With the recent article on how GM will be able to offer many low volume niche vehicles at a profit and the never-ending debate on retro versus contemporary design, why not build 2 5th generation Camaros. One can be a modern evolution of the 4th generation, while the other (to be called "Heritage Edition") can be a retro design based on the popular 1969 model (1st generation). Both cars would be built on the same platform and offer similar drivetrains yet employ totally different sheetmetal, much like the Camaro and Firebird have always done. This way you capture two different markets and are able to offer a product that will also appeal to those that have jumped on the retro bandwagon. This way you also leave your self an opening to evolve the design when it is time for lets say a 6th generation to come out and are not forced into a design wall with a retro only offering. By capturing 2 different markets with one vehicle, you would ensure a high volume vehicle(which is what hey have said they want) that appeals to enthusiats of all kinds. You could even go so far as to offer the modern version with the option of say a base turbo I5 or I6 and possibly AWD to capture the youth market and yet at the same offer the Heritage Edition with the classic drivetrain of V8 and RWD. There has been debate in the past along the lines of making the new Camaro retro and the Firebird modern, but this way you will always lose customers who want one or the other. By offering the Camaro in these 2 different body styles you almost ensure that all enthusiats will be happy. Isnt Chevy going to being doing something along these lines anyway with their Malibu and Malibu classic that is coming out next year?

 

bad idea---normal consumers would be baffled and parts guys would lose thier minds.
Your also doubling your advertising costs and designing costs of 2 diffferent bodies.
I seriously doubt 2 different bodied cars would double sales to justify this.

I think the GTO and an F-5 could capture 2 different markets alot better.

There is a reason this hasn't been done before (yes I know about the Olds Cutlass Supreme and the Olds Cutlas Classic--that was only one year and done becasue they didn't have much choice)

A variation on your idea would to be have a trunk and a hatchback version--Mustag did this and so did Nissan 240---oh so does teh C5 Vette

 

This would lead to total customer confusion...

If they are going to go that route (and I hope they do not... Just say No to Retro), but if they do, why not bring Camaro and Firebird back, and have one of the two go retro and the other go modern?

 

Too many option's means too much money.
KISS (Keep it simple stupid) - not you
Keep the cost down - so young people will be able to afford it.

 

Hey I'm Young (24) and I can afford it!!!!!!!

2001 Camaro SS Stoked, Ported & Turbocharged
2002 Corvette Z06 Bone stock..... for now.....
1969 AMC AMX (For SALE)
1994 Dodge Decrepid.... Intrepid

 

agreed!

 

I had a similiar idea way back. I see now that it most likely would not be possible, at least not at this time.

 

Just do one and get it right.

 

All power to you