tjlarge
Dec 16th, 05, 06:42 PM
I came across this article today regarding the "possibility" that a Camaro concept car might debut at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit next month. The exec's reaction indicates it is a definate maybe ;)
If true - it would be mighty cool....
This is an excerpt from the Chicago Tribune article !!
Silence Says a Lot About Camaro's Return
Chicago Tribune
By Jim Mateja
Dec. 16, 2005
Rumors are swirling that Chevrolet will unveil a concept at the Detroit
Auto Show next month that signals the return of a famous nameplate: Camaro.
Reportedly the concept is derived from a stretch of General Motors' small,
rear-wheel-drive platform used to produce the 2006 Pontiac Solstice and
2007 Saturn Sky roadsters.
When Solstice was revealed, GM promised a variety of low-volume vehicles
as many as five would be derived from that platform.
But GM is being coy on this one. When asked about the Camaro concept last
week in an interview, Chairman Rick Wagoner said: "What Camaro?"
Then he broke into an ear-to-ear grin.
"What's the famous quote from Sgt. Schultz on Hogan's Heroes' I know
nothing.' We'll see, but I don't want to steal anybody's thunder."
GM has been promising "gotta have" cars that consumers would sell their
souls or at least their Japanese cars for.
Solstice's success, with more buyers than cars to sell, had to bring
another niche vehicle to the front burner.
Camaro first appeared in 1966. Its best year was 1978, when 260,000 were
sold. But in September 2001, GM said Camaro and its sister coupe, the
Pontiac Firebird, were being discontinued. Camaro sales had fallen to
42,000 units.
The sales slide was the result of two factors: high insurance rates and
young buyers moving from sport coupes to sport-utility vehicles.
If a Camaro coupe materializes, it's going to raise the question of when to
expect a new Firebird. Pontiac says none is in the works.
It raises another question. What about building the next-generation Pontiac
GTO from the same platform as Solstice, Sky and the presumptive Camaro? The
current model, a midsize rear-wheel-drive coupe imported from Australia,
has been disappointing. Pontiac only sells about 1,000 a month.
Stay tuned.
If true - it would be mighty cool....
This is an excerpt from the Chicago Tribune article !!
Silence Says a Lot About Camaro's Return
Chicago Tribune
By Jim Mateja
Dec. 16, 2005
Rumors are swirling that Chevrolet will unveil a concept at the Detroit
Auto Show next month that signals the return of a famous nameplate: Camaro.
Reportedly the concept is derived from a stretch of General Motors' small,
rear-wheel-drive platform used to produce the 2006 Pontiac Solstice and
2007 Saturn Sky roadsters.
When Solstice was revealed, GM promised a variety of low-volume vehicles
as many as five would be derived from that platform.
But GM is being coy on this one. When asked about the Camaro concept last
week in an interview, Chairman Rick Wagoner said: "What Camaro?"
Then he broke into an ear-to-ear grin.
"What's the famous quote from Sgt. Schultz on Hogan's Heroes' I know
nothing.' We'll see, but I don't want to steal anybody's thunder."
GM has been promising "gotta have" cars that consumers would sell their
souls or at least their Japanese cars for.
Solstice's success, with more buyers than cars to sell, had to bring
another niche vehicle to the front burner.
Camaro first appeared in 1966. Its best year was 1978, when 260,000 were
sold. But in September 2001, GM said Camaro and its sister coupe, the
Pontiac Firebird, were being discontinued. Camaro sales had fallen to
42,000 units.
The sales slide was the result of two factors: high insurance rates and
young buyers moving from sport coupes to sport-utility vehicles.
If a Camaro coupe materializes, it's going to raise the question of when to
expect a new Firebird. Pontiac says none is in the works.
It raises another question. What about building the next-generation Pontiac
GTO from the same platform as Solstice, Sky and the presumptive Camaro? The
current model, a midsize rear-wheel-drive coupe imported from Australia,
has been disappointing. Pontiac only sells about 1,000 a month.
Stay tuned.