mobile-menu-icon
GM Authority

Mailbag: 2015 Chevy Camaro Promises To Be The “Perfect” Car

This article is part of the GM Authority Mailbag series, where the GM Authority Crew features and replies to your questions, comments, and observations.

The following (in slightly edited nature) comes to us from Tony S.:

I’m a car guy who’s not particularly tied to any brand or model since I like cars in general. But just like the next guy, I tend to like certain cars better than others and in my case, the cars I like are RWD, can handle, have some power and are also affordable. Nowadays, only a few cars fit that bill, including the Camaro, Mustang, Challenger (questionable), Genesis Coupe, and maybe the Miata/MX-5 as well as the BRZ/FR-S twins. But we all know that the real excitement in the segment is between the Chevy and the Ford, so I’ve been following each very closely.

Don’t get me wrong, I like the 5th gen Camaro and S197 Mustang. But neither is really what I would consider to be a “perfect” car. The Chevy is too heavy with horrendous visibility (defend it all you want, but visibility sucks); the Ford is better in those two areas but still has that live rear axle. No matter, since it will be the next generation of the Camaro and Mustang that will fix the downsides of each model and I personally can’t wait for the 2015 Camaro!

From everything we’ve heard, the next-gen model will be lighter, smaller, and more modern all around. It will also use the Alpha platform from the ATS and CTS making it very hard for others to compete with it. I mean it’s a Cadillac underneath (whatyougot, Ford?).

I’m personally curious about how it will look, since the 5th-gen Camaro looks excellent in my opinion… but I’m confident that the great designers at GM will hit another home run in the styling department of the 6th-gen model, just as they have for the 2014 Malibu and 2014 Impala.

So right now it seem like the next-gen Camaro will the the perfect car if there is such a thing. But think about it: it will improve on the weight and visibility downsides of the current model, it will (probably) have a better interior, and will be a blast to drive. And I am personally so anxious to see it! Aren’t you?

Tony — we’re right there with you: the current fifth-gen Camaro is a great sports car that one won’t regret driving (or purchasing, for that matter). But the next-generation 2015/2016 model promises to make dramatic improvements in those areas in which the 5th-gen comes up short; as you mentioned, these include the weight, the gargantuan dimensions, the lackluster visibility (although one could get used to it), and the ok-but-could-be-better cabin.

And as you said, it all starts with the new Alpha vehicle architecture that has helped the ATS seize the North American Car of the Year title for 2013 while closing the gap (and beating) the Germans at their own game. So just like you, I’m eager to see the next-gen Camaro, to drive it, and then to drive it some more.

Here’s to continued affordable, powerful, and nimble rear-wheel-drive performance from Chevy for the few who still appreciate it.

This article is part of the GM Authority Mailbag series, where the GM Authority Crew features and replies to your questions, comments, and observations.

The GM Authority staff is comprised of columnists, interns, and other reporters who provide coverage of the latest General Motors news.

Subscribe to GM Authority

For around-the-clock GM news coverage

We'll send you one email per day with the latest GM news. It's totally free.

Comments

  1. I thought this post was suppose to reveal more of the next Gen camaro other than being on alpha platform? But I guess not…. 🙁

    Reply
    1. I thought the first comment was going to be useful and reflect on the pertinent observations found in Tony’s letter to GMA. But I guess not…

      Reply
  2. More like 2016/2017. But I’m excited too for a lighter car. I don’t know about smaller, but we can hope.

    Reply
    1. I agree on the timing. A 2015 calendar year car being a 2016 model year is the best case scenario. Ford hinting of showing the new Mustang next April in NYC indicates late 2014 availability, so maybe the timing isn’t all too bad for the Camaro if they can get it to the market in the fall of 2015.

      Reply
  3. Well to predict the perfect car is a little lame as there are no perfect cars.

    It is a given the new car will be a step up as it will have a platform under it meant for it and not barrowed from what GM had else where.

    The ATS tells us and shows what it is capable of and we have yet to see it in different levels of refinement or tune.

    As for the interior it is a given GM has been doing better but even some still find fault in cars like the Impala.

    As for Visibility? Keep in mind that sight lines and styling have been a ongoing fight for years. We will just have to see what we get.

    With all the new car has going we still have issues it will have to deal with. Price as it is not going to get cheaper especially with the V8. A smaller car may appeal to many but other may still pine for the larger car. What size do you go to and still keep most people happy.

    The addition of a 4, Turbo 4 and the V6 models. How do you increase sales here as this is where this segment is going and the V8 will go from the default choice of many to the one they may no longer be able to afford as the price climbs.

    Styling? How do you make this car a Camaro but still make it have a global appeal. Ford will be the first to test these waters and it will be interesting in what they do and how it is received. There are pockets of fans for the Mustang and Camaro world wide but they are small. The new cars have to appeal to the guy who like it for what it is and how it fits into his life style where he lives. Even with cars like the Shelby 500 GT they love the performance in England but they do not like the lack of refinement. I think this is where the Alpha may help but how will Chevy address it in other countries.

    Keep in mind too the new car will be less retro than the present one. Retro is not as important overseas and what is retro here means little over there. The SSR and HHR were seen as silly in Europe but the Mini and Fiat 500 means a lot to them. It is in all what you remember in how retro works.

    The new Camaro will be a great car. At first it will be received like the new Corvette as 50% will hate it 50% will love it and in a year 85% of the haters will move to the like column. We have seen this cycle over and over and Even Fbodfather Scott Settlemire has already stated that this is how it always is with a new model that people have strong feeling about.

    But back to perfect? There will always be room for improvement in some people view but the new car will amazing none the less.

    Reply
  4. Definitely. Very excited. I too see a lighter, funner, techier, efficienter Camaro being an absolutely amazing car.

    Reply
  5. Why not two models, a large Camaro with V6 & V8 then another smaller Calibra sized model with 2.0 turbo & 2.5 V6. A shared platform could see Vauxhall / Opel produce simlar but different models.

    Reply
    1. Cost. Why have two platforms for separate powertrains in the same segment when you can have one platform that can support a wide range of powertrains?

      Reply
      1. Because it doesn’t have to be one “segment” (i.e., the classic “muscle car,” whatever that means. Consider someone like me, a man in his 50s without kids who would buy something in the class of a Miata if in the market for a sports car, versus someone who needs to have the biggest, baddest engine to impress their girl and three friends in the back seat.

        This is where GM so often gets it wrong, especially of late where they need to build only what a majority would want, thus turning away the remaining 49%.

        Reply
  6. It’s manageable and could be done chances are GME are working on a New Calibra anyway why not double both manufactures ranges with simlar but different cars, appeal to four different types of market and make additional profit.

    Reply
  7. The Camaro is what we have coming. GM is looking into a smaller car with a Turbo 4 in a sub Alpha platform. The thing is GM has many other needed models first before they go into this smaller RWD segment. Things like getting Buick back with all new models they have lacked as they are using old platforms from pre chapter 11.

    Now that Cadillac is moving up price wise it give Buick space to work.

    I think the size of the new Camaro will put it in a smaller body than it has been in since 1967 if ever.

    Look for GM to find more reasons and or models that could share a sub Alpha platform and give the platform the exonomy of scale needed to build a lower volume car like this.

    The new Camaro has less pressure than ever as it will share a platform with line with more than one model like now.

    Reply
  8. Come what may in 2015 I’m keeping my 2011. perhaps it may warrant another round of car payments…have to wait and see…

    Reply
  9. As the excited owner of a Performance Edition 3.6 ATS – moving the Camaro to this platform cannot happen soon enough. Please do not use the runflat’s though. I pulled them and replaced with the top rated Michelin Pilot Super Sports – I ran these same tires on my Grand Prix GXP. Michelin releases the Pilot Super Sport A/S3 next month for those requiring an all season version. The difference between the Michelin Primacy ZP’s and the Pilot Super Sports amount to daylight to dark. Now. I await a catback exhaust system from Borla and an intake system from either K&N or Volant.

    Go drive the ATS and eat your hearts out.

    Reply
    1. Enjoy those Pilot Super Sports on the ATS, Bob — they’re a great tire!

      Just curious, are you considering any other exhaust systems outside of those by Borla?

      Reply
      1. Alex, the problem with after market, as I found out with the Magnaflow on my V8 Grand Prix GXP, relates to the DOD feature. Lovely in 8 cylinder, ugly in 4 cylinder and the changing back and forth. Very annoying IMHO. I couldn’t help but notice GM pointed out that serious exhaust tuning for the new C7 allowed the use of the DOD feature. Uh huh. But damn that Magnaflow looks killer on the GXP.

        I do not particularly care for the exhaust note from the 3.6 ATS. How a system sounds will be a strong deciding factor – Borla gives the opportunity to “hear” the sound. I suspect it’ll be another 6 to 8 months before any aftermarket performance modifications will show up for the ATS. CarID has those expensive custom grille units now. All appearance items though and rather vulgar IMHO.

        In this dust intensive climate in West Texas, I consider K&N mandatory for filter products. I used K&N even in the a/c filter for interior air. Does the job, I tell you.

        One more issue. I finally corrected the ugly dust on the front wheels of the GXP by the use of GM Delco Ceramic DuraStop pads. Thankfully, the Brembo units on the ATS don’t “dust”. Seems the Germans haven’t all figured this out – look around at Audi/BMW models.

        With this “boom” economy in Midland/Odessa, every exotic you can name including a Bugatti Veryon (sp) show up now. If it’s “Italian” we got ’em – what color would you like? Alderson Mercedes shows any AMG series on their floor at any time, including a red SLS coupe (I understand this is the 5th one they’ve had). And our BMW dealer advertised they had one of only two 760 Li series in the US. Big V12 S series Mercedes are common. I could go on and go.

        Reply
  10. I have a friend who just installed a Borla on a new Hot Wheels V6 and while I was skeptical it really does sound good.

    Not all 4 and V6 cars have a good sound with many aftermarkets but the Borla in this case did come out well.

    As for the ATS. after driving a AWD Turbo I came away very impressed at how solid the car felt. Sometimes I think we forget how bad cars were for having a solid platform not all that long ago. I just drive a low mileage C4 Convertible and could see the steering wheel shake going down the road from cowl shake. It reafimed to me how sold the Alpha is.

    The first step to any great handling car is a solid platform to attach the suspension to and the new Camaro should be rock solid.

    Reply
  11. I’m sure everyone is getting excited about the new camaro and being on an ats chassis is going to be a plus, and i would like to see a little bit smaller camaro, but i still love my 10 ss, also can’t wait for the spy shots. may be the new mustang will set a direction of non retro, I also have an exhaust shop, besides borla the flowmaster sounds the best, fits the best and has the best value INHO, the magnaflow has no baffles in the mufflers and rap a little too much for most people and have had fitment problems

    Reply
    1. Thanks for the “head’s up” on the aftermarket exhaust systems. I didn’t know enough about the systems – Borla never offered a system for the platform used for the GXP/Impala SS. I can’t remember details on the Flowmaster availability for the GXP. Fitment wasn’t an issue – installed with no drama.

      Reply
  12. If you use a Flowmaster make sure to one spend the extra money and get the stainless version.

    Also if you plan to drive it daily make sure to get the delta flow version as it has less resonance in the passenger compartment.

    I see too many people cut off a factory stainless muffler and put the mild steel one on and have it rust out in a couple years.

    Borla is good but not cheap.

    Reply
  13. If it’s gonna be any smaller it’ll be the size of Corvette as current camaro already doesn’t have much of a back seats I hear.

    Reply
  14. The Mustang will be lighter than it is now also, and it’s already lighter than the Camaro. Ford will, as rumor has it, upgrade the engines they have plus add a turbo 4 cyl, it will have 4 wheel independant suspension, and most likey killer styling and interior. So to reply to “whatyougotFord”, what is G M going to do about that. Also, paaaleese, the Malibu is a red headed step-child next to the Fusion, so shut up Homer. The good thing is this is all good as the Asian competition is not resting, and there are traitors that buy them.

    Reply
    1. As I said before I want a classy car now NOT a muscle car. They keep wasting money on this darn new Corvette. I hear even the newest version the engine is no good so why don’t you get busy and get a new Cadillac LXRV 2 door hardtop convertible V8 out for next year. I want one and I want to purchase one next year. That is the coolest looking car around. Nothing makes me say Wow I have to have one of those, they just don’t exist anymore. I realize as I get older the styles I like are changing. I really want a classy looking car and I am afraid the only one out there or a new one that should be out there is the Cadillac LXRV. Thank you and I hope my wish comes true while I am still young enough to drive.

      Reply
  15. “I mean it’s a Cadillac underneath ”

    IMHO, GM is then selling off the Cadillac name, as it did back in the 80’s. Nothing says “Cadillac” more than having it be just the same as a Chevy.

    Reply

Leave a comment

Cancel