A few years ago, a set of spy photos of a sixth-generation Chevrolet Camaro set enthusiasts ablaze about the potential return of the track-focused Camaro Z/28. As it turned out, those spy shots showed the sixth-generation Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 with the 1LE extreme track performance package. And while some held out for the sixth-gen Camaro Z28, the waiting game is over – as we have exclusive information suggesting that the sixth-gen Camaro Z28 will never take place.
2019 Camaro ZL1 1LE
In the not-too-distant past, Camaro chief engineer Al Oppenheiser went on record to say that the Camaro team is still at looking for “any available horsepower that will fit in the car,” meaning that the beastly ZL1 1LE is far from a performance cap for the nameplate. What’s more is that there have been spy shots of performance-variant Camaro prototypes.
But according to our sources, the Camaro Z28 was canceled shortly after being started. In fact, it never moved past very initial stages, which involved vehicle planning and just a smidge of initial engineering work.
2019 Camaro ZL1 1LE
To blame for the cancellation of the Camaro Z28 project are various GM strategic initiatives. At the end of 2018, The General tightened its belt to refocus on more profitable ventures, cutting several models such as the Chevrolet Cruze, Impala, and Volt, along with the Buick LaCrosse and Cadillac XTS, while shuttering five plants across the U.S. and Canada in the process.
Meanwhile, The General was already investing heavily in alternative transportation initiatives such as an onslaught of electric vehicles and a robo-taxi service as part of its Cruise division. Notably, GM will double resources for those initiatives in the near future.
2018 Camaro ZL1 1LE
All that prevented the Camaro Z28 project from ever truly gaining traction, and the team was reassigned before even making its first prototype. Worse still is that those initiatives may result in the discontinuation of the Camaro altogether… though there is still hope for a mainstream two-door car sports from Chevrolet in the future.
2014 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28
For the time being, the most track-capable Chevrolet Camaro is dead, before it could ever be. And that’s a shame, given that a Z28 variant of the sixth-gen would have been a very compelling proposition. But hey, at least we have the ZL1 1LE.
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Comments
If GM doesn’t have a headline-making Camaro on tap I would say the odds of a seventh generation are very bleak.
Looks like we’re witnesses to a slow death of the Camaro.
This may be as good as it gets. Long after Camaro is gone (again) Ford with still be trying to figure out how to make a Mustang Handle on a road course.
Meanwhile, Ford will actually be selling Mustangs.
Since they’ll have a product that people are actually buying, I’d wager they’ll handle just fine, in comparison.
The problem is not enough people are buying them at 77K units. It also is not expected to grow,
How is 50K in Camaro sales bad? I think for a niche market specific product it is not that bad. Also consider how lame GM advertising is these days. It is soft AF. FCA on the other hand has the right people advertising Dodge products because their products appeal to the cool crowd. I don’t think I’ve seen a single cool 6th gen Camaro commercial besides that Dubai one that this site posted. Which is a shame because I like the Camaro out of the three after test driving them all.
The Camaro returned and it was clearly stated back then they needed to keep it around 100K units to make it finacally secure. Under that total other projects become more profitable and bigger return on investment.
The Corvette is a Niche model not the Camaro. The Camaro is a full line volume model.
I do agree FCA has great marketing as they get all the news on the Demon package on cars that should be long gone. They have driven excitement into the cars. the problem is the ones they sell the most of are the normal non Demon models and they are discounted so much there is little meat on the bone. If the tooling had not been paid off 10 years ago they would not make anything.
I grew up at a time my Father had a new Chevelle every year and I looked for the day I would own a SS 396 myself. Then came the later generations that grew up in mini vans and small FWD Accords and they know nothing of the excitement of the performance cars. Many have never even been in one. Some never have even been in a manual shift car.
Add to this they are a generation where they don’t need a vehicle to meet in social groups. They sit at home and text or play video games. I had to drive my SS to the arcade to hang out in High School today they just do that at home.
Life and priorities have changed with the younger people today and what mattered to most of us no longer applies. I have one at home now that cars are just a way to get where you have to be like work. He gets more excited over the latest video game than any cars. If the Camaro died tomorrow he could care less. Sadly he represents the majority.
“YOU arrrrre corrrect, Sir.”
True. Several teens that I know don’t even have drivers’ licenses, and don’t see the need for them.
This is a different day and age, and the demographic for ‘performance’ cars is rapidly shrinking. GM is only doing what they SHOULD be doing—cutting non-profitable carlines and increasing production on what people actually are buying—SUVs and trucks.
It saddens me to think that the Camaro is likely to go away but that’s the nature of economics in this day and age.
Head to Sebring and witness the IMSA Mustangs lap the competition there. I used to think the same thing until I saw the KohR motorsports guys run the track last October…
I think Chevrolet/GM is making a big mistake killing off the iconic z28/Camaro while Dodge, Chrysler and Ford keep coming out with more powerful v8 muscle cars. Not all can afford a ZO6 so this is the next best thing and what a sweet car it was with the hand build 427. Chevrolet could have done much with that and other generation engines to have a winner for American muscle. Plenty of other unpopular cars in the line that can be killed off, but not the Camaro or Z28. Mistake, big!! My first car was a new 79 Z28. Sweet for the times, nothing like the powerful version last made.
Live to dream.. would 35 horsepower make much difference, imagine the base Camaro equipped with the L3B 2.7L DOHC-4v 4-cyl turbo with 310 hp @ 5600 rpm; the Camaro weighing 1,482 lbs lighter than the Chevy Silverado with the L3B should drop acceleration times to 60 mph under the 5.1 seconds achieved with the 275 hp LTG 2.0L 4-cyl turbo.
Electric ruins everything.
Executives who don’t much care about cars ruin everything.
GM has never really understood halo vehicles. I mean it speaks for itself when at one point they claimed the Cascada was the Buick halo lol.
Fools. GM’s crises are always initiated by bean-counters.
Ok let’s get some reality injected here and set aside our personal feelings and disappointments.
My situation is even more connected as I make my living from these cars and performance vehicles in general.
The harsh reality is this. Coupes are dying and performance coupes from each brand is on life support. The best seller is the Mustang and it only moved 77k globally. You combine all three models totally and the fall short of vehicles like Equinox in total sales.
People today are becoming less performance oriented as we are seeing the segment get older and dying off.
Also thePony car died long ago. Today’s cars are no longer econo cars rebodied with a big engine and sold at a low price. Today they are very advanced GT cars that most can no longer justify as a second or third car.
Trucks on the other hand can be bought reasonably, driven daily, used for work and play.
The other harsh reality is the auto market is going to decline in growth and this has put many automakers on notice. Financially stable companies like Toyota and GM are focused on core products that make money while they focus on making choices that give the greatest return on the investments. Halo vehicles are not profit centers and generally are more promotion models for brands struggling for attention.
FCA only has Jeep and Ram. The performance cars are just lipstick to try to attract a partner. We have seen for years few want to buy in. Someone saved PSA from a mistake.
Ford is a financial train wreck as they were so late cutting cost while the aluminum F150 is not bringing the profits as was expected with higher material cost.
Right now FCA has no replacement for their car. Ford is working to use the Explorers platform to base the Mustang on. As of not GM is not talking.
GM could easily live without the Camaro is the harsh truth. Odds are they are either changing plans or they are looking to go a totally new direction. This does not mean performance is gone but you may find it in a new form or a new formula.
All three companies need to move at least 100,000 units of each to make this work. If either the Camaro or Mustang die the others at risk. The Dodge is gone unless a new partner decides to invest.
I am a Pontiac guy and a Camaro fan and I know what it is like to lose models and brands. It hurts like hell! When you rely on it for your income you worry if you will retire before it gets worse.
GM knows halo vehicles as well as anyone but they are not so desperate they need themas much as they need other boring models that sell 300k units or more per year.
The future is going to be tough and you will see more mergers and you will see more failures.
GM is in a place they can chose who they work with like Honda. FCA is in a place where they have to take who ever is interested. Ford if not for the Ford family owning a majority would have been bought up at the low stock price.
At thispoint we just need to sit back and watch what happens. We do have a strong core of car people embedded in these companies that will get creative and continue to work to find ways to deliver fun vehicles for us.
The key is to find something that strikes a cord with the public that would sell in 6 figures. Or to fine an existing model that could be modified to base a performance model on. It could be a Colorado or the new body on frame suv that is coming.
In the past the GTO sold in good numbers but it also was based on a higher volume model the Camaro is based on a even slower selling Cadillac that is not cheap. Hence the high prices.
I don’t want to be a downer as I still hold out hope for the future but we all need to face reality here. The auto industry is here to make money on models that sell in great numbers not just cater to a small group of racers like us. We are now in in the minority and will have to face changes till the market changes.
Even racing today has poor ratings and attendance. The NHRA race I just was at used to have full stands for three days 5 years ago and today half full. IMSA at Mid Ohio attendance was sparse compared to the 1980’s. So it is not just the cars.
Very well said, it’s the truth nobody wants to hear including myself but it’s really setting in. I personally have a goal I’ll never own a EV lol but in about a decade or so I don’t think I’ll have a choice.
It is the ugly truth and to be in denial just makes it worse.
Before you rip FCA, remember they are gaining market share at GM’s expense especially in the truck arena. There will be a next gen Challenger by the way, and FCA has been brilliant in keeping the current one relevant with new colors, packages, AWD, and marketing- things that GM did nothing with on the current Camaro.
You can discount your way to the top but at the expense of income. As the market declines less profit per unit is fatal. Add to this the Tracks and Jeep are all they have for income globally and little Chinese market.
But a competitor taking a sale away from GM may mean that said customer may not even consider GM in the future if they are happy with their vehicle from FCA, Ford, Hyundai, etc. There is a reason why GM has lost two-thirds of their market share since the 1970s. Death by a thousand cuts.
scott3, I want to agree with you, but I can’t. The combination of a number of decisions by GM brass leaves me less than hopeful. Using some of your points, I’d like to point out why:
“At this point we just need to sit back and watch what happens. We do have a strong core of car people embedded in these companies that will get creative and continue to work to find ways to deliver fun vehicles for us.”
I think about the new Blazer and Trailblazer often. In the face of palpable consumer demand for more capable SUVs, (made obvious by Ford’s decision to revive the Bronco nameplate, Toyota’s attention to the 4Runner, and the continued success of Jeep) GM decided to blow two generally positive nameplates on box-checking cute-utes. That move isn’t even consistent with the global naming scheme. The Trailblazer was a midsize BOF RWD/4×4 SUV. One product cycle later it’s a small FWD/”AWD” CUV?
The point I’m making here is that if there was a core of car people within GM to find ways to deliver fun vehicles to us, those same car people wouldn’t allow those nameplates to be used so inappropriately.
Next point:
“The key is to find something that strikes a cord with the public that would sell in 6 figures. Or to fine an existing model that could be modified to base a performance model on. It could be a Colorado or the new body on frame suv that is coming.”
CUVs, SUVs, and trucks. Other manufacturers such as Mazda, Ford, Jeep, and the German 3 have shown that CUVs CAN strike a chord with the public. GM could accomplish this too if the CUV lineup was more differentiated.
As I point out again and again on the Cadillac stories, GM’s failure to engineer a CUV platform for a RWD/AWD layout has serious implications across all the brands.
Without a RWD/AWD CUV platform:
-Cadillac CUV buyers lose access to Cadillac-exclusive engines.
-Cadillac CUV buyers don’t get Magnetic ride control.
-GMC has nothing compete with the Jeep Grand Cherokee.
-GMC won’t have much to differentiate from Buick in the showroom.
-Those expecting Cadillac CUVs to provide similar handling quality to the sedans must look elsewhere.
-GM can’t force Camaro buyers into a ‘Vette.
-Those looking for Camaro performance with more practicality must look elsewhere. (meanwhile the next Ford Edge is rumored to go RWD/AWD)
-If GM decides to get serious about performance trims in Chevy, Buick, or GMC, there’s no donor platform.
The LS V8s, Cadillac engines, 2.7T, 10-speed transmission, magnetic ride control, etc. All of GM’s “good stuff” is tied to a RWD/AWD sedan platform or truck platform.
The lion’s share of GM’s CUVs are underpinned by the Gamma 2, D2XX, E2XX, C1XX, and VSS-F. They’re FWD powered by some turbo four, and if you spend the big bucks, you get AWD powered by the same NA 3.6. The same thing across all brands. All designed to appeal to the same soccer mom from college to retirement.
If you’re looking for anything cool, fun, affordable, and/or capable that’s not a Camaro what does GM, let alone Chevrolet offer? A Corvette that will undoubtedly get less attainable, two pickups, a big SUV based on one of said pickups, and a midsize SUV that’s late to the party?
If it’s not a sports car, pickup, large SUV, or luxury sedan teetering on the edge of cancellation, GM has nothing across all four brands that someone could be remotely excited about purchasing. None of the moves they’ve made in the last 5 years gives me hope that’ll change.
I take issue with much of what you state.
As for the names I would not have used them that way but few people buy vehicles bases on names.
As for CUV models that drive like cars today’s models do. I have a Denali Acadia that can be FWD in standard mode but 4×4 in off road and 40 /60 rear in sport mode. It drives rides and handles better than many so called sport sedans.
Note too i am getting 21 city and 32 highway with no issues.
To build that would strike their cord is what they are doing. People look at vehicles differently than you and I today. They look for utility mpg and affordability. They look at safety ratings more than 0-60 times.
I also have the same electronic suspension as the XT5 and it works great even firming up with the sport mode. Only I don’t have the massive option price or replacement cost of the Magnetic struts.
No one is forcing anyone from a Camaro to a Vette. The problem is not just the. Amaro is dying but all thee cars in class are dying. Time is limited on the others too if more buyers are not found. It matters little who is in charge as this is public reaction to a type of car they no longer buy no matter the brand. I wager there not even a Camaro owner in this post. That used to never happen.
The reality is GM stock is pushing $40 and should be doing better. FCA is at $16 and needs to be better, and even with all the cool stuff Ford is around $10 a share now looking to VW to help them survive.
The industry is tough and what matters moving forward is not so much volume but profit per unit sold. Lost leaders or cool cars selling under 100 units with few buyers just don’t cut it anymore.
If you had a formula for a profitable model at $30k that would sell 140k units I know 8 companies or more that would pay dearly for that info.
Even FCA selling there car cheap is not doing great at 66k units per year. The are still 32k short of what is really needed and not likely to reach it.
Sorry but the world has changed and moved on. It has left performance people behind like us and we are just going to have to learn to deal with it till they come back.
This is not a GM mistake or problem it is a problem for each and every company and most will also respond in kind.
Most performance people have gone to trucks and I expect the coming body on frame SUV GM has coming.
Self inflicted wounds. They just don’t get it. Sad how far GM has sunk. The don’t lead anymore. They just follow.
Let me see if I have this right? GM won’t spend any Money on vehicles that don’t make them a ton of money but will spend tons of money on electric vehicles that don’t make them any money.
Here is the reality. While the EV models are not making money now the cost will continue to decline as the cost of the ICE models continue to increase.
The MPG and Emissions issue is still hanging out there and it will in time legislate the ability to build ICE models out.
In some parts of the world they are already running out EV models.
Right now some companies can afford to develop them at a loss while others will fall behind because they can not afford it.
There would also be great savings on emissions testing. No mpg testing or requirements etc.
I’m in no hurry for electrics but it is coming no matter if we like it or not. GM would an advantage as will VW and Toyota. Others will join them to use 5heir technology be it purchased or licensed.
In short the EV investment will pay off in the future. A 7th gen Camaro might move 45k models a year and would cost even more to pay the investment off.
There have been many false starts with EVs and I would not be surprised to see this as the case here. First, people will not run enmass to EVs unless they are: 1) just as inexpensive to buy as a ICE vehicle at the dealer level; 2) there are just as many charging stations as there are filling stations; and 3) Charging the EV will take as little time as filling up a gas tank. Don’t forget the oil companies will have a lot to say about this as well. However, like the diesel fiasco of the late 1970s, and the all FWD fiasco of the 1980s, GM will boldly lead itself to a place that customers may not necessarily follow- this time from a position of relative weakness since they are no longer the largest automaker in the world and potentially not even the largest in their home market.
Scott3 I am not just talking about the 7th generation Camaro. What about the Malibu with a few adjustments it could be the class leader in sales. It may not make money like the Trucks and SUV’s, but it would play an important role in showing that GM can be a leader in something. Heck the even cheaper out in their big money making Pickups in my openion.
If
they had done them right who knows they could steal the sales leader crown from Ford. What I am saying is that GM never seems to go far enough in any of their vehicles to make them leaders in their class. Be that in styling (I know that is subjective), quality and quantity of equipment, ease of selecting equipment and last but certainly not least marketing. IMO GM has the worst marketing in the industry.
I agree the marketing should be better.
But even if they made the Malibu best in class the segment is in decline. Honda and Toyota both are suffering losses in the same segment as it is in decline.
Leading in volume means little as today it is about return on investment.
You need to balance volume, cost and profits.
Hi Scott it’s me again. The point I am trying to make is if you choose to continue to compete
in that segment why not be the best?
If you have already made the investment I see nothing wrong with leading in volume. If people choose to buy your product because they are better than the competition IMO the profits will come.
I understand not wanting to have an overabundance of slow selling low profit vehicles and the need to balance all the things you mentioned but that should not prevent them from wanting to be best in class. IMO that would be a positive not a negative.
The point is even the best in class here is seeing a significant decline in sales. Please note Even the Mustang is below expectations and is not totally safe either.
This is a tough deal. This is like having a dog you love dearly and you having a choice of spending $4k to keep it alive for two more months or you put it down and get another dog.
This is a real emotional car for those who love it but the formula for building them has totally changed. Also the market has changed.
The automakers need more profit per dollar invested and that means more volume, higher price or a new direction.
What we have now is the best we have ever had performance wise. But sales wise all three of these cars are really under performing.
The automakers have to look and see if they spend $4 billion on a next gen coupe that delivers 60k units and continue to decline or they invest in a more popular model that delivers 250,000 units.
Right now Ford and GM are looking at this and are trying to decide what to do next. Ford has hinted at a 4 door electric Mustang. Will they do it? Not sure but they are testing reactions.
GM has shown a Electric COPO testing reactions to it.
I suspect with the delay we may see some other ideas tossed at us as each mfg searches for a new idea that the public would embrace and be more profitable.
If not with lower production numbers the only way to keep these alive is to increase the price but then it will only kill more sales.
Remember when women would jump all over the convertibles. 20 something women were the mainstay of the Mustang convertible. Today these women are driving Wranglers.
The public reaction to SUV and CUV models is killing it.
Even I considered a Camaro but bought a crew cab 4×4. I needed a daily driver that I could use for more than just play. That ruled out the Camaro fast. I have one play car already and did not need two. I wanted two but I need only one. The truck is play, work and daily driver all in one.
I am not just talking Camaro when I say be the best in class. I am Talking about everything they make. I admit some areas are subjective but you have to admit GM is behind in too many areas on some if not all of their vehicles. I am by no means anti GM just an old guy who remember when they were the best. Guess one of the things that irks me is to see Foreigners come in and out do us in our own country. Never mind the fact that they build a lot of their products here, that should not matter. Guess what worries me is that the American Auto company will soon be none existence or Foreign owned just like just about all of the other American companies.
Best in class is more perspective anymore.
Many buy a Accord because they feel it is best in class. Yet I have had to repair many of them because they are not any better than anything else.
I drive GMC. Yes I have no Homelink but I do have a better constructed truck under the skin and the best handling and braking in class.
I have co workers who buy Hyundai’s because they are inexpensive. But then they have issues that are not under warranty they find out where the cost savings came from.
There are no perfect cars. I could point out major issues with them all. It comes down to what you like, want or trust the best. Most people today have little mechanical knowledge so they often have no clue they are getting screwed in a Toyota in some areas.
Everything is built to a price point. and they all try to hide the short cuts. GM normally has the short cuts inside the vehicle.
GM for decades have had cars that the interiors fell apart but they would run for ever and were cheap to keep on the road.
The way I see it most cars are over rated today. Few live up to the rep.
Gm has lost it’s roots, period. There was a base Camaro level of 2 6cyl’s, and 283’s, 302DZ’s in Z/28’s and so forth. MANY options and NO options now, compared to then. Based on what true Z/28’s were, then a SBC of truly SBC dimensions are of consideration! No 4.8/5.3l’s?????? Wrong! It has been proven already that the smallest LS will produce hp, just higher in the RPM range. Is this NOT what the 302dz’s did in the ORIGINAL Z/28’s for road racing??? When it comes to what the whole spirit of a Z/28 was and what it is now, I say BS! Give the customer OPTIONS! Noooooo, more BS as usual. I’m beginning to despise GM and many of it’s @$$ kissing flunkies here……YOU know who you are……
WIth the ZL1 1LE available, is there really a need? That car already ditched the MRC for a track oriented suspension and includes track aero enhancements — give it Pilot Sports Cup tires and you’re all done — I’d argue you can’t find room for improvement after that.
SC’s would be a downgrade.
Wow, my post was deleted!
Not a surprise. GM is no more what i learnt to love since a boy.
The world is no longer what you were used to as a boy. Blaming GM for adapting is foolish.
If people wanted to buy pony cars, that’s what the car companies would be making.
People want crossovers and trucks.
A “purchase” is a “vote”.
What’s in your garage?
I’m certainly not surprised by this announcement. The 6th Gen hasn’t sold well for a number of reasons and we already have the ZL1 1LE. Sure, the Z/28 would have undoubtedly been packing an NA engine to keep the car’s lineage alive, but there is no need for it at this point.
I am in hopes that this isn’t foreshadowing the demise of the Camaro altogether. GM cannot allow the car to die on such a weak model (from a sales standpoint). Fingers crossed…
Porsche once stated that introducing the Cayenne allowed them to continue building 911’s. And, they continue to build the 911 and 718.
Chevy needs to be excellent at building affordable cars and SUV’s so they can sustain Camaro and Corvette numbers below 100K.
Bring back the Cavalier!
GM needs only trucks and CUV models to survive.
As for the Camaro and Corvette their marketing is different. It will not survive the higher prices as the Corvette has.
Sad truth about GM. They have forgotten what lead to the bankruptcy. GM is in the business of making cars, not keeping the stock prices up to keep shareholders happy.
Sadder truth: GM’s advertising partners are clueless about clever, fun ads, that will sell cars. While “Toyota Jan” is pleasant enough “Pat” is a buffoon. but he must help Toyota sales. Why does GM think ‘vettes and Camaros will sell themselves? Where are the entertaining ads for them? Most of the “Real People, not actors” ads are banal at best.
Guess clever ads are too expensive for the bean counters in charge.
William GM was building some of their best vehicles through the GM Performance Division as they sank into bankruptcy.
The problem was they could build cool cars but forgot how to make the vehicles in the core Emmett that make the profits, along with not restructuring the company to be more cost effective.
every attempt to restructure the company was fought tooth and nail by the unions. they are still fighting this battle look at cruze plant.
Even considering all that scott3 above has shared, it’s not a false dichotomy of either having performance models or not having performance models. All domestic and foreign manufacturers have made their fortunes upon base models with upscale versions being the luxury and/or performance variants.
True, the 3-box sedan and the traditional coupe are “dying”, but it’s still a slow death and it affects other unit sales. And since the domestics can only make SUVs/trucks and performance cars, there’s little reason to buy anything else GM has on offer if they can’t continue to provide niche products alongside their mainstream money-makers.
The death of the 3-box sedan is largely attributable to the historically poor segment products from the domestic manufacturers. Very few great sedans have come the domestics in the last 2 decades. The CTS and ATS from Caddy, and a few other scattered above-average examples; but nothing else really make much difference in a world of Japanese and European products at all price-points in all segments.
As the world moves away from dedicated performance models, the Germans certainly seem capable of keeping uber-models on offer; but that’s because nobody will pay money in more expensive segments for American products because they’ve historically been sub-par by world standards since the Japanese rose to take over the automotive landscape that has now been bequethed to South Korea without even a whiff of the domestics getting that market share.
GM’s problems have always been related to its inability to produce models beyond core segments and price ranges. There is no comparable numerical-series tiered product from GM as we see from, say, BMW. And GM continues to sell mediocre and competent undesirable products apart from its halo models.
We didn’t even get to keep the C8 Corvette as a traditional rear-drive model while having the mid-engined version be positioned as a separate “Zora” halo model. I understand if GM doesn’t “need” the Camaro or Corvette or other performance models; but that also means I don’t really “need” a GM product unless I want a body-on-frame truck.
RIP GM. And it won’t be long before I, and many others, don’t even care why GM has died.
General Motors should have filed for bankruptcy over a decade ago instead of being f***** bailed out by the u.s. government, it’s taxpayers being ripped off period.
The reality is the fall of the sedan came with three things in the 80’s.
#1 The start of the smaller fwd sedans with limited utility.
#2 the creation of the minivan that introduced utility to the public again.
#3 the popularity of the SUV.
You combine these three things and it leads right to the CUV that is dominating in ways we never imagines 15 years ago.
We will still have a sport sedan from Cadillac as the higher price can support lower volumes but in the case of a Chevy Camaro there are limits as it kills volume.
In today’s markets even companies like Toyota and GM can not afford to have it all. There is only so much money and they have to choose programs carefully and just making a profit is not enough. Today you must maximize the return on investments.
This has lead to things like Toyota building a car on a shared BMW platform. Odds are good Toyota would never have approved the car with no sharing.
As for the C7. There is only room for one sports car at Chevy. The C8 would only decimate sales of the C7 and it would die anyways. The investment into that vehicle could go to a CUV that returns 5 times or more the return of the C7 investment.
Car companies like Toyota and Honda were built on money making models that were what people needed. They did little fun stuff.
While I do not advocate GM give up on fun cars they need to find a new sustainable program that shares the cost better and provides better return on investment as the window on marginal programs is getting smaller.
It would be very easy and profitable to just kill the Camaro but there still has to be a way to still add some excitement some place. It may be untraditional but it is better than nothing.
The problem is even adding a TTV6 to a Blazer is cost prohibitive. The Explorer ST is over $60k. Or a Raptor like ZR2 would be difficult as the Australian version of the Ranger Raptor is $78,000 in American dollars.
The days of slapping a big block in a Chevy Nova and selling it cheap are long over fiscally and culturally.
Automakers today need to target the profit centers of the market and worry less on the niche areas with little to no return on investment if the want to survive.
The products and make up of product offerings will really change in the coming years.
I am afraid old school like performance will be here but it will be rare and expensive if it survives it all.
My hope is my retirement comes before it dies.
If there is any positive to this it is that we can buy cheap C7 and 6 models with low miles at really good prices. The supply is large and the demand is low. Many are in like new condition.
there are not many camaro owners that do road race track days. most do drag racing so GM is going towards that group with their cars and advertisements.
There is no need for a Z/28. We already have the ZL1 with the 1LE extreme track performance package. OK,the pacify those of you that “need” one,just have Chevy slap the Z/28 badge on it and be done with it.
I say we might see the eCOPO Camaro in the next 5-6 years.
All the new camaro shell’s are copy’s of the 1967-69 & front clip’s of 1982-1992 but oval shaped! The honey comb front grill’s are from the 1967-1969 firebird wheel’s! I’m sorry Chevrolet; if the camaro dies: my performance choice will go to the Vega’s & monza’s! Nova’s are nice; same w/chevelle’s! Corvette’s are copy-cat’s to the 280z’s! The suburban does not look as good as the ford’s rendering! So if the camaro dies; i will transplant my idea’s to Ford! Because i DON’T like any MOPAR!
I’m partial to Dodge! They are just not as appealing, and they are just stealing the lime light now, Chevy to Ford rivalry over the past 50+ years that dodge was never a part off. But to comment to your statement…. I have since been buying Ford since the lost of great performance and taking a back seat to the leaders/winners in the arena now.
Great post!
Since the Vette is still available for a Chevy dedicated track car is it a chance we’ll get a Challenger/Charger type coupe/sedan to replace the Camaro and Impala?.
There is no need for it…
GM just keeps loosing more globall market share from being Number1 a decade ago to now being number 5 globally> When do they actually stop this trend? They got rid of Holden,Pontiac ,Saab,Saturn and 16 years ago Oldsmobile? and more recently they sold of Vauxhall and Opel. I think the biggest problem is they have No F’n clue how to market cars? They just don’t aeem to give a ___T about selling cars for the masses any more?
If they could figure out how to market cars like the Europeans and Asian manufactures are doing/ They might have a chance? But it looks like in another ten years from now. GM will likely be the 10th largest automotive company globally?
It really is pathetic that they can not sell any world class cars for the masses>
GM can not get it right anymore! They have since had sissy leaders and engineers, not to mention a lack luster leader and CEO that can’t get GM right for all divisions.
Relieve the President, CEO and lousy engineers trying to build L (loser) products. Remembering the HAY days when GM products ruled the roads and strip, as well as the streets! Now they are curb critters with no fun, ugly design, and definitely lack luster performance. I stop buying GM products (Camaro Z28, IROC, Pontiac Firebird Trans Am, Buick GNX… and so on) I have since been buying quality and great design and performance FORDS since I hate ugly Dodge’s that are just stealing the lime light in the past few years.. but have to comment they are finally over decades and decades now just coming up to par on performance and beating down the Camaro and Ford. But their defense, Chevy and Ford has always been the dominate winners and rivals… that Dodge ever so wanted to be over 30 years now… and just as muscle cars are leaving the arena, Dodge now trying to take some lime light as everything is on low boil (the muscle car era) and simmering as it is fazed out in the next few years… haha Dodge has finally 3-5 years taken king! Crown the king! Haha!
Well what I did want to say is.!!!
If you bring back excitement of the old school days, then maybe consider the going product (muscle car division) out with a bang! GM/Chevy Camaro as an IROC-Z28 , big block, stroked, pushing NA power significantly enough as a base model that when opting for the supercharged series should push minimum 888 HP and 999 torque!!!! Push the torque up, up, uppp!
Also if your hard headed!!! Lighten up and take Motrin while drinking some serious coffee and wake up for at least one year to bring back the Pontiac for the last year/pre death year of Camaro and push the Trans Am Firebird under the Chevrolet brand… as a Chevrolet T/A “Trans Am” with same/likewise performance but with 33 extra horses and 66 extra torque!
Then kill of the Camaro only after both lines, the Camaro and Chevy Trans Am go out with celebrating a Bang Blow-out!
You can joking call it the “Smoke” series cause it should smoke the completion out of the box, in an ever so production and dubbed the most potent muscle car ending its legacy!
I can here it now, on the streets… “Smoked” that Dodge.
On the Strip… “Smoked” that Ford.
Dream on! Losers don’t sell all week, but what wins on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday…. Definitely sells on Monday and through the week and is what GM lost/loser.