The Seventh-Generation Chevrolet Camaro Has Only Been Delayed [Update]
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A new report alleged that the seventh-generation Chevrolet Camaro has been cancelled, but we have now received new intel indicating the car has actually just been delayed.
The report cited unnamed sources who said the seventh-generation Chevrolet Camaro has been shelved. It’s not that GM is abandoning the Camaro nameplate altogether, though, but has rather delayed the introduction of the seventh-gen car until further notice.
The good news is that the current version of the muscle coupe isn’t going anywhere soon, with production expected to last until 2023. That leaves room for another potential refresh after the recently introduced 2020 model year update, along with more model variants (ahem, Z/28, anyone?).
Dwindling sales and a shifting business strategy may have driven GM to reconsider its Camaro strategy. Not only is the Camaro losing the sales race to the Mustang and even the Challenger, it’s somewhat at odds with GM’s strategy to focus on trucks, crossovers, SUVs and hybrid/electric vehicles in the United States.
If the seventh-generation Camaro ended up getting the green light as previously planned, it would have likely ended up on the A2XX/Alpha 2 platform that underpins the new Cadillac CT5 and CT4 sport sedans, which is an evolution of the Camaro’s current platform.
The next-generation Ford Mustang is expected to arrive in 2021 or after. Dodge is also believed to be working on next-generation Challenger that will arrive sometime after 2022. Chevy will attempt to keep pace with its rivals with the sixth-generation Camaro by applying heavy updates to the car.
(A previous version of this story indicated the seventh-generation Chevrolet Camaro had been cancelled, but we received word that it has actually been delayed until further notice.)
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Chevrolet = Death by a thousand cuts….
Mary Barra is clueless and she needs to go, along with the untalented, untrained and uneducated designers/engineers. Let gut this losers and get some good people with ideas and imagination.
GM needs to wake up and save the Camaro, which is an American icon. Instead of saving Mary barra.
This is the stupidest thing I have heard come out of GM, if this true, which I hope it isn’t they’re making a big mistake.
No kidding. They have the Avista design sitting right there. Put it into production! It’s more of what the 6th gen should have been anyway. Had it been, dealers wouldn’t be able to keep them in stock. Kill the Impala, kill the Cruze, kill the Volt, kill the Camaro, probably kill the Malibu, float the idea of taking the Corvette away, and while we’re at it, throw out a half baked Silverado and call it a day. What the hell is going on at GM??
My guess is that they were quite far along with gen7 development and like the Alpha2 CT4, the Alpha2 Camaro wasn’t designed much differently from the Alpha1 Camaro. Only then did they realize that the gen6 Camaro was a stink bomb. Nobody wanted an ugly and impractical pony car they couldn’t see out of, yet it was too late to change the Alpha2 Camaro. Outward visibility is baked into a design, as is trunk opening size and interior space. It must be set in concrete at the earliest development stages, which for the Alpha2 Camaro would have been around 2016.
Thus they terminated the project, but to say so publicly would harm current Camaro sales, so they came out with this “delayed until further notice” horsepuckey. Sure sure, like development of the gen5 Camaro was “delayed until further notice” after the gen4 Camaro failed to sell well.
I believe Al Oppenheiser deserves much of the blame for the Camaro’s demise since as Chief Engineer it was his responsibility to set design parameters like outward visibility, trunk opening size, and interior space. He failed to balance the needs of a daily driver against the demands of track usage, and the result was a weekend toy car with even less practically usable cargo space than a Corvette. I’m told the back seat isn’t even usable for baby seats. Why wouldn’t they make baby seat usage a design goal for a car purchased by young men? The group think must be strong at GM.
Wow, just came across this comment. First, Al O. designed a car, in it’s base form, that has all the cooling goodies that you have to pay 80K for in a Mustang. Ask me how I know, I owned a 2016 Mustang that ruined many a track day because of trans overheating, diff overheating. And, after struts, springs, bracing, the car still kinda stunk on the track. Camaro, base SS suspension is planted. Ask around.
Second, there is a huge aftermarket out there for Mustang rear suspension fixes…and not because of the Mustangs popularity. Ever drive a Mustang on a road course? Enjoy the word “lively” Lively translates into rear instability. That independent Mustang rear suspension was designed for the Gen5 Mustang but was shelved due to cost. So, you have 10 year old design going into a Gen6 Mustang which is why it really doesn’t handle.
I want a car that performs and looks good. Camaro is it. Mustang…great for going to car shows unless you want to spend Corvette prices for MUSTANG.
Mary Barra is clueless and she needs to go, along with the untalented, untrained and uneducated designers/engineers. Let gut this losers and get some good people with ideas and imagination.
GM needs to wake up and save the Camaro, which is an American icon. Instead of saving Mary barra.
Here come the emotional guys (and the hidden Mustang goons).
It could be a design revision or/and to add a variant to Alpha.
But if it’s the real thing that’s less buyers for Chevy.
Let’s hope that this rumor/report is a load of shit. Is GM going to systematically leave all passenger car segments? Except for the mid-engine C8 Corvette? I know that Spark, Sonic, and Malibu have yet to be cancelled, but nobody is buying Spark or Sonic. Malibu is the only viable car left to remain on the Chevy radar. American car companies have surrendered the passenger car market to foreign competition, regardless of segment contraction. If GM plans to fill these passenger car segments with electric cars, they are way out of touch with what consumers truly want. The masses are NOT clamoring for electric powered vehicles. In my line of work, I drive a LOT! My Cruze averages nearly 44 MPG per tank, on summer blend fuel. There isn’t a GM crossover that can match this kind of fuel economy, matched with the features that I have, at the price I paid. But, guess what, foreign competitors do…again, regardless of market contraction in the sedan segment, there are still buyers that want compact and mid-size and full-size sedans.
Gen 5 was a big hit. Why? Because it looked like a ’69. Now we have a car with a truck front end. GM clearly does not understand buyers in this segment. Challenger is thriving because it looks like a ’71.
The biggest issue for me with the Gen 6 is its size….its too damn small. I bought my ’13 due to it being more of a muscle car. Though I will say I will NEVER by and Mustang or a Challenger if they cease production of the Camaro, but others will. Sad day.
Mary Barra is clueless and she needs to go, along with the untalented, untrained and uneducated designers/engineers. Let gut this losers and get some good people with ideas and imagination.
GM needs to wake up and save the Camaro, which is an American icon. Instead of saving Mary barra.
The Mustang is also thriving and it’s not a retread of a 50 year old design. Instead it’s a brilliant mix of old Mustang styling motifs and new German sport coupe design that somehow looks totally American. Ford designers had the courage and creativity to try something new and they succeeded beyond all expectations.
Let Dodge service the retro crowd. The rest of us want a sleek and sophisticated modern design like the Avista (but more aggro since it’s a Camaro). GM has all the talent in place to do it, all they lack is leadership.
Mary Barra is clueless and she needs to go, along with the untalented, untrained and uneducated designers/engineers. Let gut this losers and get some good people with ideas and imagination.
GM needs to wake up and save the Camaro, which is an American icon. Instead of saving Mary barra.
Seems especially silly given the corvette switch to midengine opens up the Camaro to take on the lead FR performance.
Unless they plan on making Corvette a sub-brand, with a crossover and FR model.
If this is true it’s their own fault. The new Camaro looks like crap. Engineering prowess isn’t enough to sell bad design.
There aren’t enough people who actually understand the consumer. And focus groups are a bullshit way to plan products, you need engineers and managers that are actually passionate and understand the market segment.
If GM botches the full size SUVs, the death spiral will begin. They destroyed brand equity for years.
Seems especially silly given the corvette switch to midengine opens up the Camaro to take on the lead FR performance.
Unless they plan on making Corvette a sub-brand, with a crossover and FR model.
If this is true it’s their own fault. The new Camaro looks like crap. Engineering prowess isn’t enough to sell bad design.
There aren’t enough people who actually understand the consumer. And focus groups are a BS way to plan products, you need engineers and managers that are actually passionate and understand the market segment
Turn Camaro into a common man’s Cayenne/Urus. A muscle SUV… Similar to Lutz’s Corvette SUv idea, but without the 100k starting price.
Totally agree with you Mark. Comments here are full of older men that still live in the past. Millennials are now making up the majority of market and they prefer an SUV that can do everything, including performance. They can no longer afford a sports car and a family car. They want 1 car that can do all of that. Ford knows it and it ahead of the game now.
Prediction: Ford’s electric Mustangish SUV is a success. GM notes the success and responds with a competitor for MY 2029.
That’s a bold and risky idea that could succeed if executed properly, so we can be sure GM will never do it.
And the value destruction goes on… With GM dreaming of making Corvette a separate (SUV) brand, what halo vehicle will be left for Chevy? Impala is gone, Camaro will be gone, Corvette will not be Chevy, etc… Regardless of sales, brands need some exquisite showcasing.
“what halo vehicle will be left for Chevy?”
“truck, truck, derp” or “D’ouchette”
Anyways, I’d wait for more solid info.
How is a 3rd place truck a “halo” vehicle? Nothing GM makes is halo worthy. A Chinese Buick? A Mexican Chevy truck? Any Cadillac? We can only pray the C8 Corvette is not some half assed mediocre product.
Hard to believe in a story coming from a site that doesn’t show up on the first five pages on google! It very well could be true but I think the site is just trying to get more traffic.
GM. Build a mediocre to terrible car full of corner cutting and no advertising then blame the market for poor sales. God, what happened. Get Mary Barra out along with North American ad bosses. Jesus.
Yep. Look at what FCA has done with Challenger. Styling that relates to the muscle car buyer and marketing that has been second to none. All on a 10 year old platform. Impressive.
Gen 5 Camaro was very pretty. Today, the car looks like a mish-mosh of different influences. GM is lost.
But it’s not a terrible car. It’s driving dynamics and straight line performance rank among the very best cars in the world regardless of price. That’s what’s so tragic about it. If Al Oppenheiser had fought for a little more glass, a little larger trunk opening, a little better interior packaging, and a more original design, then it could have been a smashing success.
Mary Barra is clueless and she needs to go, along with the untalented, untrained and uneducated designers/engineers. Let gut this losers and get some good people with ideas and imagination.
GM needs to wake up and save the Camaro, which is an American icon. Instead of saving Mary barra.
I heard it from someone here about this awhile back. I thought moving the Corvette to mid-engine that it would give the Camaro more breathing room. But I guess it came in the wrong time. I love the Camaro they had a great car just needed a competitive price.
I don’t want to see that day ?
Just seen the updated, couldn’t edit in time.
Scheww.. that was a close one. Lol
If they do It would be a dire mistake, they could at the very least make it hybrid and/or electric… I’m a bit surprised by that report but then again, GM has gotten us used to disappointment as of late.
Let’s see how it evolves.
Look at the update a few minutes ago, as I said probably just a revision or it looks like the 6gen will still be on sale till the 24’s are introduced
Okay then, it’s official: Mary Barra must go. On her rudderless watch we’ve gone from quality is job 1 (or something like that), to “hey kids, science-technology-engineering-math is cool”, to zero emissions and zero crashes (yeah right), and most recently… a little hope won’t kill you. Go. You are incompetent. Don’t let the door hit you on the way out.
Do they have your resume on file at GM?
Do they know you are available?
Have you given Burger King your 2 weeks notice yet?
Is take a person managing Burger King over Barra any day.
You do realize, minus the Burger King part, you’ve used that insult almost verbatim before, right?
Your non-stop insults and trolling would be more effective if you used some new material every now and then.
Why would I waste my time coming up with something new for a stain like you?
“Why would I waste me time coming up with something new for a stain like you?”
Why? Something new might take this place from a “5th rate clickbait site.” as you have called it, to a 4th rate, or even 3rd rate site. Imagine the fun you would have insulting random strangers then… the feeling of accomplishment you would have… the accolades… the doors that could open for you.
A Burger King manager would run circles around clueless Mary any day of the week!
Barra isn’t the one who set the design goals for the Camaro6. That was Mark Reuss as the executive in charge of overall product planning, Al Oppenheiser as Camaro’s Chief Engineer, Ed Welburn as the head of GM design at the time, and Tom Peters, lead designer for the Camaro6.
The CEO doesn’t normally get into the specifics of vehicle development. Such micro-managing is typically disastrous for anyone who name isn’t Steve Jobs.
Mary Barra is clueless and she needs to go, along with the untalented, untrained and uneducated designers/engineers. Let gut this losers and get some good people with ideas and imagination.
GM needs to wake up and save the Camaro, which is an American icon. Instead of saving Mary barra.
No matter who calls the shots at GM and camaro division, THEY NEED TO GO….Its not working, thjey are destroying the company and the brand.
This is Mary “I know nothing of design and cars” Bara’s doing. Useless twit.
what a pos she is, she absolutely knows nothing about GM and never will, resign.
Afi K. James agreed. We need someone in charge who will actually give a damn about the legacy and history of GM and try to preserve that WHILE keeping up with the demands of this changing world.
Thank you.
If I was running GM everything would be perfect and the company would be oozing out money,
If this ends up being true, GM is headed down a dark path. What happened to fun cars like the CTS-V wagon, the XLR, Avalanche, etc.? We all remember how much of a splash the Camaro made upon its return in 2010. Why would GM give up on a car that helped put them back on consumer radar? This “giving up” habit rings true with the CT6, G8/SS, Solstice/Sky, and Volt. Even the advertising has gone down the toilet. I remember how the rampant product advertising in the first Transformers movie (2008) made some GM cars seem to be cooler than their competitors. Then the 2008 commercial with Brandy Carlisle’s song “The Story” (worth a watch if you’re unfamiliar with it) really was a home run. But all of that emotionally appealing was eschewed for Real People (NOT ACTORS), dancing robot lease specials, and THAT’S NOT A BUICK! It’s a shame they didn’t run with the former advertisement strategies, especially right after the bankruptcy! Imagine if they had continued innovating and beautifying their products in order to be more unique. Instead they chose to be a “socially responsible”,shareholder/stock market prioritizing company. We all know how that worked out for Sears. You need to have/invest in desirable products to attract more consumers to make money LONG TERM. Repeated cancellations (ATS, CTS, CT6, Impala, Volt) do not bode well for consumer confidence. For the Corvette, I think it should have retained its FR layout and the mid-engined car should have gone to Cadillac as the ultimate GM halo car (with a real name like Elmiraj or Envira). Mary Barra and her beancounter cronies need to be shown the door, as they’re ruining the very company I used to admire and be proud to drive.
UPDATE: Now that the Camaro has only been delayed (not cancelled), I need to update and restate some of my commentary above:
– Emotionally appealing, moving commercials must return. No more lease specials on stripper models.
– Plug-in hybrids like the Volt and CT6 PHEV would be key into helping the public in transitioning towards fully electric vehicles (Look at BMW’s aggressive plug-in hybrid rollout strategy) and may help them secure more future buyers.
– Hiring better designers and product planners, in addition to freeing up more cash for product investment would go a long way towards improving their desirability.
Wow, you should be on the board, from what I heard they were just spending all that money on scratch offs, St Ides and crack…….
I’m flattered that you think I should be on the board! In reality there’s no way I’d be able to get there from where I stand right now in life though (future flight attendant). From a company that brags about high average transaction prices (ATPs) and pursuing profitable segments, you would think they’d have more to show for it. They should be able to spend ~$100 more on each interior and at least try to maximize the use of expensive developments like the 4.2 V8, Super Cruise, and the Alpha and Omega platforms. Platform sharing is okay if all of the products are WELL DIFFERENTIATED and WELL EXECUTED; the platforms should be well designed from the start. If a nearly bankrupt (at the time) GM could give us the G8, revitalized Camaro, CTS-V, and XLR, then they have no reason to continue down the cost cutting path they’re on right now.
All your mumbo jumbo aside, it is much simpler than that. Killer styling sells.
Meanwhile the Mustang kicks it’s butt.
After being a life long GM fan and buyer. I see a new Mustang in my future this fall.
Mustang clearly outsells the Camaro, but the entire segment is down and the overall numbers are not making any boardroom happy.
I call BS. Let’s see if there is an official GM comment.
Lemme just say this…..The Camaro is going to be more traditional “Corvette” than the new mid-engine one. I’m sure most of the current owners will go there over the new one.
The Camaro is also a sedan and a convertible. Should I mention that GM recently cut most of its sedans, and the Buick Cascada. GM would be exiting many segments with the death of the Camaro. I’m glad their not going through with it.
Now that’s what ( IMO ) will replace Malibu/Impala and Regal/Lacrosse. A single Alpha and/or Omega based sedan for each division for non-CUV buyers. I say this because there’s no GM large fwd car platform for America in the future and Cadillac car platform must be amortized to keep prices in check.