My biggest fear about the (hopefully) upcoming Camaro

I am terrified that it's going to change too much. The concept is chiseled, and I'd scared it might get softened up for production. We saw a little of this with the new Mustang. I just love the exterior look of the concept. I know the interior is going to change a bit, I think it's for the best. But please, don't take any of the character away from that exterior. No watered down Camaro!

It will change some, but will remain true to the concept. The Solstice made it thru practically untouched.

It will change some, but will remain true to the concept. The Solstice made it thru practically untouched.


I don't know about the Solstice being untouched. I think it's proportions were SUBSTANTIALLY altered on the production car. It really disappointed me when I saw the production version for the first time.

I saw a black one at Fry's the other day. I can't say I remember the differences from the one I saw at the autoshow back in the day, but it is still an awesome little car.

It was? I saw both the Concept and the Production version. Look very similiar to me. Am I missing something here?

My biggest fear is that GM will use cheap materials in the interior again. It would be a crime if a Civic interior's materials, design and construction blow away that Camaro again.

My biggest fear is that GM will use cheap materials in the interior again. It would be a crime if a Civic interior's materials, DESIGN and construction blow away that Camaro again.

I think the only way to lose the design battle to the new Civic is to actually TRY to goof it up....

I wouldn't know what a Civic's interior looked like if it bit me in the a**. Wouldn't get caught dead in one.

I think the only way to lose the design battle to the new Civic is to actually TRY to goof it up....

You may question the styling of the interior, but the design, or more properly the engineering, is far beyond what is evident in the average GM car.

I sat in my friend's Infiniti G35 coupe some time back and was amazed at the interior. I then read in a magazine that the car would be getting an upgraded interior the following year that did not look as cheap. I've spent so much time in my Camaros that I've become used to the mediocrity. Seeing what the rest of the world offers was a real eye opener.

My biggest fear is that GM will use cheap materials in the interior again. It would be a crime if a Civic interior's materials, design and construction blow away that Camaro again.

You nailed my big concern about Camaro.

The Mustang's interior is terribly cheap as far as materials go. It's lessened by the fact Mustang's interior's overstyled and is put together pretty tightly. The Camaro concept has a very very simple interior that amplified the quality of materials inside the car, and details such as the orange stitching on the seats and instrament panel.

If GM did what Ford did with interior materials, it's not going to come off well and is going to be a disaster.

Camaro is going to be the Car that's going to turn around the public's perception of GM, or Camaro's going to be the car that permanently fixes GM as a company that makes substandard cars.

GM has the public and press' 100% attention. Take too long bringing the car out, or destroy the car's interior and that's it.... game over.

You nailed my big concern about Camaro.

The Mustang's interior is terribly cheap as far as materials go. It's lessened by the fact Mustang's interior's overstyled and is put together pretty tightly. The Camaro concept has a very very simple interior that amplified the quality of materials inside the car, and details such as the orange stitching on the seats and instrament panel.

If GM did what Ford did with interior materials, it's not going to come off well and is going to be a disaster.

Camaro is going to be the Car that's going to turn around the public's perception of GM, or Camaro's going to be the car that permanently fixes GM as a company that makes substandard cars.

GM has the public and press' 100% attention. Take too long bringing the car out, or destroy the car's interior and that's it.... game over.

You nailed it again Guy, I couldent agree more

You may question the styling of the interior, but the design, or more properly the engineering, is far beyond what is evident in the average GM car.

Easy there....I'm on the same page as you..... Everyone knows GM only engineers the interiors on Fridays. After happy hour. Just ask PacerX.

Buuuuuuuut, inside the new Civic would make Marvin the Martian dizzy...... I don't care how well it's slapped together.

You nailed my big concern about Camaro.

Camaro is going to be the Car that's going to turn around the public's perception of GM, or Camaro's going to be the car that permanently fixes GM as a company that makes substandard cars.

GM has the public and press' 100% attention. Take too long bringing the car out, or destroy the car's interior and that's it.... game over.
... and I'll add my vote to put these comments up here front and center again. This is it, guys! My guess is as well that at this stage of the game, another chance will not be forthcoming if this car gets messed up!
This car is a home run! Just don't forget to touch all the bases on your round trip!:D

Best regardSS,

Elie

It will change some, but will remain true to the concept. The Solstice made it thru practically untouched.

how do you know that the production version will be close to the concept?
look at what happened to the gto!

Camaro is going to be the Car that's going to turn around the public's perception of GM, or Camaro's going to be the car that permanently fixes GM as a company that makes substandard cars.

GM has the public and press' 100% attention. Take too long bringing the car out, or destroy the car's interior and that's it.... game over.

:bow:

I hope the new Camaro has a nice interior, but we all know nice interior = nice high prices, as with the case with such cars as the Infinity.

Camaro is going to be the Car that's going to turn around the public's perception of GM, or Camaro's going to be the car that permanently fixes GM as a company that makes substandard cars.

GM has the public and press' 100% attention. Take too long bringing the car out, or destroy the car's interior and that's it.... game over.

God, you really hit this one dead center.

And the perception doesn't just stop with the public and the press. It will have a bearing on the investors as well. Execution of the Camaro will be a demonstration of what GM is capable of doing.

Can GM really put together something good, at a point when they so direly need it? Can they get over their management beaurocracy? Can the many segments of the business work together in unison?

If GM can't pull it off with the Camaro, then it says that GM can't pull it off in general. GM is literally on brink right now, whether we like to admit or not. I believe the Camaro is going to determine whether GM is just going to stay in the game a little longer before disintegrating, or actually start a genuine upswing and recovery as a business.

I got the chance to drive an '06 Mustang for a long weekend last week. While I would never consider owning a Ford, I have to admit, the car is a drastic improvement over the previous model. And it has the COOLEST feature ever put in a car. Customizable colors for the dash lights. A very neat idea. I would love for the new Camaro to offer a feature like that. Red, Green, Blue, Purple, Orange,White light is only a push of a button away.

I want some changes from the concept. Tail lights fixed, bigger windsows are a few but I think they can do these things with out wrecking the character.

I hope the new Camaro has a nice interior, but we all know nice interior = nice high prices, as with the case with such cars as the Infinity.

I am not so sure. I love interior on my Cobalt SS. Even though the "press" doesn't---its still way better interior then a 4th gen.

GM is getting the interiors done better thesedays.

I mean how nice do you want it?

My priorites lie elsewhere (V8 RS, good handling, driving dynamics ect)

Camaro is going to be the Car that's going to turn around the public's perception of GM, or Camaro's going to be the car that permanently fixes GM as a company that makes substandard cars.

GM has the public and press' 100% attention. Take too long bringing the car out, or destroy the car's interior and that's it.... game over.

Very very good points. It seems there is a ton of passion inside GM for the Camaro right now. Hopefully that passion will keep anything cheap from getting close to the car.

Anyone can clearly see that production interiors leap in quality and design with every new car launch. They started with the redesigned GP, which is pretty decent considering. Bring in the Malibu, then G6, LaCrosse, fast foward to the Tahoe and Enclave, we can see that interiors are no longer an afterthought, something after happy hour on a friday.
I dont doubt the quality of the interior, they got that stuff down pretty good, I want a good DESIGN of the interior. more cockpit feel, more driver oriented then what we saw at the show. The show was too wide open. Seemed good for a sedan perhaps, but a Camaro has evolved since 69, and a more wrap around design needs to happen.
No large parts of fake metalic trim like on the Mustang either.

I am glad i see only VERY FEW wishes to enlarge the greenhouse/windows. This would be a fatal mistake to the design. The 300 and Magnum are successes BECAUSE of that chopped, hot rod look. It makes the car look so much more aggressive and different from the standard fare. All that greenhouse/window with the GTO is one thing that makes it look like a friendly little non-descript jelly bean (sorry GTO guys, just my opinion) The increased size of the greenhouse of the Mustang fro concept to production killed the aggressive look of the car IMO. I loved the look of the original Mustang concept but they dumbed down and friendlied up the production car so much that it really messed it up. PLEASE don't make the same mistake GM, give us the Camaro just as mean as the concept!

The concept is as good as it's going to get - I don't feel as if there will be any improvement in the final design. Any attempts at improvement may not be done the same was as if they were creating a new concept. I'm just worried about all these changes people want, when it's already going to go through enough changes. Rather than ask for major changes I think we should lean more to pushing them to preserve the concept. Honestly, if anything but the wheel size/grill/maybe MINOR adjustments to the rear changes, I wont be buying this car. Right now, they know that the car is a hit. Though not everyone thinks its PERFECT, they know it will sell as is and they know they need it to sell; that's the best they could have hoped for and it's what they got. Hopefully they understand this, and that any changes must be for the better - like just grill, etc...small things. If I were them and knew how this car had to succeed, I would be terrified to change anything even (specifically the exterior since the interior will obviously lose metals), because so many people have such high expectations for this car now.

I am glad i see only VERY FEW wishes to enlarge the greenhouse/windows. This would be a fatal mistake to the design. The 300 and Magnum are successes BECAUSE of that chopped, hot rod look. It makes the car look so much more aggressive and different from the standard fare. All that greenhouse/window with the GTO is one thing that makes it look like a friendly little non-descript jelly bean (sorry GTO guys, just my opinion) The increased size of the greenhouse of the Mustang fro concept to production killed the aggressive look of the car IMO. I loved the look of the original Mustang concept but they dumbed down and friendlied up the production car so much that it really messed it up. PLEASE don't make the same mistake GM, give us the Camaro just as mean as the concept!

damnit man I hate such small windows. I have talked to lots of popel who do not like the Chrysler cars because of this. It kills visibility and makes you feel confined. I would imagine that women in general would like better visibility not worse. I think it coud be accoodated without ruining the car.

well thats my rant! we'll see who wins. And hey maybe I won't mind in 3 years when I see it in person!:(

The concept is as good as it's going to get - I don't feel as if there will be any improvement in the final design. Any attempts at improvement may not be done the same was as if they were creating a new concept. I'm just worried about all these changes people want, when it's already going to go through enough changes. Rather than ask for major changes I think we should lean more to pushing them to preserve the concept. Honestly, if anything but the wheel size/grill/maybe MINOR adjustments to the rear changes, I wont be buying this car. Right now, they know that the car is a hit. Though not everyone thinks its PERFECT, they know it will sell as is and they know they need it to sell; that's the best they could have hoped for and it's what they got. Hopefully they understand this, and that any changes must be for the better - like just grill, etc...small things. If I were them and knew how this car had to succeed, I would be terrified to change anything even (specifically the exterior since the interior will obviously lose metals), because so many people have such high expectations for this car now.
Good post and I think down to earth. I agree built the car we saw. We know it will not get that size wheels or tires,we know it will not get all that metal inside or the fancy pedals or that gear shift and it will get other changes in side. I will be very surprized if you see any change other than wheel size outside. Some that don't like the tail lights or the grille may get their wish maybe in the year or so after the first but from talking to a few in the know at the unvailing if its built look to see it built just as is on the outside and I for one love it after being there and getting up close with it and as a friend told me at breakfast this morning he had the money for one in the bank right now