you care about them. Put some star power behind the Camaro to persuade.
Consider an all new Chevy sedan with a similar look to the Camaro. I’d call the sedan a Chevy Classic sedan. This would be a great surprise at the auto show. Bill it as the American alternative to the imports. Consider adding an even smaller car using the Camaro styling.
Have a test drive lottery. When a customer responds to a GM invitation and shows up test a new Camaro, there is a chance to win. Some may win a cash rebate, some may win a new Camaro or chevy product of equal or lesser value!
GM needs to start thinking big again. You have to think big to be big.
This is not just a niche product, its a namesake. “GM is not just a car company, its an American car company, your GM car is not just a car, its your freedom.”
Start using GM words again, when you all said “genuine GM parts,” we believed you, when you all said, “its not just your car, its your freedom,” we believed you. When you all said, “Mark of Excellence,” We knew it wasn’t just advertising, it is the reality.
Don’t let your foreign rivals mimick your sincerity any longer, for them it is just advertising.
“Chevy, its all American, its all for you.”
My HHR was made in mexico. The camero will be built in canada.
Will I have to buy a japanise car built in the U.S.A. to support American industry?
Yeah Rick!
Great to see the pride in your face. The next gen CTS looks to be a world-beater. Now lets have Pontiac take down Acura and Infiniti, Buick take on Lexus, and Saab take down, well, whoever they are suppose to take down!
Did you see the other news on Ford? They are dropping the V-8 in their new Lincoln flagship. It will never compete with the imports. And to push off old inventory, they are going to sell to people with poor credit. Mitsubishi did that in 2001 with their 0-0-0 program. Look where THAT went! I wish Ford well, they are an American company that employs many Americans, but they are sacrificing product to save costs. Dont do it!
I have said before…keep the Grand Prix name. Think of what that name implies. BUT, if you have to drop it, dont call it G8. Call it STE. Pontiac an Euro-car fans know that name.
Finally, in my crazy idea of the week category, why dont you work with local govts in Ohio and Michigan, where alot of early retirements are occurring, to build enterprise parks where any business that hires the GM early retirees would get 1) tax breaks on a per-employee basis, and 2) GM would split the healthcare costs of teh employee? You still have to pay it anyways, so if you pick up 75%, its still a savings. Food for thought.
And how about selling the Solstice here in Japan? It would fly, man, it would fly!
Eric P
Good call Kurt! This whining garbage has to stop, just be happy the thing is being built, and Japan isn’t getting the proceeds.
the real production camaro will be at the detroit auto show. the car you have seen is about 80% what the real camaro will look like. it will be smaller for one thing. the vert MAY also be at the detroit auto show.
Good. Excellent stuff. Now, PLEASE look at coupes like the BMW 3 series and Mercedes CLK for proper fuel tank placement. I’d really rather not have another GTO episode where a decent sized trunk is cut in half because the fule tank is in the way.
By the way, nice job on the “accidental” drive by on the Challenger press event in Michigan. Next time you’ll have to use a prototype and do some big smokey burnouts.
Mr Wagoner:
Was that YOU actually driving the Camaro? Wow!, I never thought I would see the day that a CEO of GM would actually stand by the product and exude confidence and pride as you did there. You and Lutz are probably the best PR guys going for GM. The fact that the Camaro will be built in Oshawa and not the USA is a red herring. That is the COOLEST car GM has come up with in a lot of years. By the way, what is going on with the next generation GTO? I am a huge fan of the original cars. Are you guys going to introduce a GTO concept at the NAIAS this winter?
I agree completely!
I hear a lot of people saying that Camaro was always built in Canada. You could not be more wrong. The 1st, 2nd and 3rd generations were built in either the Norwood, Ohio plant or Van Nuys, California (which is now a shopping center). It hasn’t been until recently with the 4th generation that Canada has seen Camaro production. Canada always building Camaro, what a joke.
For those that have gotten lost with where the Camaro will be built just remember how a business operates is largely dependant upon the climate it is subject to. GM can fight Toyota and the rest, too bad the current crop of poltical figures in Washington from both parties spend ALL their time fighting each other rather than act in the best interest of those that live and earn here. Yeah Toyota has support at home, and it shows.
So those of you complaining, are you going to buy a Mustang with an imported powertrain or a Challenger which is going to likely be just as “imported” as the Camaro OR will you demand representation at all levels of government to act like the best interest is the people not the funding for the campaign?
BTW, make my Camaro white with a 6 speed and a 5.3.
I thought a new Camaro was a great idea, but maybe an inexpensive coupe that the “y” generation could afford built on the Kappa platform. With the Zeta 4×4 engineering, how about a new Trailblazer on this platform?
Rick, what a job you have done by launching out the new Camaro series. This is sure to be a big seller.
Designed in North “America”…Built in North “America”
Therefore All-American
my two cents
Regarding the Camaro, there are some negative comments about GM’s decision to build that car in Canada. Today ALL car-manufacturers and major companies from other industries are operating globally! For example, as I know, the Volkswagen Touareg and the Porsche Cayenne, both looked upon as icons for the German car-industry, are produced in Slovakia. And there are many, many similar examples. Today it’s absolutely not realistic, to expect any product to consist of only pure domestic engineering, pure domestic parts or pure domestic manufacturing. That’s simply globalisation and absolutely NOBODY can resist.
To Mike from Finland:
There are a lot of vehicles, which are not pedestrian-friendly at all, also in Europe. As I believe, it’s even the majority. So, I have some doubt, whether that’s decisive. The last Camaro was offered in Europe, too and this should be one reason to revive it over here as well.
GM made the right choice when they selected Oshawa as the new Zeta platform plant. The highest quality plant in North America hands down. If you’ve ever been to Oshawa you can see the pride in the people who build these cars and the best trucks. It is a true car crazy town. GM can’t afford any mistakes and they’re making the right decisions for success.
Hey, at least it’s not being built in Australia, as per one of the previous plans.
Of course, there’s ALREADY a 300hp V8 RWD musclecar built in MICHIGAN and selling for about $25k brand new.
Building an American icon in Canada is one thing, but if it can’t compete on hp/fun per
dollar,the Mustang may be the only pony car left. Again.
Don’t let the bean counters get greedy, price this one attractively. GM needs the sales, the workers need the shifts, and we need more cheap musclecars.
Camaro, Camaro, Camaro. I can’t believe the hype for a car that sold so utterly poorly and was invisible in the last decade. I doubt if all the ‘Camaro baboon-screamers’ will even buy one.
What we have here is yet another model added to GM’s bloated model portfolio.
Where is a competitive minivan? GM has none.
Where is a competitive Accord/Camry contender? GM has none.
Where is a competitive full-size, framed, RWD car for police, retirees, and taxis? GM has none.
Where is a competitive small truck? GM has none.
And where are the diesels, 5-6-7 speed automatics? Again, NONE.
GM’s arrogance, and ‘we know better than common sense’ culture is fully intact, and this so-called “turnaround” is an imaginary joke.
Good God! Why so much drama over Camaro being built in Canada…
this isnt the point… the point is… buying GM vehicles… are supporting the 300,000+ employees in the USA… as well as the extra 1 million collecting pensions and medical benifits… Buying GM… and your money goes to the heart of the United States…
The Assembly plant isnt always the best place to consider when purchasing a vehicle…
Many of the Japanese vehicles are assembled here in America, but still 75% of the parts are shipped from supplier located in Asia…
But to be on track…
As long as the Camaro is built in America… (canada is included in America) and it shows great American Muscle…
It will sell at least one to my garage…
I Love it Rick, and lets get a firebird in the mix too!
It’s a nice looking car, but it’s not going to save the Corporation in the days of $3.00+/gallon gas.
Take another look at the Aveo discussion below.
Some of you guys are priceless. You obviously don’t understand the nature of today’s automotive world is global. In an effort to make the best car they can possibly make, GM is putting together a car with who ever makes the best at what they make – Holden is known for their rear drive performance chasis designs, Oshawa has always had a top quality production facility. You take the best of each part of what you’re trying to build, and that’s what gives you the best product.
The Camaro will be a GREAT PRODUCT. That’s what GM needs right now is GREAT PRODUCT. Who cares if it’s built in Canada, California, or Croatia. It’s a GM product that’s going to utilize the best of GM ingenuity and production.
Go ahead, buy that Mustang. That leaves more Camaros for me to choose from
I would not disagree that many manufacturers have to compete globally. Reasons could be less expensive labor and possibly lower taxes. Maybe I live in dreamland but I still rather have everything built in the USA. It would only make me want to purchase the new Camaro that much more if everything was done in the USA. I’ll choose “Made in the USA” everytime if I can.
Camaros have been built in Canada in past years, yes, but I would have rather it been built in the USA. The car being built in Canada and half of it designed in Australia are negatives… but it won’t stop me from buying one. Thanks for building my next car GM.
Good point!
I realize that it is human nature to “want it all” but people, one of the reasons you can even think about getting a car with this performance at this price is due to globalization. This car will be built in Canada at a plant with quality rankings at or near the top for all car makers in N.A. – yes, including Toyota plants. We should all be thankful that GM is building it at a plant that will not produce rattle traps with the chasis rigidity of cooked spagetti. This will likely be a very good car. But you’re are not likely to see 700 hp, leather interior, sunroof, IRS, bluetooth and solid gold stick shift for $13 K.
Have realistic expectations and I think we will all be very happy.
Curious how the Mustang and Charger were able to due this so much earlier…
This is a pointless issue. GM does make cars in Canada but it sells a good amount there too. In fact, GM has a greater market share in Canada than it does in the U.S. If GM is the #1 automaker in Canada it better build cars there too.
It’s when you have a market like Japan. It exports in excess of 10 million cars a year mostly to the U.S. and foreign penetration is hovering around 1% of the Japanese auto market. Now those are the kind of statistics you aught to be upset about.
I drove thru Oshawa the other day…saw a train pushin loads of frames…tell me a new Camaro wont use this should be dead tech
Mr Wagoner:
Welcome to our country. Thanks for your support, since you were one of the team that made possible the presence of GM in Colombia.
I admire you and your effort to make a better GM. I know you´ll succeed.
I enjoyed when you said this morning on the radio that YOU will run GM and not Ghosn. We need to hear that from you.
Enjoy your lunch with President Uribe and enjoy the colombian food.
The very few of you who are bashing GM for building the car in Canada are probably Toyota drivers trying to make an issue out of nothing. Foreign (meaning non-North American built) cars and trucks outsold the domestics (the Big 2.5) for the first time this year in retail sales (excluding fleet). I guess you should also return your watch, shirts, jeans, and the wood in your house, and protest in front of Wal-Mart for importing the world into the USA instead of buying home made products. Free trade is what allows you to have low prices and multiple options of every consumer item available. Yes, a car is a big ticket item. GM is making this car and the profits will return to DETROIT where the company is located. This is where they will reinvest those profits into other cars built around the world seeing as how they are still number 1 in total GLOBAL sales. The profits are coming and many of GM’s North American cars are built in the USA, some are not. It is not about where the cars are assembled, it is how good the product is assembled. Drive it and you will love it. Remember to check your label on your shirt to see where it was made and tell me the Camaro is “foreign”. Do you want to be number one in the WORLD? If “yes”, then think globally!
Has the price of the new Camaro been announced yet?
Or any hint around what the price will be?(cdn dollars)
MT is reporting that Holden wants GM to bring the Commodore back over as the new Grand Prix. As a current owner of a 2000 four-door GTP, you have a buyer if you can insure that it has a trunk. I was all set to go buy a GTO until I realized that its trunk was maybe 1/3 the size of my GTP’s.
Bring over the Commodore again–but be sure to bring the trunk this time!
“I am working at Foster City, CA (10 mile from Silicon Valley) got a Buick Lucerne last week, but get rediculed by my friends, they all say that it is a great vehicle based on styling, pricing, performance, but they said that I (31 y old) should not buy old man’s vehicle and I am really upset.”
Having driven the Lucerne, and being 36, I can positively say your friends are knuckleheads.
Excellent choice in an automobile, and while they are more concerned with their image, you’ve made an intelligent choice in a car based on FACTS and objective data.
I applaud you! It’s a terrific machine, regardless of the peanut gallery has to say.
If I didn’t need to drag around an enclosed car hauler for my Camaro and Nova, and am therefore coveting a new Avalanche, my next purchase would be a Lucerne with the Northstar.
Love the Halo, now lets see the sedans on this platform.
RWD Impala
Caddy
Pontiac G7/8
Buick
Crossover ???
Also, that prototype interior has to go. That interior looks like a drag queen interior decorator’s idea of what a musclecar interior ought to look like, rather than an actual musclecar interior.
Keep it simple and functional and save the chrome trim pieces for the Buicks.
“Those who stare at the past have their backs turned to the future.”
GM get with the future!
I’m happy to see the return of the CAMARO. I would purchase the car even if it was built in Mexico with US made parts. I would have much rather have it built here especialy seeing that minivans and other mundane cars with no patriotic value are. Guess GM ignored the 2 letters about this back in January. Anyhow, I’m tired of reading in Blogs everywhere around the web that the CAMARO was always built in Canada. You’d swear there was a campain by the Canadian government, if not the plant workers to change history. ONY THE 4RTH GEN CAR WAS BUILT IN CANADA. Nothing against our neighbors from the North but you CAN’T change history. If your ignorant enough not to research your information before hand it just shows how much you deserve this contract. The Camaro was built in California previously, and I live as far here in Florida as any Canadian does to California and I know this to be a FACT.
Theres a reason the front emblem on the Camaro was always red, white and blue, and it’s not for France. US law prohibits logos from using US flag. Again I’m happy it’s back ,and even if it’s being built up in Canada at least from what I hear it’s their best plant.
“Where is a competitive full-size, framed, RWD car for police, retirees, and taxis? GM has none.”
+1 here on almost everything you said CarltonJ, with the exception this turnaround being a total joke.
I, also wrote GM off for good in 2005 when I saw the current W-Impala redesigned to imitate an Accord, but I’d like to think this Camaro is a sign of hope.
A RWD B-O-F fullsize sedan is a must and is LONG overdue. Where GM went wrong is instead of making distinctively American cars we get foreign FWD knockoffs. There is room for a RWD Camaro/Caprice or Impala while keeping the FWD lovers (who don’t know any better) happy with a FWD Cobalt/Malibu and maybe FWD Monte. With sister cars for all the others brands. GM ran people away from the F-body and the B-body by letting them die on the vine with NO, ZERO advertising and opting to put ALL their eggs in one basket with SUVs. I see plenty of truck ads though.
Restore the faith GM. It’s been over a decade, the mid-90’s Impala SS is still revered by auto enthusiasts and average joes alike to this day. The resale value of a 1994-96 Impala SS exceeds that of the same MY Corvette! Now is the time, make it distinctively American in design and presence. Don’t follow GM, lead. Follow this promising Camaro and give us a honest (preferably B-O-F) full-size RWD flagship sedan.
Chevrole Camaro… i have also this car.. love it more than my wife:))
Mr. Wagoner: You look like you are having fun in the new Camaro at Woodward.
Maybe next year you could do the cruise in a Trans Am after you announce it being offered as a 2009 Pontiac.
The 30-50K increase Pontiac sales would more than pay for the revised front and rear fascias of the Camaro and up-level interior (think European).
Offer it in Formula trim with 300 HP 3.6L DI gas engine with 5 speed manual or auto for less than 20K and the Trans Am with 6.2L V8 and 6 speed manual or automatic for under 25K. A 7.0L Super Duty could be a limited run model.
It will not affect GTO sales since the Trans Am and GTO appeal to different buyers and price points.
Another option to differentiate the Trans Am from the Camaro would be an AWD model for those snow-belt drivers who can’t afford to buy a “winter” car.
Give young Pontiac fans something they can call their own.
Keep up the great work and thanks for the 5 year 100,000 mile power-train warranty.
This is a good post…it has many interesting points.
As for the made in the USA opinions, I consider myself as American as anyone. I would love if every single inch of my car was distinctly American. However, this is not so, and I challenge anyone who says everything they have is made in the USA.
In particular, the post from Mike was hilarious. I would like to scour his house and see if everything there was built in America. I think Mike would be unpleasantly surprised.
Globalization has hit us and capitalism is nothing new in America. Get with the times. Mike, you said you liked the car and your wife wanted one right? GET IT!!! Do you not realize that purchasing an American car helps America more than purchasing a Japanese car? Where do you think most of the profit from a Honda Accord is going? Certainly not your beloved USA, despite their U.S. assembly.
Mike, and all others who are similar, take the cars for a cruise and buy it. You’ll probably love it and support the USA. If you don’t, your opinions are useless, and you can go back to that Honda you all probably have in your driveway.
I liked the Camaro when it was first introduced as a concept car. Now I’m kind of tired of it and worried about fuel efficiency. I predict it will be as successful as the currently rebadged Holden Commodore: the Pontiac GTO. In otherwords, it will have a short product life cycle.
To the board: What makes you think that the guy who got you in the ditch for about 11 billion has a clue how to get you out??? The Camaro surely won’t do it. Quality will. When you get as many red balls in CR for 5 or 6 years running as Toyota sales will rise.
O Canada! Our home and native land!
True patriot love in all thy sons command.
With glowing hearts we see thee rise,
The True North strong and free!
From far and wide, O Canada,
We stand on guard for thee.
God keep our land glorious and free!
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
GM knows this well.
The warranty is great, the looks are awesome, but when they discontinued the camaro in 2002 i vowed not to get another GM. Since then i have turned to JEEP and their vehicles for quality. I have had three camaros over the years and i unfortunetely am torn between the new 09 camaro. all the advertising in the world wont get me to buy one. I will have to see it myself.
Now that we have the Camero coming back, why not resurrect the Firebird? Oh man, that would mean the world to me if you did that.
Please put an F in the VIN #! Bring the F-Body back as a true F-Body…you will sell more of them and not be a complete sellout.
The new Camaro BETTER be available with t-tops!!
Also, do you think that maybe the 4th generation sold poorly because it was made in Canada?
Or maybe it’s because of that stupid first-to-fourth feature!
I say offer it with AWD, a around 3.2L twin-turbo V6 making around 370 hp and at least 5-speed automatic transmission.
FOUR-SPEED AUTOMATIC IS OLD!!!
I dont really care where its made but I want it automatic. Do you think where gonno be a automatic
The new Camaro wil be cool, but Kevin Morgan’s “concept” Trans Am is HOT. GM it would be a huge mistake if you did not build it. I wish I could put a deposit down today for one. BRING IT BACK, PLEASE!