Development Of Next Generation Chevy Camaro Shaping To Be A Challenge
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The Chevrolet Camaro accounted for 42 percent of the rear-drive performance coupe market in 2011. Needless to say, the Chevy pony car has been winning like Charlie Sheen (are people still saying that?). But the Camaro as we know it today will have to be replaced in the coming years. However, the challenge for its development team is to improve it, without ruining the successful formula.
Luckily for the Camaros developers, the fifth-generation isn’t perfect and there’s room for improvement. Constant complaints about bland interior, visibility, and weight have been the three biggest drawbacks of the vehicle. But adding to the to-do list is finding a solution to that whole CAFE emissions thing, which poses a major challenge to engineers, while the affection for the current generation’s sheetmetal has made things puzzling for designers.
“Do you make it look like a second-gen? Or do you make it look like the first gen?” Camaro Chief Engineer Al Oppenheiser pondered aloud to Automotive News. It will be a huge challenge to top the styling of the fifth-gen. But your input in the comments below can help shape the future of the next generation Camaro’s shape.
With the information we have at hand, we know that the sixth-generation Camaro will indeed be smaller and much lighter than today’s big-bodied boulevard beast by utilizing the all-new Alpha platform and all that implies. Yes, this is the very same platform that GM plans on using for several Cadillac models, including the ATS and new CTS. The result of which will put the Camaro closer to the size of the original model, while making it more proportionate to its competitors such as the Ford Mustang, Nissan 370Z, and Hyundai Genesis Coupe. What’s more, forced induction is a huge possibility here, as we could very well see turbocharged four cylinder (gasp!) and six cylinder engines, though we don’t believe the Camaro team is going to forsake the V8 advocates, either.
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Needs to be lighter, smaller but not too small, and better visibility. I think next gen. Camaro shouldn’t be as retro and instead be as modern as possible (GT-R kind). Although GT-R isn’t in the same league, there is no reason why Camaro shouldn’t have a great style, top performance, and latest technology.
Hopefully they could get 3400lbs for a V-6 or I-4, and 3600lbs for a V-8. I would like to see styling similar to the way Dodge designed the Challenger. A more retro look, but much smaller and with modern aerodynamic twists.
Retro is ok, with a modern flow and some European hints ( I can only imagine how people are going to respond, “European hints”) mixed in with Americana beauty… This car should kill the pony car label and cater to all customers, I shouldn’t feel like I have to put on my Mullet wig to relate to my fellow camaro drivers.
Challenging?
Platform- Easy alpha patform has already been built, just need to adapt it,
Interior- Easy just warp a highly acclaimed GM car interior and make it camaroesque
Engine: Easy moified version of ATS turbo 4, and other existing engines
Exterior: DIFFICULT, have to redesign one of the best designs ever made by GM
I mean the only hard part is the exterior, to keep the retro, go modern, a mix of both. They also have to factor in what ford is doing, because they dont want to be upstaged by Fords radical and aggresive design team.
In other words someone driving say a BMW 3 or 5 series could say Oh I like this for a second or third vehicle, while someone still driving their beat up 4th gen would be cool as well stepping up to this. Ha, anyway…
I just say more features. Do something to compete with the mustangs awesome LED tail lamps. Use some LED accented lighting in the front fog lights too. Obvious one – Chevrolet my link.
Retro is the problem, where do you do from there? Maybe one more crack at it with the 70.5, then move modern on the next gen.
I think the current design is too boxy and sharp-edged. I’d like to see more organic curves and wider front and rear fender flares. That would make it look more sexy and muscular.
To widen the Camaro’s appeal, it should offer AWD, which has been increasingly offered by many other brands, namely the BMW 3-series coupe, MB C-350 coupe. Audi A5 coupe, etc. Hyundai plans to offer AWD on the redesigned Genesis coupe as will Infiniti with its G37 coupe. Cadillac will also offer AWD on its ATS sedan probably the ATS coupe as well, both of which will share the Alpha platform with the new Camaro.
AWD would give the Camaro a trump card over the Mustang.
camaro already has a trump card the magna-ride suspension
Let’s hope the downsizing of the Camaro doesn’t result in GM not building the 130R.
I like the current body-style and am glad to see the designers acknowledge the issues it has. Smaller wouldn’t be bad and there was a 4-cylinder in some of the third-gens, just have that for the LS-models or LTZ while give the LT’s a V6, and keep the V8’s in the SS and ZL1 models. It’ll give it more variety and appeal to a lot more people. I’m excited to see the next-gen models and wouldn’t mind if it looked like the 2nd-gen, but I would also like to see alot more newer ideas instead of an all out retro design. To me if I want the old styling thats what the older models are for, stick to the key things that make it successful and continue to improve on it. A Z28 model would be a nice addition as long as it didn’t flood the market. Just a little input on my thoughts on that.
I love the new camaro..i have a fourth Gen that’s a great car beside the weight. I believe a four cylinder in a Camaro is a joke its a muscle car not a Honda keep the 8 and keep it rear wheel drive.
Why do you care about the number of cylinders?
I care about power and weight.
The 4 turbo does that for me.
Of course its always going to be rear wheel drive, the fwd equivalent of the camaro is the hypothetical malibu coupe.
I don’t care about it ? I have a 6 now and cause when you think muscle car what do you think a 6 cylinder naw I think 8.but with the way gas prices are and the economy a 6 is more reasonable
Yeah I always think of a v8 first. But the LFX has the power of what a small block use to have. And the LS3 replaces the big block.
How about a high compression v6 if you have 11.5 to 1 with 87 octane how high can you go 91 octane?
They Need to Start Working with Lighter Car Resembling a 2G Camaro, Smaller Engines maybe a V6 T/T and a LS5
personally i love the current camaro and i think if they do go retro it should look like a 80s z28 those were beautiful cars but id love to see a modern approach too gm shoud get their best designers to make two different concepts then ”leak” them on the internet
maybe change the front light more future ….and the interieur..
I say the 6G should have styling cues of the 2G. I’ve always fancied the 2G as the best looking of the Camaros. In particular the ’71-’73 models with the vertical grille and the split bumpers. Gorgeous cars.
Richard, have to agree… 2nd gen rules…
I dunno, this is going to be one of the hardest redesigns GM has ever done. the market for this car is fickle and extremely hard judging, from the enthusiast to the casual buyer. There is just no way to predict or bet on which way is the right way to go.
That said, GM bottled lightning with the current car. 42% of the RWD coupe market?!? REALLY!? Think about that…out of all the supposedly more popular BMW 3 series coupes, M3 coupes, BMW 1 M coupes, G37 coupes, 370z coupes, Hyundia Gensis coupes, and finally the Mustang and Challenger, the Camaro TRUMPS ALL OF THEM IN SALES.
That’s pretty impressive folks! And it also makes GMs job that much harder! When u have THE best selling RWD coupe in a recession no less, that’s saying alot. (82,000+ in 2011 alone)
If I must add my 2 cents, I’d say; GM do not go with the second gen as a styling template. Stick with the overall proportions and aura of the 1st gen. It was easily the most popular and still is the most loved (my preference for the 70-73 Camaros be damned). They make brand new bodies for those cars! The 67-69 has the essence of Camaro down pat! While redoing the current, never stray too far from that template.
That said, NO MORE RETRO. It’ll be 2015 when this car hits the streets. It’s time for a Camaro that’s 100% of the future. A Camaro that is 100% 21 century! I personally don’t consider the current Camaros retro. They are more of a heritage nod to the 1st gens. So take the 6th gen and step it up even more. Let there be cues for the enthusiast to knowingly smile about, but overall make the car instantly recognizable as a Camaro, yet completely original and new as well.
A good example of this is the 350-370z. It’s unmistakably a Z car, yet at the same time unapologetically modern and new. All of the good “nostalgic” feelings it inspires have more to do with size, proportions and feel behind the wheel than any actual resemblance to the original 240Z.
Lighter, slightly smaller, and the option of AWD would certainly widen its appeal.
I would like to see more development on the 6’s. Fuel economy was mentioned and I’m sure GM could shift loads more. The 8’s can stay.
But for the body, it’s needs to move onward with somethng new and 21st century. Retro may have sold the Camaro as a nod to the past, but it can’t build the car’s image by continually nodding to the past, so none of this “look like a split-bumper second gen” nonsense.
I’m in on the 2nd gen retro,701/2 bumperettes,fine finned grill.A Z28 model would be nice with a Muncie Boulder Crusher M26 6 speed manual. Tri-turbo V-6,two exhaust driven,one electric,TI-CVT four valve heads.Even a four valve Supercharged V8,hint,GT500 killer.Something that would smoke Nurbergring in under 7 minutes.Winning,hell yeah
all of that sounds prohibitively expensive, besides, GM is more than capable of getting under a 7min Nurburgring time now with the current Camaro. but the Camaro is not and was not intended to be a freaking track car.
i love ring lap times as much as the next go fast guy, but i have to agree with the common sentiment that chasing the top lap times at the Ring RUINS otherwise really good everyday cars.