Styling

I'm in the minority but the retro look seems to have come & gone. I don't like the styling of the next gen Camaro. In fact, I think it looks a lot like the new Challenger, but perhaps not as clean.

The 'Vete stays fresh, I think Chevy might be late to the table with a sour recipe.

I'm sure it will run better than it looks.

I own a '94 Z. That one is no great beauty. But it's sleek like a performance car should be. A little large for the seat room but the looks match the purpose.

I'm in the minority but the retro look seems to have come & gone. I don't like the styling of the next gen Camaro. In fact, I think it looks a lot like the new Challenger, but perhaps not as clean.

The 'Vete stays fresh, I think Chevy might be late to the table with a sour recipe.

I'm sure it will run better than it looks.

I own a '94 Z. That one is no great beauty. But it's sleek like a performance car should be. A little large for the seat room but the looks match the purpose.

Personally I don't see any resemblance to the Challenger, nor does it appear very retro to me. Most (not all, but most) people I show pics of it too comment on how futuristic/modern it looks.

Have you seen it in person perchance?

In person, it is a lot more sleek than you'd expect. I've got a YouTube video up of it, right here

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mWpxk7ck6w0

I don't see much of a resemblance to the Challenger either. But I agree with the others, pictures don't do the car much justice. I have been lucky enough to see both the hardtop and the convertible in person and it is a whole different car in person.

I admit to being in the minority. I've not seen it person. (has anyone?)

I don't like the new Mustang, either (it looks pretty big & boxy in real life). I do rate it better looking or equal to the new Challenger and both a little better than the Camaro. I rate the GTO about midpack to all of them...kind bland but not retro like all the Ponycars.

You agree that the Mustang & Callenger look retro? Specially, the Mustang looks similar to the '60s mustang, the Camaro similar to the Gen 1 (notchback)....there was only one version of Challenger.

I admit to being in the minority. I've not seen it person. (has anyone?)

Lots of us have seen the concept in person. I've seen the Silver one twice, but haven't been able to see the convertable.

I don't like the new Mustang, either (it looks pretty big & boxy in real life). I do rate it better looking or equal to the new Challenger and both a little better than the Camaro. I rate the GTO about midpack to all of them...kind bland but not retro like all the Ponycars.

The Mustang looks very bland. Both in pictures AND in person.

The Challenger is another car that looks quite a bit better in person. Not quite as flat nosed and blah. But definitely retro. The GTO... Well, the GTO looked like a Pontiac Grand Prix (imo). Not bad looking, but certainly not a 'sports car' look by any means.

None of the above look as muscular and agressive as the Camaro.

You agree that the Mustang & Callenger look retro? Specially, the Mustang looks similar to the '60s mustang, the Camaro similar to the Gen 1 (notchback)....there was only one version of Challenger.

The Challenger and Mustang most definitely have a retro look to them.

But the Camaro has a look that blends futuristic and retro seamlessly. It looks like a new car that was inspired by the original (which was what they were going for). The Challenger and Mustang look like near replica's of the originals (notice I said NEAR for those that want to nitpick) rather than an updated inspiration like the Camaro.

None of the above look as muscular and agressive as the Camaro.



The Challenger and Mustang most definitely have a retro look to them.

But the Camaro has a look that blends futuristic and retro seamlessly. It looks like a new car that was inspired by the original (which was what they were going for). The Challenger and Mustang look like near replica's of the originals (notice I said NEAR for those that want to nitpick) rather than an updated inspiration like the Camaro.

As someone who owned two first gen. Camaros (bought when they were new), I certainly have to agree with you about updated inspiration. IMHO, the Camaro concept does not look anything like a replica of the first gen., but rather a whole new look drawing styling cues from the 1969 Camaro. I'll most likely purchase an 09/10 Camaro, while it won't be exactly like the 67 and 69 models that I owned (you can never really go back), I'm sure it will be a fun performance car to drive.
Clyde

I'm in the minority but the retro look seems to have come & gone. I don't like the styling of the next gen Camaro. In fact, I think it looks a lot like the new Challenger, but perhaps not as clean.

I admit to being in the minority. I've not seen it person. (has anyone?)
I'm sorry, but until you see it in person, your opinion doesn't mean a hill of beans. :irk: It didn't look retro to me before I saw it in person, and after I saw it in person (spent 45 minutes mesmorized by it), it looked even less retro. I saw more modern Cadillac and C6 Corvette styling cues than I saw 68-69 Camaro.

As someone who owned two first gen. Camaros (bought when they were new), I certainly have to agree with you about updated inspiration. IMHO, the Camaro concept does not look anything like a replica of the first gen., but rather a whole new look drawing styling cues from the 1969 Camaro. I'll most likely purchase an 09/10 Camaro, while it won't be exactly like the 67 and 69 models that I owned (you can never really go back), I'm sure it will be a fun performance car to drive.
ClydeDitto. I've owned three 1st gen Camaros (two I still own) and there is a huge difference. I'll be keeping my 67 coupe and buying a new Z28 when they come out. :D

I'm sorry, but until you see it in person, your opinion doesn't mean a hill of beans.......:D

LMAO

Personally I love the new camaro. Ive seen the red coupe in person and some of you are right...pictures dont do this car justice. This camaro looks kinda retro but yet it looks kinda futuristic. I love the lines and the looks of this car. If anything, the Challenger looks kind of plain. It looks almost exactly like the classic and the lines aren't as impressive as the 5th gen. The only thing I dont really care for on the 5th gen is the rear lights. With all the different rear light designs out there, the 5th gen ones look like they just slapped it on in a rush and just went with it.

I never had the chance to own a 1st gen but always wanted one. As a current owner of a 3rd gen and 4th gen, I would gladly sell both to own a 5th gen. I cant wait till it comes out. Go Chevy!

I totally agree with you. The only things I don't like about the camaro is 1. the grille which can be easily changed. 2. The rear lights, I totally agree with you they really dropped the ball on the lights. Oh well, slowly overtime I been increasingly falling in love with this car. They are very distinctive though, you could see the rear of the new camaro a mile away.

Interesting thread. At first I was very excited about the upcoming camaro, no matter how it really looked (as long it did not resemble the Pontiac GTO). After seeing the car in person I still remained happy with the design. However, I been losing this initial thrill effect. After further evaluating the look, it is honestly a little boring. I like the dominant features, big tires, grill, engine ect....but im afraid the "retro" look will soon be a fading trend. Most new looks (the retro cars such as mustang, camaro, and challenger...) usually last around 10 years. Im sure chevy will have enought surprises to keep us motivated, but damn how long do they expect us to wait?? Maybe I'm frustrated, but im sure to keep my 3rd gen Z28. This has been a long promo for the new car.

Interesting thread. At first I was very excited about the upcoming camaro, no matter how it really looked (as long it did not resemble the Pontiac GTO). After seeing the car in person I still remained happy with the design. However, I been losing this initial thrill effect. After further evaluating the look, it is honestly a little boring. I like the dominant features, big tires, grill, engine ect....but im afraid the "retro" look will soon be a fading trend. Most new looks (the retro cars such as mustang, camaro, and challenger...) usually last around 10 years. Im sure chevy will have enought surprises to keep us motivated, but damn how long do they expect us to wait?? Maybe I'm frustrated, but im sure to keep my 3rd gen Z28. This has been a long promo for the new car.

Yep. They've waited too long. The retro look is way over (of course I don't believe it ever started). Chev had lost a lot of momentum from the time it discontinued the Gen 4 car. And you can bet the production model will be cheapened up a bit compared to the show car.

As much as I think my 94 model is a little exaggerated in appearance. It has great performance, drives, shifts, brakes & steers wonderfully (with the front & the back wheels), the T-Top is well integrated, and think it looks silly or not, it is a pretty aero design.

Notice that the 'Vette has never been retro. Camaro should be a 4 seat Corvette.

On the other hand, if the car drives as good as it should, the styling won't mater.

Yep. They've waited too long. The retro look is way over (of course I don't believe it ever started). Chev had lost a lot of momentum from the time it discontinued the Gen 4 car. And you can bet the production model will be cheapened up a bit compared to the show car.

As much as I think my 94 model is a little exaggerated in appearance. It has great performance, drives, shifts, brakes & steers wonderfully (with the front & the back wheels), the T-Top is well integrated, and think it looks silly or not, it is a pretty aero design.

Notice that the 'Vette has never been retro. Camaro should be a 4 seat Corvette.

On the other hand, if the car drives as good as it should, the styling won't mater.

Obviously you just don't get it, the 5th gen. Camaro is NOT RETRO, it is a futuristic evolution drawing on retro design cues from the '69 Camaro. If the 5th.gen. were retro, I would expect it to look almost exactly like my '69 Camaro did, it does not. If you're not happy with the new Camaro (or Mustang or Challenger), there is certainly no one holding a gun to your head saying "you will like them", go find a vehicle you do like and buy it, it won't hurt our feelings a bit.
Clyde

Obviously you just don't get it, the 5th gen. Camaro is NOT RETRO, it is a futuristic evolution drawing on retro design cues from the '69 Camaro. If the 5th.gen. were retro, I would expect it to look almost exactly like my '69 Camaro did, it does not.anyway you want to slice it..its retro. not as much as the mustang or challenger but its still retro.

Obviously you just don't get it, the 5th gen. Camaro is NOT RETRO, it is a futuristic evolution drawing on retro design cues from the '69 Camaro. If the 5th.gen. were retro, I would expect it to look almost exactly like my '69 Camaro did, it does not. If you're not happy with the new Camaro (or Mustang or Challenger), there is certainly no one holding a gun to your head saying "you will like them", go find a vehicle you do like and buy it, it won't hurt our feelings a bit.
Clyde

I like my 94 & will keep it. It has 140k miles on it, runs great. When it needs a rebuild I can always put more power in it.

I think it's very odd that the Camaro is the only passenger Chevy with an upright grill. Even the Impala & Malibu look sleek. To be honest, I am not a fan of the Mustang (it's really huge & boxy). And the Camaro is a "come lately".

The 'Vette on the other hand isn't retro. It's cutting edge. The Camaro should be an economy 'Vette with 4 seats. The tradition was to copy the styling of a 4 seat Ferrari (Gen 1 & 2) or Corvette.

The Camaro line has lost a lot of momentum. Chevy made a huge mistake with the 1997 restyle and then putting it out of production. Chevy had a adequate demand to keep selling it. I don't know why GM didn't put an egg crate grill in the big black spot in the 97 models.

I am sure the new car will a real performer (and I might change my mind when I see it).

The 'Vette on the other hand isn't retro. It's cutting edge.

The Corvette isn't retro, but I'd hardly call it 'cutting edge' in regards to style. The current 'Vette looks too much like a Viper. (Yes, I still HATE the exposed headlights on the Corvette.)


The Camaro should be an economy 'Vette with 4 seats. The tradition was to copy the styling of a 4 seat Ferrari (Gen 1 & 2) or Corvette.

Making the Camaro a 4 seat 'Vette was what they did with the 4th Gen. We know how that ended up.

The Camaro line has lost a lot of momentum. Chevy made a huge mistake with the 1997 restyle and then putting it out of production. Chevy had a adequate demand to keep selling it.

I found the 1997's restyled frontend a huge improvement over the 'pinched' front of the 93-96. The 97-02 was more agressive looking than the small grille and headlights of the previous ones.

Knowing that the sales #'s were so low in the last few years of the Camaro, how is it you feel they had 'adequate demand' for it to continue?

I'm not knocking the 4th Gen in any way. I loved my '02 and wish I still had it. But I do understand it's flaws as far as the general public was concerned. I personally liked the '4 seat 'Vette' aspect of it. But I'm a single guy with no kids. Nor do I carry passengers often. The ultra lowslung seating position was great to me.

The 'Vette on the other hand isn't retro. It's cutting edge. The Camaro should be an economy 'Vette with 4 seats. The tradition was to copy the styling of a 4 seat Ferrari (Gen 1 & 2) or Corvette.


The 'Vette isn't retro? The C6 is basically the general shape of the C5 but with many, many styling queues from the C2 Stingrays. While the C6 has grown on me a LOT, the first turn off for me with it was the retro stuff in it's outward appearance. I've since come to appreciate the difference in using styling queues versus trying to copy the original. In the same way I think the new Camaro has many, many styling queues from the gen 1 but it also has a lot of C6 queues in it which is an interesting mix.

IMO the Challenger is the most retro of the three ponys. As Peter DeLorenzo once said, it looks like something Chip Foose would do to an original Challenger. The Mustang is still very retro, but shares a lot more of it's shape from the previous gen Mustang than a lot of people realize. The Camaro gets some of it's general shape from the gen 1 cars, but it's far from being a copy of that style. It's definitely retro, but it's more of a re-interpretation of the old. Rather than an attempt to recapture the original look of the Camaro, it seems to be an attempt to recapture the original emotion and inspiration of the Camaro without duplicating the past.

Obviously this is all subjective opinion and no one is really wrong with their view points. If you're not into the look of the new Camaro, then there's nothing wrong with that and I for one won't try to change your opinion on it. It's not everyone's cup of tea. I personally find myself more intrigued with it's look than the C6 and that's a big deal because I've always been more of a Corvette fan than a Camaro fan. If the two cars were the same price I'd pick the C6 for the driving experience (I still prefer the short/long A arm front suspension to strut), but if I based the decision on which one's appearance makes me go, "Ohhhhh Yeahhhhh!!!!" it would be the Camaro. I'm one of those people that got the Transformer's DVD just to watch the scenes with the new Camaro and I still can't help but get that almost evil laugh every time Bumblebee changes from the '76 to the concept (although my 2010 Camaro will not be painted like Bumblebee unless I win that contest, it will more likely be black).

The Mustang is still very retro, but shares a lot more of it's shape from the previous gen Mustang than a lot of people realize.

I thought I was the only one that noticed that.

Some time ago I saw a previous gen Mustang (last couple years with the more sharp styling) with it's entire front end missing. With the front end gone, it looked a LOT like the new Mustang from a couple angles.