Al Oppenheiser and the Camaro team pride themselves on really knowing their customer, but it had seemed like a major flaw had only received a once-over while the sixth-generation Camaro was under development: it’s still really difficult to see out of.
The issue of cave-like proportions from the fifth-generation Camaro are alive and well in the 2016 Chevrolet Camaro, albeit a tad better to be fair. AutoGuide decided to ask the man himself, Oppenheiser, why his team didn’t address the visibility issue when handed a clean slate for the sixth-generation Camaro.
Oppenheiser stated the team was well aware of the fifth-generation car’s poor visibility, and immediately considered raising the roof and lowering the beltline among various other minor tweaks. But none of it never made it to a single design sketch. Why? The people.
The Camaro team decided to hold a clinic, which Oppenheiser stated rarely happens, but upon inviting a group of people to compare the fifth-generation Camaro to the Mustang, Challenger and Nissan 370Z, the group called for the poor visibility to stay.
“They got to the Camaro and [we] said ‘What would you tell Chevrolet about the Camaro if you could redesign it, if you helped give input to the next one?’ And they said ‘Well, I can’t see out of it.’ ” But, in the end, customers stated they would rather sacrifice visibility than see the iconic look of the car morphed into something unfamiliar.
“They all went, ‘Don’t change it! We love the styling, that’s why we bought it!’ ”
However, the customer base did offer up the technology solution to help drivers, which includes blind-spot monitoring and an improved back-up camera for extra peace of mind.
Overall, Oppenheiser stated the sightlines are better than the outgoing Camaro, but noted the more you drive it, the more familiar it becomes.
“If you spent six months in it, you’d learn to drive around it.”
Comments
It still must be much better than the 5th Gen. The vision in that one is bad.
The 2016’s have the standard rear vision camera & the car itself is smaller. I have not driven a new one yet but I expect it to make a difference.
So you haven’t driven one yet you know that a car smaller in dimensions will have better visibility than the previous generation? The previous generation had backup cameras too.
Nerd, before you try to put someone in check learn to read a sentence. I stated I expect it to make a difference since it is a smaller car. Expect it to make a difference NOT know it will make a difference. I currently own a 5thGen and the visabilty is poor.
Not all the previous gen have back up cameras- it is standard on all of the 6th Gen.
GasMan
Take GM’s new magic mirror from the Caddy CT-6. Perhaps ultrasonic parking system in the front. Problem solved
It’s unfortunate because they have done a great job with the new car but poor visibility is the reason I would never buy one.
Poor excuse, I have no problems seeing out of mine.
I’m guessing your friends also enjoy long-distance trips in the rear seats?
Who may I ask buys a car like a Camaro (Mustang etc) with the expectation of taking three or four adult friends along on a long highway journey?
Sarcastic people do
I agree. I drive a sports car for the views, the adventures, etc. I wouldn’t buy a sports car with poor visibility because I would be missing out on so much of the experience. There is nothing better than a weekend drive in the Ozarks. Forget “the cave”.
As amazing as the Camaro is, the visibility has always been a deal breaker for me. Camaro gens 1-2 didn’t have a similar issue and many people appreciated those designs.
Well while it is not as easy to see out of as some it is not like it is that difficult to drive.
This has always been a trade off on stylish coupes and always will be.
Hell MY HHR is tougher to see out of but after a short drive you adapt to it with no issue.
The bottom line is they had to make a choice. What would sell more cars better vision or better loved styling. Well they chose wisely.
Which is why I’ll be sticking with the competition! The Camaro is one heck of a performance car, but sacrificing practicality for styling is something I personally prefer not to do! Chevy should’ve extended this clinic to owners of competitive models also. I understand the Camaro was leading the segment in sales, so I see why they opted not to dramatically change it. But I still think it’s a bad oversight by Chevy!
It’s about a selling point. GM wants people who want a high-visibility coupe to step up to the ATS Coupe.
Personally, I have yet to drive a 2LT with all the new safety features (tried last week, rain killed the deal). But my general opinion remains that the Camaro should have good visibility.
Hyundai is working on a newer, cheaper Genesis Coupe, and Mustang already has improved visibility.
Problem is they asked current owners. Obviously they don’t have a problem with it otherwise they wouldn’t have bought the car. Now if they want to grab new customers like me, then they will need to fix the visibility. Otherwise I will never consider buying one.
The one thing I they could have done is get rid of the B’ pillar in the coupe. That would have help tremendously. No need for as there is none in the convertible and was none in the original concept car.
Still I won’t trade my 2012 for the newer model.
I remember buying an Acura partly because it was much easier to see out of than the other cars I looked at….
will you find out if…There is going to be a 2017 ZL1 Camaro??? If they are then I can wait till next year to buy one, but I don’t want to wait two years from now.
please and thanks.
I like the car. However I detest when I hear about cars being designed using clinics and committees. Did Harley Earl ever do that? I doubt it.
You need the visibility while you’re driving. Especially freeway lane changes at high speed. You need to know right now what’s going on all around you. With Camaro, you cannot do so very well. With my Mustang, I can quickly and safely use my side windows and mirrors. I don’t need to crane my neck so much. I test drove Camaro a couple of times, loved the handling but the visibility issue killed it. Haven’t driven the 2016 yet, but sat in one at an auto show. Visibility not much better. Glad that present owners like it, but how many new Camaros can present owners buy? Styling and function should not be exclusive of each other.
Good visibility must be why german cars like BMWs, Audis and Porsches have such unrefined styling and are such sales and performance slouches.
Poor sight lines seems to be a growing trend. I owned a 2003 Nissan Altima and could see very well out of it on all angles, When I got the 2010 Chevy Malibu the visibility was much worse but I got used to it. Then last year I purchased a 2015 Chevy Impala. During the test drive I couldn’t see a thing. Even worse sight lines. Good thing my Impala comes with all the alerts and cameras because they are a must and should be standard. But like the article said about the Camero, the more you drive it the more used to it you get and are able to drive around it. I have no issues with my Impala today but it’s not like the old days when you backed out of a driveway with your head turned to the back windshield. Today I have to backout using the camera.
Vanity is the driving force for some of the best looking designs. The side effect is at times other difficulties that come into play.
No matter if it is cars, buildings, furniture, clothes, shoes etc. Style often comes at the price of induces issues.
Just look at the dresses at the Oscars,
Too often for being stylish and trendy there is a price to pay.
Lets face it if we did not care how our cars looked the Checker Cab was one of the best for being so usable for the passenger or driver. But how many people want to be seen in one?
Today people are less about style in their cars and have settled for less style for more ergonomics in plain blend in like sedans but there is still a slice of the segment that want their cars to define their taste and sense of style and image by forgoing the larger trunk and visibility. Neither choice is right or wrong they are just choices that the owner makes for himself.
What is Ironic is most cars in history were not easy to see out of. Anyone ever drive a car from the 30’s? A 38 Chevy coupe would make you wish you had a 2015 Camaro any day.
People I think today are getting soft or less skilled as we have gotten by with out FWD, AWD, Easy Sight lines, You park it and Auto everything for years with no issues.
Now people are complain they have to drive the car so they are now wanting autonomous?
nailed it.
Disappointed. I only clicked the the video on the right to see what was pictured (the crash) and all it showed was some guy talking. Bummer.
I just put money down on a ’17 LT2 Convertible and am concerned about the blind spots, also. But I had a ’68 Camaro back in ’74-76 and don’t recall having issues then. I hope it’s not an issue now.
The visibility must be improved or sales will lag behind the Ford Mustang. G.M.- Why don’t you listen to what customers are trying to tell you? That is one one the reasons G.M. filed for Bankrupcty for the same reason!
Also, why don’t you offer a 10 speed automatic in the 2018 Chevy Camaro? G.M. and Ford Co partnered with the new tranny. So why is the 2018 Ford mustang getting it and not the Camaro?
I will consider buying it when these conditions are met.