New Camaro Revealed?

[Donny Carlson]

GMinsider web site had this up today, and it got some excitement when it was posted on the SSR board. It was supposed to be a shot of the new Camaro SS concept with Bob Lutz at the podium.

However.....

According to inside contacts at Chevrolet, who read the SSR board (Chevrolet is actually supporting vendor for the site) and participate, and one of the supporting dealers for the site, it's a photochop and the real Camaro concept does not look like this.

Interesting, though. NAIAS this year's gonna have some cool new cars.

http://www.ssrfanatic.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=82 91&d=1136470793

[Shora]

Sweet...looks way to Corvettish. I cannot believe they will make it compete for customers with the C06.

Maybe Ford will finally support this site?

[MI2QWK4U]

I love just about every camaro built, but pass the barf bag on the new one. Whatever they come up with, it wont be able to touch the new Mustangs.

[the_pack_rat]

I forget where I saw it, might have even been here at some point but ...

The concept that I saw, left NO doubt ... that you were looking at a Camaro. Definite 1967-1969 styling cues to it.

I wonder if there will be a similar Firebird.

[Donny Carlson]

I forget where I saw it, might have even been here at some point but ...

The concept that I saw, left NO doubt ... that you were looking at a Camaro. Definite 1967-1969 styling cues to it.

I wonder if there will be a similar Firebird.

There were profile shots of the clay model of the Camaro concept circulating until GM legal was on the case. It didn't look like ^^ that one.

[Vortex]

Looks like a two door version of that Dodge Charger showcar from a few years back. Not ugly but for sure not retro either. Looks nothing like an old Camaro.

[Rider90]

Looks like a two door version of that Dodge Charger showcar from a few years back. Not ugly but for sure not retro either. Looks nothing like an old Camaro.
IMHO:
Front = Toyota Supra
Middle = Corvette C5
Rear = Chopped C5

Those brakes.... :bows:

[bigslim]

This is the picture that I have seen floating around internet:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v175/bigslim/Camaro2.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v175/bigslim/Camaro3.jpg

[the_pack_rat]

I think /\ that's /\ the one I was thinking of.

[TripleTransAm]

I wonder if there will be a similar Firebird.

I wish...

I just realized: my entire current stash of cars consists of cancelled models. :cool:

[hdwrench]

This is the picture that I have seen floating around internet:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v175/bigslim/Camaro2.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v175/bigslim/Camaro3.jpg
that is VERY cool... i havent been lookin for any info on the new camaro so it is the first time i have seen that. last i knew there was some kind of agreement made when GM closed the plant in canada that they wouldnt make the camaro anywhere else.... maybe that is about to expire or something.

loved my 96 z28 6 speed... probably the car i miss the most

[RCSignals]

This is the picture that I have seen floating around internet:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v175/bigslim/Camaro2.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v175/bigslim/Camaro3.jpg


Those photos are very odd looking. Appear like morphs of a few different cars.

The front reminds me of an older Toyota Celica

[twolow]

Those photos are very odd looking. Appear like morphs of a few different cars.

The front reminds me of an older Toyota Celica

Clay models typically appear like this...the other half has different lines and curves than the opposite half to let the 'approval team' see two slightly different possibilities to chose from.

[TripleTransAm]

last i knew there was some kind of agreement made when GM closed the plant in canada that they wouldnt make the camaro anywhere else.... maybe that is about to expire or something.


While I don't know the exact details, there were many possible criteria.

I think the deal was GM promising that SteTherese would be the exclusive Camaro and Firebird assembly location for the duration of a certain timeframe. With the premature closing of the plant, it left a few legal ties to deal with due to all the money the local gov't pumped into GM as part of the deal.

Some theorize that the retirement or re-employment of every former GM employee would come by 2006 thereby re-opening the door to a new Camaro and/or Firebird assembled elsewhere. Others theorize another milestone to the original deal, taking place sometime in 2007.

In any case, rumour has it that the mention of the model names was a firing offense. :down: :shake: And now that it seems people are talking about it once again, I wonder what kind of legal loophole they used to get out of paying back all the money they mooched from us.

Other rumours have it that this is why GM refused to sell the building and land to local car-related businesses, preferring instead to let it stagnate for several years and then suddenly be sold off for development as a shopping mall.

Anyway, every morning I drive right by the former location of that assembly plant on my way to work, it's located not more than 7-8 minutes from my home. Every day I remember what it was like to see the shipping yard full of sleek low slung gobs of horsepower, and meeting the men and women on the line on the various occasions I took a tour of the plant. And every day I remember that anyone who pledges blind allegiance to a car company is just looking for an eventual letdown, because business is business...

[hdwrench]

thanks for the info TTA. I was always disappointed that the camaro/firebird was killed in the first place.

"business is business"

sad but true

:beer:

[dwasson]

I hope GM decides to go IRS. The old live axle F cars were treacherous on bumpy corners.

[marauder307]

That first photo looks obviously photoshopped; the edges of the car are too blurry to be real. And that side door scallop is an obvious straight lift from the '99 Dodge Charger concept car. Couple that with the total lack of retro styling cues from any of the 1st-gen Camaros, and I think I can safely pronounce that picture a fake.

The pics with the silver car in 'em, however, look more convincing. It's probably a non-running clay design mule, but even so it looks like the GM folks may be on the right track. Cut away those Cadillac-sharp razor edges and they just might be on to somp'n....

[TripleTransAm]

I'm thinking they wouldn't go IRS, in order to keep costs down and (as the Cobras have shown) maintain reliability on those smoky starts that are a big part of the ownership experience in these kinds of cars (Mustang included).

The live axle stuff takes some getting used to. After several years, I found I adapted my cornering style to take this kind of surface into account (to the point of knowing almost exactly how much to flick the steering wheel in the opposite direction to counter the swingout that would occur). But it did take at least 2 years before it became second-nature.

[RCSignals]

Clay models typically appear like this...the other half has different lines and curves than the opposite half to let the 'approval team' see two slightly different possibilities to chose from.

That makes sense, and it certainly appears the other side is different. Makes me wonder what it looks like.

[RCSignals]

I'm thinking they wouldn't go IRS, in order to keep costs down and (as the Cobras have shown) maintain reliability on those smoky starts that are a big part of the ownership experience in these kinds of cars (Mustang included).

....................


I agree. One of the reasons that the Cobra came out with IRS was the magazines touted it, and claimed all real 'enthusiasts' demanded it.
The magazines have continued to criticise that the new Mustang does not have IRS. Ford did not go IRS for the new Mustang, because of cost, yes, but also because of feedback from Cobra buyers and other Mustang owners.
The reality is that many Cobras have been converted to live axle. The magazines only think they know what everyone wants.

[dwasson]

I'm not a drag racer. I want a car to be stable in all situations. Unsprung weight is a very issue in handling. That is the original point of aluminum wheels. If your life is more than drag racing IRS is a good thing.

[TripleTransAm]

Reports of dangerous behaviour from the rear end on bumpy roads with a live axle are no doubt partly an exaggeration from magazine writers who make a living abusing cars they don't actually own.

I can only relate my own experiences having spent close to 10 years driving solid axle F-cars in a town with HORRIBLE pavement. The only times I lost the back end in a BIG way in spirited driving were on wet pavement while asking for trouble. Otherwise, the worst you get is a hop of the rear end out to the side a little bit (maybe a realistic foot-length?), the result of which might be what you'd get when driving over rutted pavement , IRS or no IRS.

I'm not a drag racer either, but a hard start on rough pavement is what concerns me most. Having felt the driveline shock of accelerating over rough pavement, I'm actually more comfortable in the thought of having a solid beefy axle back there (well, as beefy as those F-body twigs can be considered). While I try to limit high-torque acceleration when I know there's a spot of rough pavement ahead, I can think of 3-4 occasions where I've been caught with my pants down and the subsequent hop and WHAM certainly wouldn't be very reassuring with an IRS.

Another thing about high power and IRS is how you then need to factor in a rear alignment as well. Many high power RWD IRS cars will get squirrely if the rear is not 100% aligned, or if a control link has been ever so slightly bent from one of the scenarios noted above. Static alignment may seem spot-on, but all it takes is a little squat at highway acceleration and all of a sudden you've got rear toe changing unexpectedly as the suspension does its job following the road surface. Almost impossible to diagnose...

[Silver_04]

This is the photohack I've seen.

http://home.comcast.net/~ctt57/camaro.jpg

[TripleTransAm]

I think that was from that kid famous for having drawn up so many 'concept' Camaros since moments after the model's death. Good stuff overall, but I recall reading a GM designer going through several points outlining how it would be impossible to make a real-life car out of some of those designs. This last one appears to have an '04 date on it, so I think it's from one of those early drawings, however it seems much more 'doable' than some of his earlier sketches.

[blackf0rk]

http://www.ssrfanatic.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=82 91&d=1136470793



Before I read your post I was going to reply to this and say "WHAT THE HECK DID THEY DO TO THE FRONT END!? It looks like they dropped a truck on it and bent the whole front UP!"

But upon further review, I can clearly see this is a photocop. Then I went back to see if you posted if it was or not, and you did. I guess it pays to read? :P

You can tell it's a photochop right away by the wheels, the "Camaro" and "SS" emblems, the WHOLE front end, front fascia, stage stairs, stage rope, and stage half wall.

Whoever did this didn't take their time. idiots.



Oh yea, and the reason why it looks corvette-ish, is because it's mostly corvette there. :P

[Mad4Macs]

I love just about every camaro built, but pass the barf bag on the new one. Whatever they come up with, it wont be able to touch the new Mustangs.

I have fallen passionately in love with my 'Stang, so Camaro's need not apply
:D

[STLR FN]

For some reason am I the only one seeing a little Viper in the doors?

[bigslim]

Here is the lastest release:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v175/bigslim/CamaroPic.jpg

[STLR FN]

Were's that damn drool icon.....:drool:
Here is the lastest release:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v175/bigslim/CamaroPic.jpg

[TripleTransAm]

Now you're talking (see the link in the Challenger thread):

http://www.leftlanenews.com/wp-images/media/jan7cam.jpg

Edit: looks like we all had the same idea, LOL!

[dwasson]

I dunno, Donny's picture may be real. Nobody would fake that many bad hairlines.

[Vortex]

I like the Challenger and would pass on the Camaro. The Dodge looks like a nice update of the original, the Chevy would look better with a different front end, maybe like a 69 Camaro. Its too pointy, like one of those hideous Cadillacs.

[TripleTransAm]

Seems like in a few minutes the official introduction of the concept car will take place. The link is in this post:

http://www.mfba.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=1197&highlight=

[mcb26]

http://www.cnn.com/2006/AUTOS/funonwheels/01/09/detroit_camaro_concept/index.html