Back in February, GM Authority was the first to tell you about an internal effort within GM to bring a next-gen Chevy Camaro to market, an effort that ultimately fell through. Now we’re back with a small but important tidbit about that very proposal.
Sources familiar with the matter told GM Authority that the plan involved building the seventh-generation Camaro on GM’s second-generation Alpha platform, a rear-drive vehicle architecture that currently underpins the Cadillac CT5.
Sixth-generation Chevy Camaro (discontinued)
First launched in conjunction with the Cadillac ATS Sedan in 2013 as Alpha 1, the architecture has been praised for its world-class driving dynamics and solid feel, while also being capable of cradling a plethora of engines, from four and six cylinders to atmospheric and supercharged V8s. In subsequent years, variants of Alpha would come to underpin various other models.
Alpha 1 Vehicles
- Cadillac ATS Sedan
- Cadillac ATS Coupe
- Cadillac ATS-L Sedan
- Cadillac CTS (third-gen)
- Chevy Camaro (sixth-gen)
Alpha 2 Vehicles
Had the seventh-generation Camaro been based on the Alpha 2 platform, it would likely have been built at the GM Lansing Grand River plant – the only facility in North America that has built vehicles on the Alpha architecture – while delivering a world-class driving experience similar to that of the sixth-generation model. Alas, the proposal for the model has been “blown apart” by decision makers due to the business case not being strong enough as key business-level performance targets, such as sales volume forecast and profitability metrics were not met.
Last we heard, GM is still kicking the project around. Here’s to hoping someone kicks it into high gear before the nameplate becomes completely irrelevant.
We’ll report more as we have it. Until then, be sure to subscribe (it’s absolutely, positively free) to GM Authority for more Chevy Camaro news, Chevrolet news, and around-the-clock GM news coverage.
Comments
Long as Mary’s running GM into the ground with cars nobody’s wants the nameplate will be a memory. If she brings it back nobody wants a battery operated Camaro look at Dodge’s mess they thought would sell now they see the public wants the Hemi back and they are listening.
I feel Mary Barra is the finest of automobile CEOs. She is the longest tenured and continues to provide effective leadership in challenging times for the industry.
Ive had 6 Corvettes including my current C8 and Ive had two Camaros. Im looking forward to an electric Camaro. I have a Cadillac Lyriq and find them to be an outstanding driving experience,
EVs are fun!
A bit too late for an April Fools joke.
Obviously not a car guy.
au contraire. I am a car guy, but unfortunately Barra’s gm is offering very few vehicles I would consider purchasing compared to when she started .
Here we go again tigger. Takes one to know one ??
You would know ……
Can’t hear them without a speaker.
Mary is that you??
Our family have got 2 chevy trax. I*m 70 + a G.M. retiree. Trax is the BESY car G.M. or anyone has ever built. Try driving it before you complain . You ROCKET SCIENTIST you.
When gm builds it in the US I’ll consider it.
LOL the Trax isn’t as good as the Encore/Trailblazer line. I’m on my 3rd Encore GX AWD and it’s a great little car. What’s not to like with AWD, 8spd and 35+ mpg hwy. I won’t get another because of where it is built but will enjoy this for a few years. BTW I am a Camaro nut having owned 8 over the years from my first a 67 Z28 to my last a 2000 Z28. I would love a new one built here in Michigan.
Paul, I’m restoring a 1980 Z28 right now.
OMG, if Trax is GM’s best shot, the game is over
Have two Holden BK (Opel-made) Astras and they in a different league
G’day Mate
Here here. I live in NewZealand and since “That Woman” has been at the head of the chain, firstly she took away the Aussie Holden brand and then decided to stop production of all right hand drive vehicles except Corvette or some electric sedan. What the hell use is either one of those to a tradie. All the other vehicle manufacturers must be laughing all the way to the bank. At least give us Colorado back.
I’ve always been a BOWTIE/CAMARO fan and owner. In 2010, I decided to buy a new Camaro SS. I sat in the car and noticed no visibility and my head hit the sunroof when I adjusted the driver’s seat so I could get some visibility, and my head hit the roof, I’m 5’9” tall.
I went over to Mustang and bought a Shelby GT 500. Since 2010, I have owned Mustangs. I don’t like that, but they fit me. I hope Chevy gets its act together and builds a driver friendly car.
I have a similar story.
Poor visibility in exchange for styling elements
Not practical
BS!. I’m 6’5″ and drive a 2018 ZL1 with a sunroof. No headroom issue…seat down and back. You have to adjust the SEAT! Also, I don’t understand the “visibility” issues. What are you looking for? Look ahead and drive, side mirrors work too.
I agree about the Camaro seating position. I was about to buy a 2010 until I sat in the first to be at my local dealer. I could not sit comfortably for the reasons you mentioned and instead bought a 2009 Corvette. I now have a 2014 Corvette and would seriously consider a next generation Camaro because there is nothing as nostalgic as front engine rear drive muscle cars.
Camaro. Feels like trapped in a cave.
Maybe you belong in a cave.
I believe Chevy’s failure with the 5th and 6th gen Camaro has always been due to the complete lack of practicality. If you ask me, your average Camaro buyer wants a daily driver, not a garage queen. Room for adults, visibility, a pleasant cabin, a usable trunk and a back seat that can at least hold an adult for a short trip are necessary for the average buyer. Considering the sheer bulk of the last two cars, they should be able to seat 4 adults (were not talking luxury, just capable). Especially since most don’t opt for the highest performance levels and generally want the car for it’s looks and because it’s fun to drive. I still have my 3rd gen, and while it’s a dinosaur compared to a modern car, it has a hatch, fold down seat, can actually haul 4′ wide plywood and lumber and smaller adults can fit in the back. Visibility is excellent and the cabin is bright and pleasant.
Sales wise the 5th gen was a big success considering it was outselling the Mustang for a couple years. The issue was that they ignored some of the bigger complaints. They addressed the weight issue (the 5th gen was way too heavy) but they didn’t address the outward visibility. Most buyers can’t afford to have a 2nd car for a daily driver, so if they struggle to see around them, the 6th gen was a hard sell. The interior of both the 5th and 6th gen were bad. The bizarre decision to tilt the center touchscreen was weird and the huge air vents were polarizing. And for some reason GM designers insist on making the seat height vs. Side window opening such that you can’t comfortably rest your arm on the window sill. Instead you feel like you are sitting in a bunker. They need to find a way to open the cockpit up, keep the interior neutral, keep prices in check, and don’t let the person responsible for the mid-cycle refresh of the 6th gen anywhere near the project. The 6th gen looked good on the exterior and it was ruined by whoever updated the styling in 2018. I was close to buying a 6th gen until I realized the design had changed and the new look was fugly.
Ive owned my z28 since 1994. I sat in a new convertable and thought the new one was great (it had he top down) , sat in a coupe and realized it would be a miserable car to drive. Considered a Mustang but decided on a Silverado 2500HD High Country with lots of head room. Even got the sport model LOL
This could fill the gap in Chevy’s lineup by also bringing back the SS Sedan, the Camaro, and the Malibu by simply varying the engine choices and features.
I would hope that they will see that many people will buy them if it is a good car, looks like a Camaro, visibility is improved and gas powered.
gm needs new designs you need to come back with gas powered cars come on who wants electric most people live in a apartment gm needs cars new designs
Exactly!
exactly. I live in a 100 unit apt complex (in CA) with (2) EV chargers. Not only can no one charge their cars (not enough electricity), if they do, they would have to wait until 98 others charge their cars. And I can be in Las Vegas on 1/2 tank of gas, while they need to stop to recharge and then charge again when they get to the hotel. I just turn around and use my other 1/2 a tank of gas to go home.
A next gen Camaro in coupe, sedan, possibly convertible and wagon styles. Maybe even an El Camino. Make it clearly a Chevy to not compete with Cadillacs. But, if the CT5 and CT4 are soon to be toast, that problem goes away. All gas or gas/hybrid.
That would be cool in a El Camino. Miss mine from 45 years ago. Would consider a new Camaro if built in Michigan. That would be Camaro #9 for me :o)
It was earlier reported that dear Mary will be forced out the door in December, sure hope the powers to be keep the new Camaro possibility alive, so after she’s gone it can be produced. Bring back the Malibu as an SS model for a “poor man’s” Caddy CT5.
I Hope so, mary is even worse than roger smith.
exactly
Chevelle SS! Without a TV on dashboard but ok with small screen on stereo for backup cameras
“Here’s to hoping someone kicks it into high gear before GENERAL MOTORS becomes completely irrelevant.”
FIFY.
No business case? Hmmm…Ford seems to do quite well with the Mustang. If FORD can do it, you’d think GM would outshine them. But then again, Ford sells more trucks as well.
I think GM sold more trucks recently than Ford if I remember.
Gotta add sales of both Chevrolet and GMC trucks to compare the GM total to Ford. That paints a very different picture. And then when you add the large, truck-based SUV’s (which GM dominates) to both companies, Ford falls further behind in large truck sales.
GM has sold more trucks than Ford for the last few years bud.
No business case= it isn’t an EV.
Remember, Mary is all in on EVs. Don’t forget their “Goal Zero” by 2030. And LGR is slated to build only EVs in two years.
It is absurd to think that ANOTHER parts bin Camaro based on the CT5 would NOT be profitable. Indeed a 6th Gen six speed LT1 car could be had for $34k.
Last I looked the Silverado EV for the 25 model year only have sold less than 2000 units, I’m sure the Camaro will sell better than that.
and i believe she will be forced out of the door at the end of the year, she’s finished
not everyone will buy ev’s, f*** the mandates, that’s another reason why trump won.
mandates (unless it’s for a reason) is fascism.
If GM had made blind spot and park assist warning standard on all Camaros that would have fixed the visibility problem. I have owned five Camaros, SS, RS, 1LE, LT1 manual & auto, but none had those much needed features. You shouldn’t have to spend $50k on a 2SS or 3LT to get those features!
Amen. I have been saying this forever. The nickel and diming is disgusting. Even today if you want bsm on a corvette you must buy a 2lt or 2lz minimum. A $120k Z06 doesn’t come with bsm!
It would have helped for sure. The 360 camera system works well and should almost be standard, but GM is the absolute worst for milking consumers with greedy bundles… like making cruise control an option in the Colorado so you have to pay for a bundle of options.
Alpha One architecture for Gen 6 Camaro was so good, I bought one. Car handles beautifully. Outward cabin visibility issue was way overblown, and offered as a reason to knock the Camaro by those who were disinclined to buy one anyway. If Gen 7 becomes a reality, please give buyers an ICE option!!
As usual “business decisions” win again, and car enthusiasts are the losers. The new Camaro should be built, and most versions should be of the ICE type. While we’re at it build a new Impala too, with V6 power at least! While a new Camaro might not make as much money as the bean counters would like, the image cars like this create is priceless! No SUVs around here. Just a 1977 Buick Electra and a 2017 Impala. Life is good. Oh, I’ve owned two Camaros. They’re on the best cars I’ve ever owned list.
No six cylinder
The options should be a V8 and a turbocharged V6 (or inline-6).
As FORD is still selling plenty of V-6 Mustangs, Chevy could do similar with a tweaked 2.7L Turbo 4cyl, I suspect. HEMIs are returning, so GM needs to be ready!
To me, Chevy’s marketing of the Camaro has been wrong since it returned! Too much focus on the higher-horsepower cars few bought rather than sell lots of V-6s and a few “halo” V-8 models. No need for the “ambient lighting” and such, either! Just a basic factory hot rod with “enough” tech and options to suit a multitude of people.
GOT TO have a trunk space opening under that wide trunk lid, too! Not there initially!
Decrease the slope of the back window and use the backup camera to run the inside rear view mirror. Cheap and easy to do.
Get the base price down to about $35K USD with the max being about $59K USD.
Configure and price for “volume” rather than “Laps around that German racetrack!”
Give BUICK a version worth of the name “Riviera”, too!
Camaro yes thanks Mustang no thanks .
Loved my Gen I 68 Camaro SS BB 4M British Green w/ white hockey stripes. Great car for its time. Always thought the Gen 1 SS/RS Camaros with hideaway headlights were stunning. Gen 5 and Gen 6 Camaros nailed that great design but didn’t offer hideaway headlights for an SS/RS feature.
To this day I still don’t understand why GM just walked away from Gen 6 Camaros (30k @ $1B per year in ‘23) w/o a replacement in the works ready to go. Didn’t pass my sanity check. Gen 6 was a great design.
If GM does decide to build an Alpha 2 Camaro I hope it will be just as stunning as Gen 5 & 6 Camaros were when they arrived. Hopefully it’s affordable w/ LT2 engines, in an SS variant and not in the CT5 Black Wing Price Range.
Build it and they will come.
Maybe also offer it as a sedan with AWD available to make “business sense”.
Love me the old ATS.
Just beating a dead horse. Go out and buy a clean Gen 5 or 6. Vision issues overblown. Or get a collectable from Gen 1 or Gen 2. Gen 4s have great power and are dirt cheap right now.
Seeing GM abandon the Camaro, along with forcing electric on Cadillac, really has me considering selling all of my GM stock!
GMs history is full of “we thought of doing something cool but didn’t”. Then they get the green light for stupid crap no one wants like a Hummer EV. Or wreck the blazer. And the silverado.ev is a styling joke.
A Camaro on Alpha 2 would likely have been priced out of the market for people who’d want to buy it. I tend to see why this idea was “blown apart”. I guess they’d have to design new architecture for an ICE-powered, RWD automobile- And that’s what they’re having trouble justifying at present.
Corvette and Camaro are the only GM products id purchase. Otherwise junk. From an GM family member.
The Camaro styling is 15 years old.The body should be upgraded to say a gen2 styling,use the ct5 platform with ice and rear wheel drive and option engine choices and transmissions.Offer a base in the high $20’s to 30.s.And they need to advertise it to the public to sell them.Bring back the Impala SS and Malibu SS in 2 doors and multiple engines and transmissions.NO ELECTRIC CAMARO,PERIOD!!!
WOW.. You people sound like you really know the automobile industry.
Who do you work for again?
Definitely not gm!
Get a life and buy a car.. STOP living in the past and get on board.. the train is leaving.
Which Camaro do you own?
<—— 17 years at GM, so my opinion counts.
Actually it doesn’t. See, this article is about the Camaro that people want. Your company went bankrupt, killed the Camaro, failed to compete with import sedans, off shored jobs to China, and makes EVs no one wants. In reality your opinion is meaningless.
And GM’s EVs have a “positive business case”? LOL!
Maybe a Hybrid AWD Camaro like the AWD Corvette? Its still gas powered and it’ll have impressive numbers, and have it more RWD drive centric. This will make it a daily driver even in the snowbelt. A small V6 hybrid can be 400-440hp; a V8 hybrid 500-555hp; maybe a eco performance version with a 4 banger turbo in the low 300hp range.
Absolutely.. EV’s definitely have a business case.
If they didn’t, no one would be producing and selling them.
As an owner of a C8 Z06, current model Tahoe and a Eqinox EV as my daily driver, I will tell you, EV’s most definitely have a place.
Don’t knock something until you try it. I absolutely love to drive my EV.
This article is about the Camaro, not a C8 that no longer sells. Just as GM EVs aren’t selling.
A warning to GM – phasing out ICE-powered vehicles is already starting to cost you. The majority of your customers DON’T WANT THEM. Look at your increasing inventory backlog. Read your market better. You sell what you do because it’s all you offer. A large section of your customers want more than anemic 4-cylinder ICE-powered vehicles. In my opinion, you future looks very bleak of you continue on your current course. These comments are coming from a long-time diehard GM loyalist.
and mary barra will be even worse than roger smith, soon she will be fired.
I certainly don’t want an electric Camaro!
I have an ’11 Camaro convertible and a ’23 Camaro coupe. Both are RS with the V-6 engines. They have plenty of zip and power and I didn’t waste money on an SS that I could never use to its full potential. I wanted a ’24 but saw the handwriting on the wall that my dealer would never get an allotment, let alone that GM would ever build it. The ’11 is roomier and I can see out the rear side window. The ’23 is more cramped and I can’t see out the rear side window. However, I’m used to the “cramping” now and it’s not an issue. Visibility-wise, the ’23 has the blind spot monitor and I have the mirrors way out so, if I can’t see something in the mirror, out my window, or the bsm isn’t lit up, there’s nothing there. I wanted the ’23 for the tech and safety features and love driving it. I still love driving the ’11 too. The best future for the Camaro is ICE and/or hybrid and keeping the price in an affordable range. GM ought to also devise a way that the batteries can charge while the vehicle is being driven. Having to find a charging station and needing to plug up is a hassle.
Bring the Camaro back! The world is a better place when the Camaro is in it! G.M are you listening?
Please pay attention to Schotz 6368! Get rid of the stupid screens that demand the driver’s undivided attention to make adjustments. Traditional adjustments to radio or HVAC controls can be done by feel without taking your eyes off the road.
I recently rented a KIA on a trip to Florida. Every time I started the car the screen put up a legal disclaimer warning me that it was dangerous to operate the screen while driving and that I should pull over to the side of the road if I felt the need to make changes on the screen. I don’t think that the auto manufacturers have any idea how much they are alienating their customers.
When I was getting my first oil change for my ’24 Jeep Grand Cherokee an owner of the same model Jeep who was behind me in the oil change lane came rushing up to me to ask if I could believe what a stupid pain in the neck the screen was. I am not exaggerating when say that the guy was spitting mad. All I could say to him was that I completely agreed.
As for the Chev Malibu idea; this makes much more sense than a new Camaro. GM would have the flexibility to build a coupe, a sedan. a station wagon with 4wd, a convertible, or a V8 performance vehicle- whatever the market wanted, instead of limiting the platform to just the Camaro-type vehicle
If GM’s proposal for the 7th gen was gonna be a heavy MCE of the 6th gen ala ATS>CT4 and CTS>CT5 (also the s550/650 mustang) then I’m glad GM cancelled it. Too many automakers are barely changing rooflines, body panels and doors and claiming it to be all new. The narrow roofline, gunslit windows of the 5 gen worked, but it should’ve stayed with the 5 gen. The only good thing they did was introduce the LT1 trim. Moving forward I think they should think about just offering the Camaro as a V8 only package starting in the mids $30s and forget about the lower trims.
Sales forecast?! They did ZERO marketing for the 6th Gen and they’re using those sales figures to determine the sales forecasts for the 7th Gen. There were no significant mid model upgrades only a world class car that no one knew about. Dodge and Ford soldBarra and the rest of these decision makers are a joke.
Mary Barra only cares about Mary Barra. She’ll spend another 5-10 years having GM building a redundancy of SUVs and trucks that are pretty good and the Corvette. The problem is I don’t want another truck, SUV or the Corvette. Remember cars like the Grand Prix, Grand National, Camaro, Firebird etc.? GM’s products are kind of boring right now. If I wanted a boring car I’d buy a Honda.
GM has a great opportunity to fill the void left by the Challenger, and should take a page from Dodge’s playbook. They did an excellent job of keeping a 14 year old design relevant by offering everything from a reasonably priced daily driver to the Hellcat. It also was sized right for the average American.
GM needs to get with their fore father’s and learn how to build a car that the people want. Get rid of the fuel management system, no turning off four cylinders, the annoying turning the engine off at a stop, a more responsive throttle, and some decent colors. In addition, bring all their plants back to the US, build a few real muscle cars that have style, and not some sedan, build a truck that doesn’t cost $$$$$$$$, make the Corvette a Corvette again and not some sissy European “super” car, and do the same with the Camaro. Get a CEO that doesn’t ruin GM, like Kathleen Kennedy ruined Star Wars. Build Americans, American cars and trucks like our parents and grandparents could count on, and afford.
The fact that Mazda can pull off a targa top miata, the current gen mustangs, Z, and next gen camaro should have the Targa option. T-tops had been staples of these cars and bringing back safe open air driving in these powerhouses would revitalize nostalgia in these brands.
“Alas, the proposal for the model has been “blown apart” by decision makers due to the business case not being strong enough…”
In Product Planning, putting together proposals exactly like this, we saw plenty of yea’s and nay’s over the years. Basically, if senior management really doesn’t want to do something the standard answer is “it doesn’t meet business case objectives…keep studying it” (to death).
Let’s face it, if it was an EV based program and had a fraction of the business case of this ICE proposal it would have been approved PDQ. As long as this management team is in place, they’re never going to pivot away from Mary’s “zero crashes, zero emissions….blah, blah” mandate. That despite all the evidence that they blew the call on hybrids, blew the call on their aggressive EV adoption forecast everywhere except China where they underestimated it. To be fair, their long term China sales free fall is only partially their fault.
I have owned gen 1, 2, 3 and now 6. Bring it back, keep the convertible! Can’t say they didn’t sell when many of us placed orders with cash in hand only to be disappointed in the end.
I love my 6th Gen SS 1LE, I have zero issues with visibility. Chevy should make a Camaro with an LT 2 on the 2nd Gen Alpha chassis, that would be awesome! Hell make the ZL1 with the 5.5 liter, I would buy the ZL1 1LE!!!
Bring back our beloved Camaro with V8 powerplants, no battery powered garbage please. Build a Z28 split bumper edition would be cool. Please no computer touch screen where the instrument cluster should be either. Make it affordable around $35k so us folks out here in the heartland can afford to drive it every day.
I love the 6th gen Camaro… I just have a base model 1LT, and been enjoying every minute of it. The handling on the alpha 1 platform is just too good, I can whip that thing around corners so effortlessly and even when it loses traction it’s so balanced that you can slide the rear end with precision. Honestly, after owning a 6th gen Camaro I dont want to drive any other car. My next car will be a 7th gen SS… but if GM discontinues it, I will look for a used 6th gen SS. There is nothing I would change about the car except for the interior shoulder/elbow space, it’s fine for the most part but would love some extra room to stretch my arms. The visibility and head room is a non-issue, I got used to it.
if GM is making a 7th gen Camaro, I would like to see only 2 engine options, the classic 6.2L V8 and the 2.7L Turbo used in the CT4. Get rid of the V6, it’s completely pointless, turbo 4s are just way more fun than a V6. If you want raw power just get the V8.