on the way home, i *spied* a camaro prototype in what is probably the close-to-final production form!!! photos attached

it was in ss trim, meaning a v8? automatic, silver w/ black interior. i have to say, it was BEAUTIFUL. i had my doubts 'cuz the camaro concept i saw at the la autoshow was HUGE, which seemed to be the trend of these retro muscle cars. the mustang is about one or two sizes too large and the new challenger is also ginormous. the styling of this new camaro is quite a success and really wow'd me. it didn't seem oversized at all and is in fact (at least seemed) quite a nice compact size for a sporty car. the tail is high and sufficiently short, with nice but not overly cluttered details. the front is aggressive and but not overly showy. and when see direct front on it looked pretty wide and a bit menancing. the profile is simple and nice. there're lots of edges and lines like the c6 'vette, and overally there was not a fault w/ this design seen in person by me. i also got a look at the interior, which is really a good mix of retro styling cues and modern slick look. i especially like the 4 gauges on the center console

i really liked this car; i said to me and my gf that i'd actually drive this myself. same can't be said of the new mustang. i'm actually quite embarrassed by the current mustang, both styling-wise and technology/mechanics-wise. this camaro's design is far superior to the mustang inside and out. its underpinning is the same as the (holden) gto, but at least it'll have independent suspension all around. that's all

 

i wonder how it will sell since gas is so expensive..

 

Nice car for the wrong times. Only true enthusiasts and/or people with deep pockets will spring for one. Filling up a thirsty V8 beast is not fun anymore.

 

i'm so excited about this i can't shut up

i chatted w/ the guy for a bit and he was really nice. i felt bad taking the pix 'cuz and i hope he won't get into trouble for this... sounds like they might push back launch date a bit further than anticipated, which isn't the smartest thing to do, imho. i also asked him if there'll be a v6 version (which i'm sure there'll be), and sounds like maybe not initially since all the prototypes are v8's right now. i did read somewhere else that there'll also be a high performance z28 version following launch. for me, i'd probably prefer to get a cheaper v6 version and fit some suspension parts on it. the gas price is an issue but there seems to be no stop to this muscle car trend. people seem to keep wanting these reborn muscle cars...

one other interesting thing, this car had a moonroof, which looks a bit funny on a muscle car. the moonroof shows how wide the car is, and also that it looks like the production version lost the twin-bubble roof look of the concept car stolen from the c6 'vette

 

Actually, V8's don't have to be that thirsty. I have a LS1 Corvette and if I drive it like a Camry (stick to speed limit, exercise smooth starts and cruise in highest reasonable gear) I get 22+ MPG in the city and 31 MPG on highway. Granted, part of the highway mileage is due to aerodynamics - with the headlights up at night I get 29 MPG on highway.

It will come down to weight and aerodynamics. A well tuned V8 does not have to be a vampire at the gas pump.

 

wow i have never been impressed w/ American cars but i have 2 say that does look impressive i would def look @ getting 1 if i could afford 2

 

I like the twin ethernet sockets on the back

 

good one!!

 

Looks nice! I'm not a fan of American cars either, and I have to say that even *with* the cost of gas I see a TON of the new Mustangs around. However, I do agree that if they sold it as a V6 as well they would get a lot more takers... I imagine the V8 versions won't be inexpensive.

 

The hood scoop looks somewhat familiar....hmmmm (Cooper S?)

Almost like a USB port

Forgive me, but for what there probably going to ask for this 69 wannabe, I'd go with the complete new shell 69 Camaro makeover and have something sooo much closer to the real deal!!!

 

Let me start off by saying my dad works for GM.

That being said, while their end products are often good, they have their heads up their collective butts in the design and implementation departments. For YEARS my dad resented that I bought a Jeep Wrangler instead of a GM car. I asked him what GM product was comparable to what I wanted, and the only thing was that Geo whateverthehellitwas. Umm, no.

GM has some of the sweetest concept cars, and excellent engineering. They just utterly fail when it leaves the design concept team. The GTO is a recent example. It started out sweet. I saw it at the Detroit Auto Show a few years back. It was strong, it looked baddd. By the time it hit the market, it was a Grand Prix with a trim package. Idiots!

Likewise, look at the similarities between the Cadillac XLR and the new Camaro concept. I recognize that grill...

In my opinion, and it pains me to say this since my entire upbringing was bought and paid for by my dad's work at GM, is that the only domestic auto company doing any real design work is Chrysler. They got us that awesome Freightliner inspired pick-up truck. They got us the PT Cruiser, the Prowler, etc. And they take it from Concept to Production.

Chrysler started this retro movement with the PT Cruiser and the Prowler. Ford hopped on fast and the new Mustang is sweet looking. (when I travel for work I always rent them, too.) GM, well, they have seen the retro movement and put their big toe in the water to test it. Problem is, by the time they dive in, the water will have changed temperatures. The market will have passed them by.

 

Come visit Detroit. You wouldn't believe what you see running around sporting M(anufacturer) plates. Our driveway has production vehicles in it this weekend, but that's not always the case - and not at all the neighbors, either. Guy around the corner had a new Lumina SS (no, really) a few weeks ago.
New Camaro is cool, new Challenger is all the rage here right now. I drove a 6.1L manual before I left DCX - holyhellIgottagetone.

 

That may have been true 10 (or even 5) years ago, but Chrysler designs from the last few years have been absolutely awful. Look at how the Airflite became the production Sebring. The recent cars are so bad that they are scrambling to fix them.

Meanwhile, GM is giving us cars like the Camaro, G8, and CTS. The CTS Coupe and Buick Invicta concepts are close to production ready designs.

 

stole the wheels off the Rx8?

 

Thats the Z28 from the transformers movie :( Not the new camero:(

 

That must be why Daimler Chrysler was the only one out of the Big 3 to show profit last year.

 

This is exactly my point on why GM is so horrible at design.

The Camaro is GM hopping on the retro-craze 10 years after it started. The retro-craze is almost played out. Mustang did it and did it well. The Camaro, while I don't doubt will be a great looking car, is too late. Their 8 cylinder hotrods will be spectacular engineering, but a market flop because people can't afford to drive them. The market will have passed it by.

The G8 is a Grand Prix. I look at it and have zero excitement for it.

The CTS is a sweet car, admittedly. But I see too much of it in Camaro's grill-work and trim. Sorry, dull.

And, as I had stated my opinion before, I'll reserve judgment on the Invicta until I see a production intent one. Artist concepts are sweet, but so were so many other GM concepts that became lackluster in production intent cars.

My point wasn't whether or not the car was good from an engineering standpoint, but that the concept and styling that GM comes up with is, traditionally, too little, too late. If they DO have something good, they end up cookie-cutting the design until it's practically a snoozer, hence my GTO example.

While I praise Chrysler's design, I'd be reluctant to buy one because their engineering tends to suck. If Chrysler came out with something I truly had to have, yeah, I'd lease it. =)

 

Daimler Chrysler was a German company that doesn't exist anymore.

Besides, being profitable has nothing to do with making good cars.

 

That says a lot about the other Big 2.

Daimler basically paid Cerberus Capital Mgmt to take money-hemorrhaging Chrysler off their hands last year.

 

Awesome, love the new design!