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Camaro to roar back by 2008

M

MikeMike

Lifer
http://freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2006608060568

BY TOM WALSH and MARK PHELAN

FREE PRESS BUSINESS WRITERS


It's really happening: The Chevy Camaro is coming back as a production car, the Free Press has learned.

General Motors Corp. Chairman Rick Wagoner is expected to announce the resurrection of the legendary muscle car in a speech Thursday to an automotive conference in Traverse City.

The auto industry has been buzzing with speculation about GM's plans for the Camaro ever since the carmaker wowed the crowds at the 2006 North American International Auto Show in January with a stunning 400-horsepower concept. At a time when truck and SUV sales are softening and car sales are regaining momentum, a sexy new entry could give GM's entire passenger-car line a boost.

The production version could be built as early as 2008 and will offer three engines, a V-6 and two V-8s, according to people familiar with the plans.

GM spokesman Steve Harris would not comment Friday on plans for the Camaro, but other sources told the Free Press that GM's top management and board of directors have green-lighted the car.

The Camaro was introduced in 1966 as the answer to the Ford Mustang, and it prowled America's streets and drag strips until production ended in 2002.

Like the concept, the production Camaro will be based on GM's new Zeta global architecture for rear-wheel-drive cars, expected to form the basis for several big, powerful sedans and coupes to be introduced over the next few years.

It was unclear last week where GM intends to build the Camaro. Speculation in the automotive press has centered on assembly plants in Oshawa, Ontario, and Wilmington, Del.

Other unanswered questions are sure to keep the buzz going even after Wagoner's announcement:

How many people will buy a Camaro in the age of $3.15-per-gallon gasoline?

What will it cost?

And what about bringing back the Pontiac Firebird/TransAm?

Contact TOM WALSH at 313-223-4430 or twalsh@freepress.com.
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wohoo!

too bad GM is falling flat on their face as of lately. I'd hope that this car becomes a hit. but with the decline in GM sales, and the increase in gas prices, I'm thinking its doubtful.
 
Originally posted by: Red Dawn
I love it's look, it's beats the generic look of the Japanese and their American clones
Click to expand...

the mustang looks like a japanese car? 😕
 
Originally posted by: ElFenix
Originally posted by: Red Dawn
I love it's look, it's beats the generic look of the Japanese and their American clones
Click to expand...

the mustang looks like a japanese car? 😕
Click to expand...
No and not all Japanese cars look generic either.
 
Originally posted by: dug777
Let me guess, they'll use an Australian designed platform? Perhaps the VE Commodore? 😉
Click to expand...
IIRC this is an entirely new RWD platform developed for the new Camaro/GTO right?

If this thing gets decent mileage for a V8 (I'm thinking 20/28) and is priced in Mustang territory without being overweight, I'd buy it in a heart beat
 
Originally posted by: fbrdphreak
Originally posted by: dug777
Let me guess, they'll use an Australian designed platform? Perhaps the VE Commodore? 😉
Click to expand...
IIRC this is an entirely new RWD platform developed for the new Camaro/GTO right?

If this thing gets decent mileage for a V8 (I'm thinking 20/28) and is priced in Mustang territory without being overweight, I'd buy it in a heart beat
Click to expand...

Yeah, it got a very good rap from all the reviews i've read so far here...
 
Originally posted by: fbrdphreak
Originally posted by: dug777
Let me guess, they'll use an Australian designed platform? Perhaps the VE Commodore? 😉
Click to expand...
IIRC this is an entirely new RWD platform developed for the new Camaro/GTO right?

If this thing gets decent mileage for a V8 (I'm thinking 20/28) and is priced in Mustang territory without being overweight, I'd buy it in a heart beat
Click to expand...

nope, dug is right. it's going to be on the zeta 2 platform, first introduced with the VE Commodore
 
Originally posted by: ElFenix
Originally posted by: fbrdphreak
Originally posted by: dug777
Let me guess, they'll use an Australian designed platform? Perhaps the VE Commodore? 😉
Click to expand...
IIRC this is an entirely new RWD platform developed for the new Camaro/GTO right?

If this thing gets decent mileage for a V8 (I'm thinking 20/28) and is priced in Mustang territory without being overweight, I'd buy it in a heart beat
Click to expand...

nope, dug is right. it's going to be on the zeta 2 platform, first introduced with the VE Commodore
Click to expand...

yup, designed and engineered by Holden.

 
Originally posted by: Fenixgoon
TWO v8's? does that mean it'll have the option of the LS2 and the LS7????😀😀😀😀😀
Click to expand...

I wondered about that...my first thought was the 303HP 5.3L they have in current Impala/Monte Carlo SS iterations and then the LS2 as the high end for the Camaro SS with another possible future version with a slightly watered down LS7...?

I can't wait 😛
 
Originally posted by: EvilYoda
Originally posted by: Fenixgoon
TWO v8's? does that mean it'll have the option of the LS2 and the LS7????😀😀😀😀😀
Click to expand...

I wondered about that...my first thought was the 303HP 5.3L they have in current Impala/Monte Carlo SS iterations and then the LS2 as the high end for the Camaro SS with another possible future version with a slightly watered down LS7...?

I can't wait 😛
Click to expand...

it will probably launch right AFTER the transformer movie 😀
 
Originally posted by: dug777
Let me guess, they'll use an Australian designed platform? Perhaps the VE Commodore? 😉
Click to expand...

no - they're going to use a platform designed by an accountant, and their plans are to push it down on Holden's RWD offerings at their next design refreshes. In fact, ALL GM RWD vehicles from all divisions are due to switch over at the next design refresh. Which is a shame, really, because Holden is the last GM division to be in touch with building fun and useful vehicles. The runaway success of the GTO/Monaro should have shown GM that the ENTIRE world could appreciate that stuff. But no, they took it, and killed it instead - the last bright spot in a massive, topheavy corporation that's about to fall. It was a last gasp for air, as the giant slides over the rail and into the dark, black depths.

Enjoy your Commodore while it lasts.

</pessimism>
 
Originally posted by: Fenixgoon
TWO v8's? does that mean it'll have the option of the LS2 and the LS7????😀😀😀😀😀
Click to expand...

ya... my thoughts exactly...

hopefully it's not that puny, destroked 5.3 V8 from the Impala.
 
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