Video: Driving the Camaro Concept
If you’re a Camaro enthusiast, you’re going to love this video. A couple of months ago, the blog team was able to get Tom Peters, lead designer of the Camaro, on video driving it for the first time. In addition to getting an excellent overview of the concept vehicle, you’ll walk away with a feel for the passion that went into it.
- Posted in Cars & Trucks
Pete
Awsome! I can’t wait to get my hands on one of those.
P.S.
The Enclave in the background is stunning.
Tony
So I’m guessing there won’t be a Pontiac Firebird coming out?!? *frown*
As a 3 time Firebird owner (1974, 1981, 1987) I just can’t fathom buying a Camaro! haha
Mikko O
I love the passion that Tom Peters shows in his voice and emmotions for his baby! The wonderful music that this beast makes shows the world that this car means business. I’m confident that if you bring this car to production with this styling intact and price it competitively, you’ll have sales hit on your hands. Thank you for bringing us along for the ride. The year 2009 can’t come fast enough for the Camaro faithful.
Tim Geisler
awesome… cant wait to see them on the lot… cant wait to own one for myself…
Mahad
Looks like I didn’t start saving up this summer for nothing! All those hours of me working at a job I didn’t even like didn’t go to waste. Mark me up for an RS version with a 3.6 liter DOHC direct injected v6. The RS designation should be more than cosmetic changes as it was with the last gen camaro. GM If you could market the car with 2 v8 engines and two v6 engines that would be good. Insurance premiums other wise I would have gone for the v8. Who knew that a little kid who was born in italy constantly seeing ferraris could be drawn to an ailing company by cadillac and their outlandish concepts such as the cien. Now nobody can keep me off this site. I visit it at least 2 times a day. I’ll tell ya what when I become a doctor I plan on purchasing nothing but GM cars. The corvette and cadillacs will be at the top of my list and it’s all going to start with the camaro. GM coming from a kid whose family owns three import cars and no domestics, you definitely converted me. Thank you GM!!
phil
That is one sext looking and sounding car. I want one!
FrankNic
Man, If thats not dumping your heart and soul into somthing, I dont know what is.
This car is going to be amazing!
Joe D, Cleveland
Glad to see the people who are designing this car have the same passion for cars as me. This new C5 is going to actually handle the curves instead of just going in a straight line, which one a huge fault with the previous Camaros.
Justin
WOOOOOW listen to that exhaust note! Cant wait to hear the beast at full throttle. I kept hoping he was going to punch it but I know its just a concept and isnt tested yet.
Bill Harper
I don’t expect to buy one of these–bring me the new Impala SS please–but I don’t get the “chopped roof” look. Is it safe to assume the final product will have reasonable ergonomics, if that roofline is maintained? The Challenger appears more normal and more like its original design–why did GM find it necessary to raise the beltline, essentially copying the Magnum/300C’s look. Lead, don’t follow!
And while you’re at it, put some REAL outside rear-view mirrors on the car. Chevy has been falling down in this area for too long.
Sorry if I offend anyone, but look at the picture–the driver has a lovely view of the sunshade when looking straight forward. I just wonder if The Rick has actually taken a seat in the car–oops, he’s not a car guy. How ’bout it, Maximum Bob???
As far as a “companion” Firebird, let’s let the Camaro come to market and see how it competes with the Ford and D-C products before more money is dumped down a hole that may not have a bottom. Better to give the GTO another chance as a “hot” version of the coming G8, as a steroid-enhanced equivalent to the Impala SS, but with added unique stuff, like an AWD option. Nothing says a GTO “must have” 2 doors, does it? Charger is now 4-door, for example. The 94-96 Impala SS had already put the lie to that…and while we’re at it, kill the 2-door Monte Carlo and make it an upscale version of the Impala, similar to what Toyota does with Camry & Avalon. Other than the NASCAR situation, where all the other cars used are only known as a 4-door product, what is the rationale to continue building a 2-door MC, especially with a larger Camaro with a more useful rear seat now confirmed to be on the way?
Apologies for the ramble–all I can say is we (the enthusiast market) and GM both have to remember that this isn’t 1966, when the Big 3 ruled, and the Camaro was a response to the re-bodied Falcon compact. At least the Camaro was all-new, rather than a derivative of the Nova, other than the monoleaf rear springs. It might be “nice” to relive that era, but I don’t see how GM can build both a Camaro AND a Firebird–I have not heard the clamor from Ford folks to bring back the Cougar….
Scott
It is about time, hopefully a SS LS7 option. I want to see a convertible, it will look awsome. I I was kind of upset that it is not coming until Feb. 09 but that just gives more time to save for the SS. Cannot wait.
Mr. Langlitz (Germany)
The new Camaro is absolutely divine. Your designers and engineers seem to be magicians.
There may be Porsche, BMW, Mercedes, Audi, Lexus, etc. They all don’t have an idea to build a car like that! There’s no reason to complain, that the Camaro is not available before early 2009. This vehicle is timeless and will look magnificent even in a thousand years!
What about a cell-phone ring-tone from that gorgeous exhaust-sound?!
Bill
Great machine, and the instruments look great. Plus they did NOT sink them in some god-awful “pod” that hides them and causes reflections. Keep them BIG and READABLE. Make sure they have 10 mph increments and not the horrible 20 mph ones everyone is putting in. The eye should be able to read all gauges from the peripheral vision. Set them up as racers do. Calibrate them so when in the normal operating temp and press all the needles point UP. At 65 mph the speedo needle should be vertical, when at normal temp the water temp needle should be pointing UP. That way you can scan without taking your eyes off the road and note that all is well.
Plus the SOUND is awesome. My brother has a 69 with a 700hp small block with Flowmasters that sounds a lot like this one ,(except for a bit of an outrageous lope}
Great. Keep it up.
jnaggs
man its looks good in motion. and the engine sounds so sweet. the new camaro cant come fast enough.
scott reed
the camaro is such a beautiful car. i can’t wait just to see them on the road, although i’d prefer to be driving it myself.
i just hope you don’t water it down the way you have the enclave, as shown in this video. i loved the way the sides were sculpted on the concept, and now they’re just flat and boring, and remarkably like the acadia and outlook. you guys seriously need to get over your habit of sharing sheet metal between divisions. it waters down your brands way too much. save your money somewhere else. a different grill is not enough to differentiate brands!
i loved the concept, and actually could have seen myself driving one - and i’m not even 30! definitely way younger than your average buick owner. you want more people to buy buicks? put the style and passion back into them. not this watered down, every-car-has-the-same-doors, bland crap you keep throwing at us after teasing us with something sexy.
tony
looks good and sounds great… this will look good next to my78 z-28… love tom’s passion keep on trucking with chevy’s I was at chevy tech center for corvette show today (great show, 700 corvettes)and i was hoping to see new camaro there!
prying1
Need another test driver?
Of course if you let me in it you better keep the gates shut. I’d be off the course and on the highway toot sweet!
Beep! Beep! - Oh wait - That was the RoadRunner…
Jim R
You gotta love that soundtrack. Big Fat Thumping American V8 in D minor. If I didn’t like the car before (which I did by the way–I liked it a lot) I like it even MORE now.
Once again, and I’m sure you’ve heard it a million times by now–THANK YOU.
Bobby
This is what the car needs, enthusiasts invoved with this kind of passion
Patrick
The new Camaro has officially started my mid-life crisis. I can’t wait to get one!
Tony
OK, I was kidding about the Pontiac version. I certainly don’t expect to see that any time soon.
What I don’t get is why not just rebuild the old F-Body cars of the past? Update the interiors with new electronics, make a limited edition each year, and sell them for a premium. You already own the blueprints. Each division could produce one. $$$$$ Maker!
I’d buy a 2010 Olds Cutlas Supreme Retro Edition 71.
I can dream, can’t I?
Imagine a 2008 Pontiac Firebird-67!
Mark
How tall is Tom Peters? It looked like his head was in the roof. I am hoping that in 2010 or so I can relegate my Impala to winter service for a Camaro, but I am not going to buy a car I don’t fit in.
I am glad to hear that GM is going to build this car though. Don’t screw it up, and I hope the oil situation doesn’t kill it.
Andrew
I love this car! I want this car!
Why do we have to wait 2 1/2 years from now before they are available? It will be 3 years after the concept was unveiled. I recall Bob Lutz saying we would all be surprised at how quickly they would be able to get this car to market after it was approved. Correct me if I’m wrong, but 2 1/2 years is not very quick!
Paul Eccles
I hope you are able to do what you did for the Corvette going from the C4 to C5 for the next generation Camaro.
The Judge
Great work Bob and fellow GM family members, im glad to see GM heading back in the right direction.I’m tired of all my import fan friends and co-workers telling me how much more advanced their Toyotas and Hondas are and how much more fun they are to drive, well they can finally wake up out of that dream of theirs and put they’re feet on the ground.As a GM faithful,Pontiac division my choice I’m glad to see an f-body return I’m really hoping for the Firebird to return aswell let’s not forget all the choices available for the Birds.Just as the Camaro can be optioned with the RS, The Z28, and the topdog SS. The Bird can also have the Formula,Trans Am with Ws6 and remember this one a 455 Super Duty as our Top dog!!! hey we too can dream but un like our car enthusiast from over seas We have good old American GM behind us…!
ted h
“Design is the key to making General Motors stand out.”
D@mn straight.
Anthony
This is one awesome car! I can’t wait until tomorrow’s Woodward Drear Cruise. Mr. Lutz is the man!!! Good Ole Detroit Muscle.
Dan Palka
Wow. It is so awesome to see and hear in person.
Chaz
Goodness that thing sounds spectacular!!! Brought tears to my eyes. I hope you guys can keep that sound of the production version like that once you put all the emissions stuff in. I definetly will start saving money for the next Firebird. Yes, Firebird. Thank you.
BlackSun
This is not a sustainable vehicle. I agree it looks/sounds great. But this kind of “innovation” is not going to keep GM from going bankrupt. Nor will it reduce the need for continued U.S. imports of oil from nasty parts of the world. I’d be amazed if the new Camaro gets more than the low 20’s average fuel economy.
We need real leadership from GM, which includes sustainable mobility. Flex-fuel vehicles are not enough without an equal amount of work on the supply-side. We need serious innovation and efficiency gains. There’s not enough cropland or water in this country to support biofuels at 20MPG. No amount of fuel would be enough if we keep wasting it.
Come on, GM, where’s the plug-in version of this car? Where’s your carbon-fiber 100MPG version?
You guys are hopelessly locked in to old ways of thinking. Macho exhaust sound may please some buyers, but it is a path to financial ruin for GM, and planetary crisis for the rest of us.
Michael Rainey
You should be designing cars that are fuel-efficient and quiet.
If the sound is essential to lure Camaro buyers (but probably not so desirable for the rest of us), make the engine quiet and include a CD with an hour of exhaust rumblings.
Veloce
GM is building the wrong Camaro. The new car should be based on the ‘67/’68 model. The design I like and would purchase would be based on Kris Horton’s ” green” concept rendering as shown in the Pop. Hot Rodding issue Sept., 2003. Chrysler has done it right with their new Challenger and Ford built it right with their Mustang but GM has missed the boat. Just my opinion, but as a Chevy fan it will be good to see the Camaro back.
Veloce
jnaggs
“make the engine quiet and include a CD with an hour of exhaust rumblings”
your joking right? maybe that would be acceptable to someone who thinks that a prius is cool but to the people that will actually buy a camaro you couldnt be more wrong. the last thing that will be on the mind of a person who just bought this car is the rainforest.
Rex
Good to see a classic back on the streets with a (gotta have it new look) … please keep it a two door, if we want a four door, there’s plenty of other cars to choose from.
Also, if possible, can there be an engine option for the back yard mechanic (carbs, points, etc) … we like to do more than just drive them and put air in the tires don’t ya know.
freethinker
I know there are alot of vroom vroom, exhaust, burnt rubber fans out there, but this car is made for about 1% of the population. Who can really afford this beast and the gas it will consume? I would love to buy an American car, but GM is making cars like this for motorhead hobbyists. Get real GM. The Japanese are still kicking your butt. Do you wonder why?
Michael Rainey
“the last thing that will be on the mind of a person who just bought this car is the rainforest.”
What will be on their minds?
Mike
I love it, my need though, T-tops. Make them work like a power sunroof, drop and tuck back into the headliner. A Camaro must have T-tops, that was always my reason for buying a F-body. Thanks for giving us a car filled with passion and not an appliance like the imports are doing.
tinsnips33
Thanks GM, I have been in mourning since 2002. Please work on a really flashy orange color…I will work on a down payment.
brad
I just almost cried.
Tom Peters understands me.
well almost.I actually like to listen to the radio loudly at times and not hear so much exhaust.I also like an overboosted steering with a light feel just like the old ones.
Where was this guy when they murdered my beloved Eldo’s and Toro’s:(
I will buy one in 09 IF it has a smaller V8 and some nice luxury packages/options.
oh , and it has to be a nice riding, good running daily driver that makes some noise every now and then:)
(the CTS coupe is looking temping too)
Just as rebuttal to a few things said here..
this(in my opion) will not be marketed to 19 year old honda owners. its intended for the 30 -60 give or take
who remember a time where US cars were king!period…
from what ive read base price might start around 20k topping out at maybe 30k 35k if there is a SS or such. so this is FAR from expensive. just about an average priced car. but it will seem pricey if they dont give us some bells and whistles
GM’s v-6’s and v-8 are low emissions exceeding many engines from other manufactures that are much smaller.also
due to high torque(import owners will have to grab a dictionary)and gearing these big motors match or nearly match EPA /real world MPG of much smaller engines.Thats all fact!and lets not forget ,GM offered the all electric EV1 to the public in 1996 when gas prices were 1.00 a gallon!
but anyways..I feel this camaro is more of a camaro than anthing built in the 80’s ,90’s , 00’s and even part of the 70’s! Get this guy to work on the entire GM line. Then:( hire someone to engineer door handles that dont fall off and wires that dont fry out after 4 years:(
What can Tom do for you!:)
09 will be a rebirth of a lifetime love of GM cars or my last GM ever.I guess that’s up to Bob,Tom,rick and who ever else to decide.Dont let me down guys
Ross Turek
No obese Camaro please!
As a previous owner of two camaros, please get it right. We don’t want or need a 3,500+ lb Camaro. Keep the weight down. It does not have to be gigantic. I want it to feel quick and nimble, saves gas too.
Ross
Alan
Can you say FIREBIRD?
Build it and they will come.
Rick
That is truly a great car. The look, the sound…I am quite impressed.
It is naive to think that anyone can produce a single car that pleases the entire public. The comments from Jnaggs, Brad, and Ross Turek are spot on. The camaro fits into the sports car line. Always has and always should. Apparently guys like Rainy do not understand this. A CD that plays revving sounds is the silliest comment I have ever heard. Sports cars sound like sports cars. The American sports cars in particular are known and loved for this reason. Rainy does not seem to understand any of that. I personally own two fourth generation Camaros, and yes, the rainforest was the last thing on my mind. I want a car that is fast and reliable. That was what was on my mind. Everyone that said I don’t like Camaros has changed their mind after they ride with me.
I personally do not think much needs to be remedied with this camaro. Make the price right and offer good engines (V6 and V8) with enough room for aftermarket modification. One problem some friends have with my current Camaro is the passenger seat does not go back that far. Hopefully this is remedied for the new one.
To further comment on Rainy’s comments, he has excellent points, though aimed toward the wrong direction. GM needs to focus more on the regular and sedan markets to counter the Japanese success. The sedans of this market need to have good fuel mileage and good reliability. The U.S. market in general needs to reconsider the design approaches to these cars.
For example, my parents have a 1996 Chevy Corsica. I, at the time, had a 1997 Toyota Camry. The Camry was definely a better car. Less problems, less of a cheap feel, and was designed better. People with these types of cars want good interior room, good mileage, and reliability. The American cars also feel that they are less nimble in this category.
Simply put, I would buy this Camaro but will continue to shy away from the U.S. sedan market. Take some pointers from the Infiniti G35 sedan and the Acura TL. They look good, offer good options, are priced competitively, and have the agility people would still hope for out of a sedan. Good luck GM
vinny
ita a nice car but the mustang looks more like the orig mustang of old They should have made it look a little more like the 69 camaro
christian perea
You should be designing cars that are fuel-efficient and quiet.
“If the sound is essential to lure Camaro buyers (but probably not so desirable for the rest of us), make the engine quiet and include a CD with an hour of exhaust rumblings.”
you got beat up in high school didnt you? MORON fuel efficient and quiet can be found in the cobalt and aveo! keep in mind that this is the only auto brand that realistically is trying to change the fuel and not just add an electric motor at 30000$$. this camaro is for those with a little extra money who WANT TO HAUL A**!
sorry if im rude, but its people liek you who ruined some other good cars. if worse comes to worse, we can always put the camaro on e85. similar power, cheaper gas, less foreign dependance. only problem is getting that gas to the people.
ellis
Booooo Bill Harper!! And Booooo kris Horton and that terribly ameturish, grade school looking camaro that some people seem to be so enamored with!
ellis
Boooooo BlackSun and Michael Raineeeyyy! Hooraay New Camaro!!
Tracey67
Thank you God! It’s wonderful to see the American muscle Camaro coming back! I would love to see the front end look more like Knightrider (the last Camaro style), appear more like it’s older brother, the Corvette. Please guys, don’t make it look so much like a Mustang! I want a classic CHEVY style throughout. It’s a beautiful beast, thank you Chrysler for bringing it back!
steven finnerty
On the carmo there is no metal
over the front wheels or back
tires this car will wipe out
very fast and the hp will be
to much for it.
phil brehm
Cant wait till the new Camaro hits the market im already saving up. My oldest son is now driving and helped me restore my 69 Z28, he has asked me if he can drive the new Camaro when i get it, i said no but you can sit in it. Are you going to give it a stripe package, im waiting for the models to come out so i can paint it my favorite color red w/black stripes like the 69. This car is going to give that pony car a run for the money. Cant wait see you in the show room.
Blayne
What would you do if GM announced that its plug in serial hybrid was going to be an option on the Camaro? They could call it the Camaro E28. Imagine a Camaro with full torque from 0 rpm, a ridiculous 0-60 and you can drive it up to 100 miles without using a drop of gas (speculating that with GMs mass purchasing power they could put a 100 mile battery pack in)
mike
The exhaust sounds great. The car is ugly! Dodge hit a home run with their challenger concept, and Chevy hit a foul ball. It looks nothing like a 69 to me. Whats with those tiny goffy looking side view mirrors? And those huge wheels? The car looks too futuristic for a retro design. I like the interior with the exception of the roof line. It looks like my head would hit the roof. I am happy that GM is bringing back the camaro but very disappointed in the styling. If the production version looks like the concept, I wont be visiting any chevy dealers.
alex
it will be a big step up from my little 1995 5spd 3.4. and i cant wait haha and so long mustang guy history is about to repeat its self…
tyler
Eat those Mustangs!
Like a ROCK, ford’s can’t compare, like a ROCK, mustang parts everywhere , LIKE A ROCK.
Marcel
D*mn I love that new camaro if only they had t-tops they look even better!!!
Drew
I recently watched the video of Mr. Peters driving the car and it was awesome. Congrats to him and all the team members that helped with the car. I would say that I am the #1 Camaro enthusiest because I have loved them since childhood. I have owned four of them and currently own a 2000 Z28. I just sold a 1996 Camaro. But I can’t wait to see a new one in my driveway. I am so ready for them to hit the market. I plan on trading mine for one. Oh, and mine has T-Tops, so I gotta have that if they will make them. Thanx guys for bringing back the Camaro. We will love it.
Marty
It’s about time we have a great design. I first bought my Z28 Camero in 1982, when they came out with the new Camero and now I will have to buy this new one. Please GM, my one problem with my first Camero was it pissed me off getting smoked by the 5.0 Liter Mustang, so make sure this Shark has TEETH TOO to go along with it sleek design.
Bernard
wHY NO PICTURES OF THE sMOKEY THE bANDITS TRANS AM. aRE THEY GOING TO BUILD THESE CARS AGAIN. SEEN PICTURE IN MAGAZINE OF PROTOTYPE.
Morgan
Thank you Tom for this wonderful car. When I first saw it in Transformers I knew I HAD TO HAVE IT!!! I plan on buying this car in February and I can’t wait to get my hands on the wheel! Thank you for giving me the motivation to keep working hard for all my money so that I won’t even go in my savings right for gas! But I don’t cause I know I will have this car next year. Thanks Tom and your design team Very Sincere, Morgan
Edward Kelly
I have been waiting 8 months for my Camaro SS and I have to tell you that I may go out and buy another one. I traded in my corvette for it and I have to say it;s one of the best cars I have ever owned. Every time I go out people stop me and ask how much it cost and if they could take a picture of it not to mention at least 20 thumbs up. GM is back with this one!!!!! I may even buy their stock, that’s if there smart enough to make enough of them to cover the high demand that inevitable will come.