GM Authority is once again cutting through the fog of misinformation, this time tackling misleading AI-generated content about the supposed return of the beloved Chevy El Camino. Welcome to the latest edition of the GM Authority AI Slop Report.
For those who may have missed it, we previously looked at viral claims surrounding the fictional 2026 Chevy Chevelle. Unfortunately, the long-discontinued El Camino nameplate is victim to the same schemes.
The Chevy El Camino debuted in 1959 as Chevrolet’s answer to the Ford Ranchero, combining a passenger car front half with the utility of a pickup bed to create a “coupe utility vehicle.” After a brief initial run, the El Camino was discontinued in 1960 only to return in 1964 on the same platform as the Chevelle.
The El Camino evolved across multiple generations, even offering a high-performance SS variant and eventually gaining cult-like status. Its final fifth-generation was produced through the 1987 model year, after which the El Camino was discontinued and has not returned since.
Nevertheless, searching for the term “2026 Chevy El Camino” on Google paints a somewhat optimistic picture. According to the Gemini AI-generated summary:
“The 2026 Chevrolet El Camino is rumored to be a return of the iconic coupe utility vehicle, blending muscle car styling with truck practicality. While not officially confirmed by Chevrolet, numerous online sources and fan communities anticipate a modern interpretation of the El Camino, potentially featuring a unibody construction and borrowing design elements from the Camaro and other Chevy trucks.”
Sounds great. Unfortunately, it isn’t based on anything substantive.
The search results include AI-generated images that splice together elements of the classic El Camino design with features from modern Camaro and Silverado models, resulting in digital mashups that can look great, but don’t actually amount to anything. This is the same playbook used to promote the fictional “2026 Chevelle,” and unfortunately, fan interest is being manipulated by low-effort, high-clickbait tactics.
So, we’re here to set the record straight – despite enthusiasm from fans, GM has made no indication that the El Camino is making a return, now or in the future. Indeed, we regret to report that the so-called “2026 Chevy El Camino” is nothing more than yet another case of AI slop.
Comments
Amazing how many people believe those are models ready for production. Dealers would take your deposit and charge you $5,000 over sticker. If it was real.
I would even buy it on a stretched Trailblazer chassis with a 4 cylinder. Love the look and it would be perfect for my needs. I know Mary would never build it with a V8.
Perfect. Make it front drive for snow traction and 30 MPG/City with a hybrid or diesel and I’m all in. I would like a truck, but the mileage would kill me. I drive 30k a year for work. I can’t buy a Maverick for ideological reasons. The old man’s Dearborn Independent killed it for me.
People have strange tastes, imo. The demand for the Maverick (wasn’t there a Mercury by the same name?) is still high. Ford sure is milking the Escape platform for everything that it’s worth. Plus, have you seen the prices for some of the special editions? It’s crazy.
Maverick was a small Ford back in the 70s.
It looks like the now defunct Camaro and Colorado had a baby. Or an Aussie Holden Ute SVT.
Like the Chevelle, it’d be neat if it was real. Btw, for those who don’t know, the last El Camino was based on the last Chevelle platform.
The first El Camino was built for the 1959 model year. The 1959 and 1960 El Caminos were full sized as that’s all there was back then. After 1960 there was no El Camino until 1964 when it was built on the Chevelle chassis. If they build a new El Camino it should definitely have a V8 option.
It would take Artificial Intelligence to come up with this. GM certainly doesn’t have the intelligence to do it.
Pathetic how many of us like these illustrations, and GM just dismisses them as fantasy!!!! NO MORE CAR GUYS AT GM!!!!!!!!!!!
AI has sucker so many on cars that just have no market.
I wish people would really learn on the auto mfgs work and learn why some thing just be economically.
I would love an El Camino as a previous owner of a big block one. But there is no real low price platform it could be based on. The Alpha is unable to be done at lower costs fue tonIRS and other expensive platform items.
If they did this it would be $60k. A V8 is not a problem but volume as it would not sell more $15k units a year.
Even the Pontiac ST was slated for less than 10k units at near $50k.
A model like this needs to be based on a platform that sells north of 100k units and then share it with additional El Camino units.
It is no longer just enough to make some money at a mfg. today you need to make the most return on a dollar invested.
Right now the MFG that can sell the best cars at a lower price will win. This is why Hyundai is growing and others struggle even if their cars have isdues.
Price and utility win today.
I really wish they would build this with a N-S small block V8. I would really be interested!
Just report the channels doing it! There is also a lot of AI spam about a 2025+ Chevy Spark! Hate the people doing this !
Chevrolet has ruined itself with no car selection. They don’t know how to keep the customer happy. They don’t back up what they build anyway.
You mean the cars that they stopped building and still are trying to sell a year later.
GM has not ruined anything. They offered sedans longer than any American auto maker and even offered AWD and wagons long after the others yet no one bought them in numbers that made good money.
You may be upset with the lack of cars but after the Lacrosse, Regals, Malibu, Camaro and Impala you can’t say GM did not try.
You have two great Cadillac sedans no one is buying now too.
I bought a Malibu. Did you?
TBH, the white rendering reminds me of the Hyundai Santa Cruz!
GM is lost. Huge trucks, SUVs that are all the same just different sizes. Some compete with themselves. Cadillac the only manual transmission and very few cars (sedans, or coupes or hatchback). Keep it up Mary.
Why do they build what they build. Because they make money and lots of money.
If GM sold cars globally where car sales were much higher volume they would still offer them here. But Europe and Japan are not really open to American cars.
The one at the top of the page is badass! But the second, Chevelle-based one, not so much…
The fact GM doesn’t have compact truck speaks volumes about their research and development
Bring back the El Camino SS I would buy one in a HEART BEAT of America