G8/Camaro insider info:
08-23-2006, 12:48 PM
#1
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G8/Camaro insider info:
Pontiac G8 could pull up next to Camaro
Jim Mateja
http://www.chicagotribune.com/classi...1867305.column
The Chevy Camaro isn't the only new car coming from General Motors in the next couple years.
Camaro reportedly will be joined by the Pontiac G8, a companion to the next-generation GTO due for 2009, as well as high-performance Chevy Impala and Buick sedans.
All will be derived from the same midsize, rear-wheel-drive platform.
Camaro and its companions will put a little more emphasis on the days of the high-performance, high-styled American muscle cars of the '60s and '70s and should attract Baby Boomers who didn't have the dough at the time to take part.
"It'* exciting. All of these cars should rejuvenate the car business at GM," according to John Wolkonowicz, senior analyst for Global Insight, who closely follows GM'* product strategy. "This is exactly what Detroit should be doing."
Camaro will be in showrooms early in the 2009 calendar year. It will mark the return of the sporty car from the '60s that got emasculated in the '80s, when federal fuel economy regulations shifted attention to mileage, not fun, and put the focus on Japanese machines.
"The domestics have lots of blue-collar fans who love Chevy, Ford and Dodge but have been left out in the cold for a long time. They want cars with an American flavor and American muscle--Charger, Challenger, Camaro, Mustang--a heritage the Japanese don't have," Wolkonowicz said.
Bringing back performance when consumers want high mileage could be a tough sell, and GM has to bring out some high-mileage small cars, too, Wolkonowicz admits. "But this isn't about cars with large V-8s consuming lots of fuel. High performance doesn't have to mean bad fuel economy," he said.
While consumers are captivated with how much fuel gas/electrics can save, the hybrid Toyota Highlander with a V-6 gets 27 m.p.g. on the highway. But, he said, the Chrysler 300C with a Hemi V-8 gets 27 m.p.g. and the Chevy Impala with a V-8 gets 28 m.p.g. highway.
And most Camaros, like Mustangs, will be built with V-6s for those who want the look and more than 30 m.p.g. on the highway.
"You want better mileage? Get out of an SUV that gets 18 m.p.g. highway and into a sports sedan that gets 28 m.p.g. and you've accomplished something--10 m.p.g. better fuel economy," Wolkonowicz said.
Of course, you'd do even better getting into a 38 m.p.g. Toyota Corolla.
"But it'* still a free country, and we can drive what we like and not what fuel-economy activists want us to drive," he said.
If Impala makes the switch from front-wheel-drive, it may signal the departure of its companion Monte Carlo coupe. Stay tuned.
Jim Mateja
http://www.chicagotribune.com/classi...1867305.column
The Chevy Camaro isn't the only new car coming from General Motors in the next couple years.
Camaro reportedly will be joined by the Pontiac G8, a companion to the next-generation GTO due for 2009, as well as high-performance Chevy Impala and Buick sedans.
All will be derived from the same midsize, rear-wheel-drive platform.
Camaro and its companions will put a little more emphasis on the days of the high-performance, high-styled American muscle cars of the '60s and '70s and should attract Baby Boomers who didn't have the dough at the time to take part.
"It'* exciting. All of these cars should rejuvenate the car business at GM," according to John Wolkonowicz, senior analyst for Global Insight, who closely follows GM'* product strategy. "This is exactly what Detroit should be doing."
Camaro will be in showrooms early in the 2009 calendar year. It will mark the return of the sporty car from the '60s that got emasculated in the '80s, when federal fuel economy regulations shifted attention to mileage, not fun, and put the focus on Japanese machines.
"The domestics have lots of blue-collar fans who love Chevy, Ford and Dodge but have been left out in the cold for a long time. They want cars with an American flavor and American muscle--Charger, Challenger, Camaro, Mustang--a heritage the Japanese don't have," Wolkonowicz said.
Bringing back performance when consumers want high mileage could be a tough sell, and GM has to bring out some high-mileage small cars, too, Wolkonowicz admits. "But this isn't about cars with large V-8s consuming lots of fuel. High performance doesn't have to mean bad fuel economy," he said.
While consumers are captivated with how much fuel gas/electrics can save, the hybrid Toyota Highlander with a V-6 gets 27 m.p.g. on the highway. But, he said, the Chrysler 300C with a Hemi V-8 gets 27 m.p.g. and the Chevy Impala with a V-8 gets 28 m.p.g. highway.
And most Camaros, like Mustangs, will be built with V-6s for those who want the look and more than 30 m.p.g. on the highway.
"You want better mileage? Get out of an SUV that gets 18 m.p.g. highway and into a sports sedan that gets 28 m.p.g. and you've accomplished something--10 m.p.g. better fuel economy," Wolkonowicz said.
Of course, you'd do even better getting into a 38 m.p.g. Toyota Corolla.
"But it'* still a free country, and we can drive what we like and not what fuel-economy activists want us to drive," he said.
If Impala makes the switch from front-wheel-drive, it may signal the departure of its companion Monte Carlo coupe. Stay tuned.
08-23-2006, 01:10 PM
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yay! oh, and according to wikipedia, this is supposed to be the replacement for the Bonneville
just hope they keep the 3800!
08-23-2006, 01:16 PM
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If they're bringin back the camaro..
they should also bring back firebirds
maybe thats wut the G8 is all about-and they are keeping it underwraps!!
a member posted some pics of a nice yellow chevy with racing stripes..
was that the new camaro?
they should also bring back firebirds
maybe thats wut the G8 is all about-and they are keeping it underwraps!!
a member posted some pics of a nice yellow chevy with racing stripes..
was that the new camaro?
08-23-2006, 01:16 PM
#8
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Good info Bill! I've been following this saga too. Thanks! 
As usual though, GM is a few years behind the curve. I hope it doesn't bite them again, as I would really like to see some of these cars make it.
On the other hand I can really see why the GM Holden GTO didn't make it, despite the fact that it'* a 400 hp performace maniac and a blast to test drive.
Last week I was at the local dealership ordering some parts and had to cool my heels awhile waiting. So I took a limited edition GTO for a test drive. Driving it really, really, really (did I say really yet?) made me want it even though I'm not in the market right now. I think that anyone who drives that will have to agree that that is a great driving machine and handles like a dream.
Problem is, IMO, there just aren't enough design cues to attract the average American performance enthusiast. It strikes me a lot like a european performance car, totally devoid of the muscle car performance design cues we were raised on, with the possible exception of the hood scoops/vents.
GM, sensibly realizing they'd flubbed, tried to jump and create a quick replacement for the missing pony cars in their lineup with the Australian designed and produced Holden product. While Ford and Chrysler were wisely designing cars with all the cues our automotive heritage has to offer, GM jumped to market with a non-American inspired design that sadly doesn't inspire our narrow-minded American-influenced muscle car nostalgia.
The correction is a long time coming, IMO. I hope they don't water down the designs that have inspired us this time.
As usual though, GM is a few years behind the curve. I hope it doesn't bite them again, as I would really like to see some of these cars make it.
On the other hand I can really see why the GM Holden GTO didn't make it, despite the fact that it'* a 400 hp performace maniac and a blast to test drive.
Last week I was at the local dealership ordering some parts and had to cool my heels awhile waiting. So I took a limited edition GTO for a test drive. Driving it really, really, really (did I say really yet?) made me want it even though I'm not in the market right now. I think that anyone who drives that will have to agree that that is a great driving machine and handles like a dream.
Problem is, IMO, there just aren't enough design cues to attract the average American performance enthusiast. It strikes me a lot like a european performance car, totally devoid of the muscle car performance design cues we were raised on, with the possible exception of the hood scoops/vents.
GM, sensibly realizing they'd flubbed, tried to jump and create a quick replacement for the missing pony cars in their lineup with the Australian designed and produced Holden product. While Ford and Chrysler were wisely designing cars with all the cues our automotive heritage has to offer, GM jumped to market with a non-American inspired design that sadly doesn't inspire our narrow-minded American-influenced muscle car nostalgia.
The correction is a long time coming, IMO. I hope they don't water down the designs that have inspired us this time.
08-23-2006, 01:51 PM
#10
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G8, how lame. Why not bring back the Firebird name? At least give a cool name to associate with a car instead of a "Battleship" coordinate.