Just got back from Detroit. What a blast! I got to meet and shoot the bull with lots of people from this great site. Finally can put faces with so many of my e-buddies.

I'll tell you guys something, last night at the GM Heritage Center, we saw a brief video of Camaro, it's heritage and the Concept. It gave me freaking goosebumps...I'm not kidding!

Today at the unveiling, Chevy had plenty of 1st gen lineage on hand, including Smokey Yunick's awesome 1968 Trans Am Z/28 and Roger Penske's 1969 Trans Am Camaro. WOW!

Ok, I'm sure most of you have seen the presentation...so allow me to give you my up close and personal Camaro Concept impressions.

The concept is stunning from various angles...as you all can see. But the people I spoke to at GM said it was VERY important for us to speak out now, if there are some things that we didn't like...so here goes:

The interior. I'm sorry, I just don't like it. I spoke to some of the interior design people both today and yesterday, and I just didn't have the heart to tell them up front. A failure on my part. As far as I'm concerned the SUPER-retro IP, dash, and console/shifter must go, and be replaced a modern design.

The rear fascia/tail lights looked better to me in person, but I'd still prefer simpler round tail lights personally..and some slimming down of the beefy rear.

The rear fender vents when combined with those door coves have a very Mustang look. I think it looks too busy as well. Maybe that can be cleaned up.

Ok, let me go see my family for awhile and I'll be back.

 

Good to hear your views. Of all people, I thought maybe you'd be a hard sell. You've always been very particular about this.

It seems a lot of folks agree with you on the interior. I dislike it as much as I like the exterior. I don't see how that would ever translate to production.

Question...When you get a chance go back and look at the video on GMtv. They show a shot of a couple of Camaro enthusiasts in the crowd. Just wondering who that might've been.

 

More modern, clean, tasteful interior, ditch the knight rider grille thingy, not feeling the grille, and the tail lights-maybe make them more of a slot design as on the '69 camaro and the '67 firebirds. Overall though, I think this car looks killer. I really hope they dont wait til 2009 to build this car. Thats way too far away to stay competetive and in this new Muscle Car Game. We need it now.

Eric

 

How do you tell those people that the interior is awful? I wouldn't have done it either. I really would have liked to talk to some of the designers though. That would have been a real highlight for me.

 

Charlie basically summed up my views, judging by the pictures. The interior needs a complete redesign (I think we're almost universal here) and the tail lights and grill need a second look. I'm most interested to see those rear quarters and how "busy" they really are.

 

I havent seen the inside...but a retro interior I think it just plain stupid no matter how good it looks.

Will the interior live past the concept?

 

The interior is great for a "look what I can do" concept. It'll never make it to production like that. I still liked it as did my Fiancee. The rest of the car I totally love with the exception of the scoop on the nose. It looks out of place with the cowl hood. Pick one or the other, not both. Beyond that I loved the entire rest of the car. I thought from the pics I had seen there would be other things I'd not care for. It's AWESOME looking in person. Definately a lot of lines and angles going on, something the smooth 4th gens' don't have much of. I'm still bouncing up and down with excitement from seeing it! I can't WAIT to buy one!!!
There were so many people there that I only got to meet a few and talk to some that I already knew. I wish I could have been at the hotel tonight when Scott dropped by but I had to get home to the other side of the state. Still an awesome time and thanks to Scott for doing all he did for us!

 

I can tell you that the interior - especially the IP - was not very well received at all. A GM rep told me it was not set in stone.

 

Charlie, it was good to meet you last night. Glad you made it home safe and sound.

I'm still @ the Hotel tonight and fly out first thing tomorrow.

What a freakin' blast!!!!!!!!!

 

Thats great news...at the end of the day the interior is what you spend most of the time in. It would be a shame to have such a beautiful exterior and then get inside something nasty. AGAIN I havent seen it...but I trust your views on this Charlie

 

You and I see eye-to-eye on many fronts... that's scarey!!!

I think the interior is a let-down for an otherwise stunning concept vehicle.

Message to GM, keep the large wheels.

 

Good to meet you as well Chris. Last night was a blast!

 

Charlie, one thing I forgot to ask you (it was only a 5hr ride back) what did you think of the air scoop? I think it should go. I also think the rear fascia could be improved but I'd like to see some rectangular LED lights instead of the round lamps..

 

Interior is a definite no go. Exterior front is too pointy , bring it in a bit. cowl hood out of place. sides are o.k., still thinking about it. rear lights need to be a bit bigger and not round.

 

Is it there for functional reasons? Is so it should remain... if not, then your suggestion sounds fine by me.