Next Generation Update
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In a steady stream of rumors regarding what
is happening in the war to continue production of the Camaro and Firebird,
it's very hard to know what is the truth and what is not. For
your interest, we are providing the following information not based
on rumors but based on fact and deductions from fact.
Purely from an enthusiast standpoint we have deducted a few thoughts
on this based on what we have been told. First of all, everyone
remembers how there was no production 1983 Corvette, and at the time
there were concerns that it was a sign of a stop in production. After
that, two generations of world class Corvettes were produced, the
C4 and the C5. Having said that, there could quite possibly
be a gap in production for a year or two for the Camaro and Firebird
as well, only to have it return as a new generation of the cars. Also,
if you look back on things, the Camaro and Firebird are the only rear-wheel
drive V8 powered vehicles that have remained true to their brand character
from the beginning. For example, the Ford Mustang was built
on the Pinto chassis for a while, and we have seen the Thunderbird
go through several character changes. There are many inside
GM that are pulling to continue to with what they started out as:
rear-wheel drive V8 powered cars for the Camaro and Firebird brand
name. With what we are not quite sure, but we do know that the
SSR is absolutely not planned to be a replacement for the Camaro and
Firebird. One thing is for sure, it is highly unlikely that
the Camaro and Firebird name will be dropped permanently.
As far as when the LS6 will come into play, probably never while the
cars are being produced at the St. Therese assembly plant, but there
could quite possibly be some post-production Camaros and/or Firebirds
with special LS6 engine packages, but who will produce them and when
also remains to be seen.
This information is to be considered accurate but not necessarily
definite as of September 23, 2000.
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