So with "retro-styling" being all the rage with such cars as the PT Cruiser, SSR, HHR, 2005+ Mustang, Concept Challenger and Concept Camaro... where do you think we are going to be stylistically 5 or more years down the road. Being that these new cars (mostly the new Mustang/Challenger/Camaro) all look like late 60's/early 70's versions of their predecessors... are we destined to see the styling of the late 70's and 80's come back?

I guess what my point is:
The new Mustang looks good, cause it looks like a '68-'69. Five years from now, is it going to look like a '73-'74? Because if so, who is going to want to buy that?

Your thoughts...

 

I don’t think the Camaro is as retro is some have said it to be.

My first question to you is have you seen it in person?

I'd say it looks like it has more Cadillac Arts and Science in it then first gen.

I'd say if GM could design something so original and breath taking from a clean sheet (and by that I mean not a straight evolution), then I have full faith that they can do it again.

Plus its WAY too late for any other type of design.

BTW this has been discussed here numerous times. Try doing a search, I bet you can find some other info to answer your question

 

I think this is a repost.

 

There's no way. The new Camaro is not retro - that has been discussed numerous times, but - I guess that is an opinion thing.

What confuses me the most is how you think we may see something based off the 70s...then the 80s....etc -- I don't think I've ever seen someone think that could happen like that before -- but then again, I usually avoid threads like this...

Why would it mean then progress as they did in the past? I don't know....the way you make it sound, it's like you think we may have no choice but to repeat the past.

I think what they did and where they might be going is perfect - they took a modern muscle car and show some of the classic '69 in it. From that - they can progress. Especially since it has been re-introduced, I'm glad they didn't start from the 4th gen and build off of that somehow, and I'm glad they didn't start completely over and have the new Camaro look nothing like any of the past ones. What they did was just right for many reasons IMO.

 

It ain't retro.

And yes... discussed before.

 

I had chance to see the concept Camaro when it was at the Detroit auto show, and I apologize if this topic has been discussed. I wasn't sure if my "evolutionary design theory" had been brought up before and I was just curious how people think the design will evolve.

To say that the concept Camaro is "not retro" in my opinion is an understatement, but that is just "my opinion". However, I do see the "Cadillac" resemblance in some of the chiseled lines.

And yes, I think the new Camaro is gorgeous!

 

In addition, I guess what I am asking is:

Where will the American auto industry look for it's inspiration for future models?

 

well it isn't as if all American cars are based on older versions.... I believe they had to start with a closer to retro look with the new Camaro. From there, they will progress...hopefully... There is enough modern styling in the new Camaro that they should have no problem being innovative.

 

I think the cars with personality like the sports cars will stay retro maybe 8 years. Then they will go off to a unique style of there own.

 

I agree. The general theme has a 1st gen flair to it but the design, at least to me when I saw it in person, is heavily Art and Science influenced, which is a good thing

And yes this has been discussed many, many times over

 

This topic has been discussed since the night of Jan 5th, 2006 in the Embasy Suites Hotel loby in Michigan.
First gen appeal with modern lines. I think that if you added a totaly different nose to it, it would lose 90% of its retroness, at least on the exterior.