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Pete68

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
I saw this article today and it got me thinking, what do I want on the next camaro?

GM ponders how to replicate success of Camaro in redesign
http://www.autonews.com/article/20120313/BLOG06/120319962/1490


  1. No ridiculous pin striping or orange panels on the interior
  2. Lower beltline
  3. Larger trunk opening
  4. Keep the V8 please, but maybe a bit smaller and higher revving like the, dare I say, Mustang Coyote V8
  5. Ill take a 4-cyl if its got more power than the V6, otherwise no way (not that I'd buy but someone will)
  6. Do NOT make it look like a second gen. In fact, do NOT make it retro, retro cues are OK but give me something modern and sleek. GM should not look to the past, lets move forward. If I want an old camaro Ill buy one, oh wait, I have one
  7. Add lots of cool technology for better mpg, I want to have my cake and eat it too
  8. Minimize the chrome please, its so 1990's
  9. Get about 20% smaller, why do you need to be so big anyway?
  10. Lose about 700-800 lbs of weight!
What do you guys think? What about owners? What do you like/dislike?
 
#2 ·
Tough one. I was going to say weight but then again it's fun to be able to walk off from a new one with fifty less horsepower. The new ZL1 is an embarrassment only knocking down low 12's.
 
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#6 ·
Pete68 said:
I saw this article today and it got me thinking, what do I want on the next camaro?

GM ponders how to replicate success of Camaro in redesign
http://www.autonews.com/article/20120313/BLOG06/120319962/1490


  1. Absolutely...No ridiculous pin striping or orange panels on the interior
  2. Absolutely...Lower beltline
  3. Absolutely...Larger trunk opening
  4. Keep the V8 please, but maybe a bit smaller and higher revving like the, dare I say, Mustang Coyote V8 Either way is OK
  5. Absolutely...Ill take a 4-cyl if its got more power than the V6, otherwise no way (not that I'd buy but someone will)
  6. Absolutely (Do NOT make it look like a second gen.) Not...Sorry but more retro. Retro is driving the market and driving the $$$$...In fact, do NOT make it retro, retro cues are OK but give me something modern and sleek. GM should not look to the past, lets move forward. If I want an old camaro Ill buy one, oh wait, I have one. The whole idea is a much improved 1st Gen. Retro is Retro.
  7. Absolutely...Add lots of cool technology for better mpg, I want to have my cake and eat it too
  8. Absolutely...Minimize the chrome please, its so 1990's
  9. Absolutely...Get about 20% smaller, why do you need to be so big anyway?
  10. Absolutely..Lose about 700-800 lbs of weight!

What do you guys think? What about owners? What do you like/dislike?
Click to expand...
Davem
 
#7 · (Edited)
I disagree with #6!
retro is the way to go! after all, all the new cars all look the same.
Infact look at a 4th gen camaro and then a ford probe!
looks alike to me!
and chrome is it.
the people buying these cars grew up in the 70s and eighties!
big block LS9 motors and if your worried about gas mileage you dont need a musclecar get a smart car!
 
#8 ·
I think GM should avoid going off in similar direction as Ford did with their latest mods to their revived Mustang. Meaning resist urge to push the boundaries of the exterior appearance into newer/modern realms (that stray from what made the original and revived version successful). Accept that you don't have to completely re-design what is working well every few years (i.e. Look how long the C-3 Vette body style stood the test of time 1968 - 1982). That design will be timeless and likely get more appealing as decades pass (similar to First Gens).

Ford recently raked the rear so now looks "import-ish" and unlike the original Mustangs that looked awesome. Then they squished the front down so now looks like someone dropped a 5-ton box on the hood and damaged it. Refrain from doing stupid things like that.

GM got back on the right track and needs to stay on it though continuing to look backward in time for inspiration toward further improving the exterior design elements and resist the urge to start allowing the wind-tunnel to dictate how all the body panels are shaped. I'm sure we'd all prefer to have a cool looking car that has inferior wind co-efficient score vs. an egg-shaped vehicle like Ford is now starting to morph the Mustang into. Similar to how GM took an errant path with their 4th Gen Camaro - sorry but just keepin it real how that is now easy to look back and see how GM followed in footsteps of Ford Probe's lead on allowing function to over-take form with that aerodynamic concept and took the Camaro down a wrong path from exterior appearance perspective - although performance innovation was highly commendable during that run.

Wheels - again - look backward to the 3 or 4 classic shapes that work so well, are timeless, and don't stray too far from them.

I see areas for improvement being the front grill and rear tail pan/lights. The front end could extend a little farther past the wheels so not such an abupt end. STOP trying to make it look similar to the front of the Cadillac - Please!

The rear tailights don't do a lot for me - weakest part of the current design in my opinion and I don't get the connection to the originals. I'd recommend they look more to the 67 & 68 tail-lights which I personally think look better than the '69. So '69ers don't get offended - I do think the front grill on that year was an improvement. Combine the 2 and now you really got it goin on.

All that said, I am a big fan of the new Camaro. One of the most appealing car designs in recent decades and extremely good bang for the buck when compared to Vette and Exotics.
 
#9 ·
UCI Camarofan said:
I own a 2010 SS, and I have 2 complaints: it is too heavy and big, and that it has poor visibility.
Click to expand...
I think these are the three most important issues to be addressed. I like the car the way it is and I've driven one 300 miles so I understand the visibilty issues a little better then someone that just went on a road test. It doesn't really feel as big as it looks or as heavy but the v6 I drove didn't feel like it had 300 HP either.

If the diet is a sucess and the glass is bigger fix the tail lights first and then the grill. if you want to make it look like a 68 with those improvements, go for it.

Jeff
 
#10 ·
If the diet is a sucess and the glass is bigger fix the tail lights first and then the grill. if you want to make it look like a 68 with those improvements, go for it.

Jeff[/QUOTE]


Despite many common media labels that have been placed on the 5th Gen's design being motivated by emulating specifically the '69, to my eye, various aspects are obviously much more similar to 67-68.

A couple that come to mind are the rounded wheel-wells and the vuluptuous arc that extends over the rear wheel well on back to the tail. I really have to conclude that the 5th gen was inspired by 1st gens in general vs. the common myth that is based specifically on the '69.

I suppose when you look at it from perspective that '69 didn't fall too far from the '67-'68 "apple tree" becomes really challenging to argue otherwise.
 
#12 ·
Smaller, including wheels & tires. Better trunk opening. Improved visibility. Lower belt line, if possible with current crash testing.

Don't do anything like that 5.0L, crank bearing swallowing, Chinese junk manual transmission Mustang. Current Camaro drivetrains are superior.
 
Discussion starter · #14 ·
So I guess its expected that a camaro forum would like retro. But I think GM should set the styling trends and not always look back to the "good ol days". But maybe Im alone in this thinking.

Im hoping too that its on the new Cadillac ATS platform which is supposed to be under 3400 lbs.
 
#15 ·
regarding the visibility thing: are there any new cars that have decent visibility any more? they stuff an airbag behind every interior panel, which adds bulk and takes away from outward visibility.. then there are all the other outrageously outrageous safety standards that also add bulk to all the pillars.

this also plays into the weight thing..
 
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#16 ·
#1 ) get the names right. The new ZL1 Camaro is not like the original ZL1 Camaro.

The 1969 ZL1 Camaro was built to run as a NHRA legal Super Stock drag car

The new "ZL1" is more of Z/28 then a ZL1 since both were built as Trans Am road racing type cars
A better name for it would be a "Super Z" since it has a supercharger


#2) Camaro had a great timeless design in the 1st gen Camaro so don't copy it but use it as a design inspiration not Hot Wheel cars or Disney characters
the 2010 Camaro looks more like the Disney shark then a 1st gen Camaro :)


#3) stick an iPod in the dash with music ,phone, internet, apps for OBD II code reader, GPS, MPG, ET and speed calculators, interactive alarm, reverse video etc ........
 

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#17 ·
68RS-SS said:
If the diet is a sucess and the glass is bigger fix the tail lights first and then the grill. if you want to make it look like a 68 with those improvements, go for it.

Jeff
Click to expand...

Despite many common media labels that have been placed on the 5th Gen's design being motivated by emulating specifically the '69, to my eye, various aspects are obviously much more similar to 67-68.

A couple that come to mind are the rounded wheel-wells and the vuluptuous arc that extends over the rear wheel well on back to the tail. I really have to conclude that the 5th gen was inspired by 1st gens in general vs. the common myth that is based specifically on the '69.

I suppose when you look at it from perspective that '69 didn't fall too far from the '67-'68 "apple tree" becomes really challenging to argue otherwise.[/QUOTE]
I agree that from the side the Camaro looks more like a 68 then 69 I was referring the front and rear veiws. If they put a 68 grille in it I would remove the gills from the side as some have done with the mail slot in front. Just my .02

Jeff
 
#18 ·
It seems like GM was trying to design the new Camaro to appeal to the 67,68 and the 69 style first gen fans. IMO they should have never rounded the wheel wells or they should get rid of the other 69 style Q's and make it look like the 67,68. Nothing wrong with going retro...just look at that new Challenger.
 
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#20 ·
Get rid of the 4 individual tail lights - go to the two rectangular lights like the 69's had. Also, bring back the Rally Sport with real hidden headlights as an option. Offer the 5.3L with "327" badging and a 6-speed - the thing will probably knock down 30 MPG on the highway - if they slim it down a little and put it on a diet. Maybe offer a stripped down, lightweight, small displacement model with a v6 or small v8 that is set up with a special handling package. BTW, they totally missed the mark with the "Mustang" stripes that they put on the pace cars. Blech!
 
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