2019 Camaro: Hot Or Not?
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The 2019 Chevrolet Camaro arrived on Monday with a brand new face and incremental improvements to its technology roster and aerodynamics.
However, in the process, the pony car’s new looks seriously split the crowd. In typical GM Authority fashion, we’re here to ask if the 2019 Camaro is hot or not?
Let’s start with the face. It’s a pretty major departure from the current sixth-generation Camaro’s look. The original sixth-gen car took the well-loved fifth-generation Camaro and emphasized edgy shapes while trimming excess fat from as it moved from Zeta to Alpha. The refreshed Camaro plays on this, but introduces a massive front grille for the SS model with a blacked-out strip in the middle.
Chevrolet essentially showed us the refreshed Camaro years ago in the last “Transformers” film and Bumblebee’s look, which also housed a similar grille treatment. It’s not a horrendous look, but it does make for a rather squinty eyed appearance. The Chevy bowtie badge’s placement also draws the eye lower and emphasizes the controversial fascia. We wouldn’t call it a failure, but form seems to have followed function here.
Perhaps the best looking of the 2019 Camaro bunch is the new Turbo 1LE model. Said model gets a more traditional front fascia, though it ditches the 2018 Camaro’s chiseled front end for a rounder look. Despite this, it looks more cohesive in our eyes with a body-color bumper splitting the upper and lower grille. We’re curious if all 2019 Camaro SS models will wear the blacked-out grille after seeing the Turbo 1LE.
Moving back to the rear, it’s a slight nip-tuck. The taillights are the biggest change with two distinct outlines creating the Chevy dual-element look. Again, they also emphasize a rounder look.
What we think doesn’t look all that great is the lower trimmed models. Chevrolet showed off the LT in RS package trimmings, and perhaps it’s the silver exterior hue, but the look skews towards “rental car.” The rounder front fascia doesn’t look nearly as sinister as the Turbo 1LE.
Now that’s we’ve picked the design apart, it’s your turn. Strike up a conversation in the comment section and vote in our poll below.
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If the current gen did not look so good, no one would be complaining. Let the market decide this one.
Rest assured, for the SS, if they just move the flow tie to the upper grill and paint the bumper body color, it might look really good again.
I don’t really dig the smiley look of the base models, so not sure how to fix that.
If anything, maybe there’s still time before ZL1 production so it won’t look like a pickup truck, too!
Thought it was hideous when I first saw it.
But after a day of mulling it over I’m coming round to it (as I did with the refreshed Mustang.)
Still not sure it looks as good as the current one but I know it will take a while to get used to the new front end.
Still can’t see out of it–new model please–keep drivetrain.
I think both Ford and Chevy did pretty lousy jobs with their respective 18 / 19 refreshing of Mustang and Camaro.
I’ll keep my 2012 Mustang GT Premium or look for lightly used CPO GT350 or ZL1 when I’m ready to change.
Though this does look better in Black than the featured colours shown here.
I was also in the fence between a ’18 and a ’19. I was waiting to see if a) there was going to be a significant increase in power and b) what the refresh looked like. I will be running (not walking) into the dealership this week to order a 2018 2SS Redline. The new tails look like a Malibu and the new front is just horrific. Even IF they offered a huge jump in power, I wouldn’t give that thing a second look. I’m embarrassed for them.
Furthermore, I’ll definitely hang onto my 1970 SS 396 Chevelle and my ‘70 Skylark Custom and y’all can keep your Apple wireless CarPlay and whatever other lousy, empty technology you simply can’t seem to live without (yawn).
A lesson from Earl, Mitchell… and Welburn – it doesn’t cost any more to style a beautiful car than an ugly one.
Trouble is, we’re living at a time when most people seem to demand ugly and they must have it loaded with tons of crappy, plasticky, unreliable technology. Gorge yourselves; it’ll never satisfy. I’ll keep beating around in a 22 year old sacrificial Camry to preserve the best of GM for some future enthusiasts that might fully appreciate what once made GM the greatest car company in the world: providing Everyman an absolutely stunning, satisfying car they could be proud of. If they made the 2020 Camaro as beautiful as it handles, there would be no competition. And the smart ones would pay extra to leave out all the so idiotically in demand but so thoroughly shortsighted planned obsolescence.
Make no mistake, it’ll be the Dodge Demons, Hellcats and 392s that people will be forking over big bucks for in the future, not these tortured Camaros nor the accomplished but blandly global Mustangs. And yes, only Dodge gets it enough to offer a decent selection of colors. And yeah any Challenger or Charger handles perfectly well enough for the traffic packed roads that are reality anywhere there are good enough jobs for people to be able to afford such cars, privileged “trackday” goofuses notwithstanding. Would you rather drive a Hemi Charger or an Impala? Malibu anyone? C’mon. Seriously, I’d sooner commit adultery and shack up with a base TT V6 Kia Stinger GT. Jeezus.
I’m a big fan of first generation Camaro and 5 and 6. I think we should wait to see what happens in GM house about the negative upset about the new look. I still like the Camaro , I could easily change the front and tail lights to my liking, but I wouldn’t. lets wait and see what happens.
stop with the cheap big looking black grills like those ugly Toyotas —
The Gen 5 look screamed “Get the F out of my way or I’ll chew you up and spit you out!”. Gen 6 and the new face lift are more like “beep, beep…excuse me”. The cattle car aka Lexus (and other imports) front end…ugg!! Rule #1 don’t screw with whats working. People are only buying these from a lack of options (oh…and millennial stupidity). I still can’t believe there is a turbo charged Camaro….seriously?!?!?!?!?!? So much for “true” muscle cars.
It’s funny that these are your comments about the Camaro so what do you want a car that looks fast and drives like a dud?
Why do people only focus on looks? The alpha platform is world class! But people wouldn’t know that because you cant see it with your eyes!
This “camaro” is arguably the ugliest in the line’s history. It’s laughably ugly. The Silverado facelift is ugly too. What was Chevy thinking??? Good lord, the Pontiac Aztek had a better face! Guess what, the MUSTANG and CHALLENGER still look great!
Chevy, let me first say that i grew up loving the Camaro and i have stuck with Camaro even when they decided to design the 2014-2015 Camaro to look like the nissan 300zx. But now you have officially crossed the line. Chevy, how could you do such horrendous and assanign things to the 2019 Camaro? I mean who did you hire to create body style of the 2019 camaro? Apparently you hired someone who used to work for Toyota and they thought it would be a good idea to have the front like exactly like a Toyota Camry. But that’s not the only insult to the beautiful 2016-2018 Camaro body style and design. Chevy decided to take it a step further and changed the back to look exactly like a Chevy Malibu. If i wanted a Malibu i would have gotten it instead. They must have been drinking and designing on the job, that’s very irresponsible of them. C’mon man. I guess I’ll have to get rid of my beautifully designed 2016 Camaro and ill be forced to resort to a challenger or mustang. Why Camaro? Why? One thing is certain, i WILL NOT be getting the 2019 Chevy camaro. It’s garbage in a trash dumpster ready to be taken out. I’m sure millions of camaro lovers around the world would agree. Steve, Ds, Gino, Danny, ArcticDog, Brian and Keith are just a few who hit it right on the nail
So what we are saying here Chevy is try again
Like I have said before……….Very ugly 2019 styling! When I first saw the newer 2019 rendition,I made my decision-Quickly! I went out and ordered a new 2018 SS.Have never looked back yet! I love the aggressive front end looks and love the alpha chassis platform,and the horsepower/torque is perfect! You don’t need anymore power anyway,unless all you are doing is drag racing! My 2018 SS handles and goes fast enough for me!