Filed under: Sports/GTs, Green, Marketing/Advertising, Chevrolet, GM


The hits just keep on coming for fans of the Chevy Camaro. Just yesterday, we quoted Bob Lutz as suggesting that the Camaro could get a four-cylinder engine option. Now we hear that Mark LaNeve, VP of sales and marketing for GM North America, says that, "We won't position it as a muscle car," speaking again of the 2010 Camaro. Sure, you could spend hours debating the terms "muscle car" and "pony car", but we're pretty sure that very few ever thought of the Camaro as a fuel-efficient option. But, that's exactly how GM will position it. "The mainstream positioning will be fuel economy, design and a V-6," says LaNeve.

The truth seems to be that GM just cannot afford to sell a couple hundred thousand Camaros a year with V8 engines rated at around 20 miles per gallon combined. But, before V8-lovers get too upset, remember that it is the fuel efficient engine options which make the fire-breathing V8 an option at all. Without mainstream options like either a direct-injected V6 or even a small turbocharged 4, there is simply no way that Chevrolet could ever reintroduce the Camaro at all.

Gallery: Pre Production Camaro High Res


[Source: Business Week]
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It doesn't matter how much hp it makes, it's not a replacement for the V8!

 

As long as a V8 is available, and said V8 performs at least as well as my 4th gen on all measures, I don't care how they position it or which other engine options are available. They should do whatever it takes to make Camaro viable and practical for continued success in the market.

 

just seems like a nonissue. If there were no LS3 midlevel that would be different in my mind. I dont think the 4cyl consideration is based on volume so much as CAFE. Also independent rear, rwd, and platform beefed up to handle camaro hp that will be the same platform should a 4cyl be put in I dont see as geared toward economy. I wouldnt buy the V6 and certainly not the 4 cyl.

 

Is this really news to anyone? The V6 well outsold the V8's. The one thing I don't like is it saying that we are looking at 20ish combined ratings for gas on the V8's. I am sure that it will be closer to 24.

 

Saying there's going to be a fuel efficient Camaro to go alongside a firebreather is pretty much saying that the Sun will rise in the East and set in the West...

 

Well...not so fast. For example, the numbers for the last two years of Camaro break down like this:

2002 Camaros with LS1 Engine (Z28 and SS) = 24,805 - 59.4%
2001 Camaros with LS1 Engine (Z28 and SS) - 12,652 - 43.6%

98-00 numbers are similar, with V6 a few percentage points more each year.

Sources:

http://www.camaro-registry.com/production.htm
https://www.camaroz28.com/articles/0...rs/index.shtml
https://www.camaroz28.com/articles/0...rs/index.shtml

LS1-era Firebird numbers are also similar, except 2002, where there were way more T/As than standard 'birds (about double).

Source

 

That's no problem. The issue is that they seem to be pushing the V6 INSTEAD of the V8 "because it has just as much power as a V8" kind thing. That will NOT work IMO.

 

Sounds to me like we're going back to the old days where there's an engine option for all kinds of Camaro buyers. Seems pretty cool, but doesn't all of this engineering and flexible manufacturing raise cost?

 

This is a non issue. We all knew the V6 HAD to be the majority seller. The lack of V6 sales was a contributing factor to the cars demise in the first place. So GM wants to market the v6 as a fuel effiecient, environmentally friendly car? Good for them. It is a sign of the times, and an economic reality that they do so. I am all for the V6 being a great selling, worthy car in it's own right, the continued existence of the car depends on it. That being said, I want the V8, but I am not naive enough to think that a fire breathing S/C'd V-8 is going to be the bread and butter of this line.

 

Going back to 1993:
1993 - V6 54%, V8 46%
1994 - V6 65.3%, V8 34.7%
1995 - V6 66.5%, V8 33.1%
1996 - V6 70.5%, V8 29.5%
1997 - V6 66%, V8 34%
1998 - V6 63.5%, V8 36.5%
1999 - V6 58.7%, V8 41.3%
2000 - V6 55.1%, V8 44.9%

The V6 easily made up the majority of 4th gen production.

 

Agreed. Who cares how they market it as long as it sells and has a V8 on the option list. This just seems like something to ruffle everybody's feathers.

 

honestly, I really am not sure what to think at this point. I could go off on a personal rant that popped in my head while at work today, but I dont want to join Cult of The Camaro Crow Eaters

 

This is great, Im so glad that people on this website all have their heads on straight and can agree that a 4CYL Camaro doesnt mean that there wont be an 8CYL. You guys should look at the same thread over at gminsidenew.com, they are all tearing eachother new A-Words...so many of them think that a 4 CYL is the end of the world. Not so! I shall make monkeys of these monkeys, for that is their destiny!

 

Oh I know that this does not mean the end of the V8 for the Camaro. just has me worried for other reasons