What if Saturn got a version of the Camaro with 'Sky'-like Styling?

What would some of you think if Saturn (not pontiac) got a version of the 2009 Camaro but instead it had a styling theme similar to the Sky?

uhhh....

ummmm , ok . Then ya would have lost me . Doesnt a car like the Camaro completely go against the grain of Saturns new image ?

ummmm , ok . Then ya would have lost me . Doesnt a car like the Camaro completely go against the grain of Saturns new image ?

Are you telling me GM doesnt want Saturn to symbolize "performance"?

What kind of image does the Sky portray?

Bob Lutz said the brand with the most growth potential is Saturn so I wouldn't be surprised if Saturn 'possibly' got a version of the Camaro in 2010 or so with totally different styling.

I would be extremely dissapointed if Saturn got a 5th gen derivative and Pontiac didn't get a Firebird/Trans Am. That being said, I don't think either of them are getting anything.

What would some of you think if Saturn (not pontiac) got a version of the 2009 Camaro but instead it had a styling theme similar to the Sky?

I like the way you're thinking! :bow:

The Sky is a fresh, modern, and aggressive design, just like a modern-day sports coupe should be. In fact it'll probably be my next car. If we had similar styling on the f-car's chassis I would be first in line with my chequebook open. And I'll bet it'd have a heckuva lot better chance in gaining conquest sales from the import-intender crowd.

Anyone good at Photoshop? :D

This quote from Lutz is what makes me think Saturn might have a better chance at getting a version of the Camaro then Pontiac. If for some reason the Saturn Sky outsells the Pontiac Solstice in the next few years because Pontiac dealers charge huge mark-ups while Saturn dealers don't, will only strengthen the case for Saturn.

Speaking of brand image, how do you save Pontiac and Buick?

Pontiac and Buick need sharper focus. We have to stop trying to make them Chevys with a different badge. That means fewer models. On Pontiac, the Solstice is a good example, and it will be followed by others. The brand will be sharply focused in a sporting direction.

So you're no longer trying to get big sales volume from Buick and Pontiac?

We want to grow volume with Chevy, Cadillac, Hummer, and Saturn. Saturn is definitely a growth brand because you don't have to overcome preconceived public notions.

What about Buick?

The real challenge with Buick is that people automatically exclude it from consideration. That it's an old person's car is a notion that's constantly reinforced by the media. Breaking though that is very tough. It's easier to grow a brand like Saturn.

A Saturn branded modernly styled Camaro would be sacralidge in many ways. Instead I'd prefer to see the Firebird come out with modern styling and thus sending the Camaro retro and the Firebird modern and letting people choose what kind of car they like, I think that would do a great job of opening the market that much wider without pissing too many people off.

Are you telling me GM doesnt want Saturn to symbolize "performance"?

What kind of image does the Sky portray?

Bob Lutz said the brand with the most growth potential is Saturn so I wouldn't be surprised if Saturn 'possibly' got a version of the Camaro in 2010 or so with totally different styling.

According to GM's own personality they wish to pursue with the new Saturn image , is europeon inspired . Think more like a VW , OPEL image . A Camaro type car doesnt work their . If anyone got another version of this car that would suit Saturn , I would think it would be Caddy . Thier trying so hard to appeal to the Bimmer , Mercedes crowd and both have a pretty serious coupe offering . GM also stated Chevy and Cadillac would be the only FULL line brands in GM's line-ups . Caddy's line-up still needs to grow a little to compete head on with the "standards" of the luxo industry . Again , GM are the ones who said they wish to position Caddy in line with the Germans :)

Just thinking though , I bet a Camaro type car with Saturns current styling theme would be absolutely gorgeous :)

A Saturn branded modernly styled Camaro would be sacralidge in many ways. Instead I'd prefer to see the Firebird come out with modern styling and thus sending the Camaro retro and the Firebird modern and letting people choose what kind of car they like, I think that would do a great job of opening the market that much wider without pissing too many people off.

I use to think that way, but the problem I see is that a person who would buy a Chevy is most likely the same guy who would consider a Pontiac is most cases.

The difference with Saturn is that Saturn has the highest conquest rate of converting import owners over to a GM brand. So while a Pontiac guy might be 'rightfully' pissed off there will be no new Firebird (and maybe no new GTO for that matter) they would still consider a Chevy Camaro .While a Saturn version would attract those who would never consider a Chevy and would never in a million years ever drive a Pontiac.

So my point is that a Saturn version would most likely appeal to a different demographic then the Camaro while a Pontiac version would end up competing with the same group who would consider a Camaro.

:no:

Saturn's new styling direction is spot on. But to do it right and get the Camaro over to Saturn would require more than a few more creases in the fenders. It would have to offer something more/unique. If they based it on HFV6s and offered factory options to allow the buyer to customize the look/feel (ex, Scion) it could work.

Call it the Saturn Reactor. :D

So while a Pontiac guy might be 'rightfully' pissed off there will be no new Firebird (and maybe no new GTO for that matter) they would still consider a Chevy Camaro.
Not this one. You can count me as one of those guys that would be pissed off and would not consider the Camaro.

Typical GM. Don't give a crap about divisions that have been around for 100yrs, but lets build up one that is only 20 yrs old.

Hey, why not just have Chevy, Caddillac, and Saturn? The day that happens is when I finally buy foreign.

Not this one. You can count me as one of those guys that would be pissed off and would not consider the Camaro.

Im sure there many others just like you who feel the exact same way, which as a 4th gen Camaro and Firebird fan I understand the reasons why. In reality though a Saturn version would attract those who would never belong to a Camaro or Pontiac fan website nor ever visit their showrooms.

Would it really? The Camaro concept itself seems like it has received a great reaction form the public including non GM loyalists. I don't think a Saturn version would do anything to improve Camaro sales. It would only waste Camaro money and decrease Camaro sales. Speaking of which, why haven't the "Camaro only whiners" invaded this thread yet?

Typical GM. Don't give a crap about divisions that have been around for 100yrs, but lets build up one that is only 20 yrs old.

Hey, why not just have Chevy, Caddillac, and Saturn? The day that happens is when I finally buy foreign.

The problem with Pontiac and Buick is that they have too much of a negative stigma. While I think these perceptions in many ways are unwarranted and wrong, the fact is that it would take way to much money in advertising to try to sway peoples opinions. Its just easier and more cost efficient to spend that money on the brands that dont have to first overcome decades of negative stereotypes and bad press.

Sometime I think people have too much of an emotional attachment to old brands that don't sell. While those brands are an important part of our history and automotive heritage and deserve respect, in many ways they have ceased to be the great cars they once were and over the decades have become something totally different.


The one main reason why top CEO's and business leaders get canned (besides fraud) is not that they're dumb or incompetent, only that they become too emotionally attached to a certain business-model and are unwilling to make the hard decisions to correct a systemic problem. So its often that new CEO who has no emotional attachment to an old (non-performing) business-model of the past that can find the solution. The new CEO can look and the numbers objectively and make the hard choices that have to be made in order to survive in the short term and then hopefully be able to grow the business again in the future.

Bob Lutz said recently that no brands are going to get canned and I believe him. I do think that over the next 5-10 years as Saturn's lineup expands and becomes complete, there could be the possibility to see Pontiac/Buick dealers converted over to become Saturn dealers. This migration/conversion would insure that no dealers would lose their dealership (unlike Oldsmobile dealers) only that the brand-name would change and their service contract with GM would be unharmed.

I would be extremely dissapointed if Saturn got a 5th gen derivative and Pontiac didn't get a Firebird/Trans Am.


I think I would actually be alittle pissed if this happened.

I would be extremely dissapointed if Saturn got a 5th gen derivative and Pontiac didn't get a Firebird/Trans Am. That being said, I don't think either of them are getting anything.

Good point.

That is a very interesting idea....

Way to think outside the box!

However while I think this could be a cool idea I'm against it for the same two reasons I'm against the Firebird coming back

#1 the Camaro is going to have enough competition in 2009 to have another GM vehicle directly canalizing/stealing sales

#2 I don’t want anything extra taking development funds form the Camaro. The firebird took so much money away from the Camaro....I can only think how much cooler the Camaro could have been if it had the firebirds funds.

That is a very interesting idea....

Way to think outside the box!

#1 the Camaro is going to have enough competition in 2009 to have another GM vehicle directly canalizing/stealing sales

#2 I don’t want anything extra taking development funds form the Camaro. The firebird took so much money away from the Camaro....I can only think how much cooler the Camaro could have been if it had the firebirds funds.

I agree 100%, while I think a Saturn RWD coupe would be cool but I would not want it offered if in anyway it would hinder the return of the Camaro and the proper amount of money needed to advertise it correctly.

Maybe a Saturn version would only be offered in a v6 and/or v6/hybrid while the Camaro would be the only version to have both a v6 and v8 option.