Its all in the looks. What were people's main reaction when they first saw the gto?.... "Thats it?" Very few thought it was aggressive enough looking... Charger, on the other hand is the completely other extreme. To me, it is too aggressive to the point that it looks like it would belong in a cartoon. Fact of the matter is, GTO has somewhat subdued looks (not ragging, i really like how it looks) but the charger doesnt. People remember both of these cars from being aggressive muscle cars from the MCW1 (muscle car wars 1 (were now in MCW2)). The charger had the looks people thought it should look like, GTO didnt (for the most part)

Looks are EVERYTHING

 

The original Charger was based on a family sedan. It was a Coronet with a fastback.

And teenagers used to buy new GTO's. And so did guys who used them as family cars.

Charger is what it is because DCX decided that the name has enough brand equity to move a brash RWD sedan.

GTO is what it is because Holden decided to make a high end, limited production, 2+2 Monaro off the Commodore sedan.

 

Yep.

You just can't stress that enough.

"Blandness" and/or being too similar in looks to other Pontiacs were really the only major complaints about the new GTO... in fact, if anything you hear "The car is awesome, but it looks so plain".

Just goes to show you how styling is so far more important than ANY other factor of a car.

 

Agreed, styling must hit a high note. One thing I am noticing is that in the Solstice vs Miata reviews is that the Solstice is being given the award for best looking, and that is swaying a lot of the editors to loving the Solstice.

Im sure that GM could do a nice looking Camaro, its when they get to mass production does the design get diluted and filterd so much that its just another car.

 

Looks are everything..

Anything that GM releases that is exceptionally good looking and unique enough to find an audience will be a hit. You need look no further than the CTS, Escalade, HHR, and now Solstice. Design sells. To a lesser extent, GM has had sales successes that could be considered unique and handsome [but perhaps not quite revolutionary and exceptionally designed] and probably sold on thier down home good looks than anything else, i.e. Impala, current STS, TB, Envoy, Tahoe. Face it, when you see a Chevy truck, there ain't nothin that looks like it, and it's a classic look. Classy too, and the 900s will make it even classier.

 

That helps the concept so much. The nose still sucks, but the profile is so much better.

David

 

Put me down for a copy of that book as well. Also, let me know when the book signing is, I don't care where I live at that point I will be there.

David

 

well was the cobalt ever in a show? and how long did it take to get to the market?

 

Who would be down for an I5 turbo in a solstice or even Cobalt SS? I think this engine might just work for the "smaller" cars. They could make me somewhat happy if they brought out the Cobalt SS in AWD. Lets not lose sight of the point. Im going crazy with all this 5th gen talk. I NEED A NEW C*****!!! The Z06 was kind of a bummer since I knew almost everything about it before they released it. This C***** is gonna put me over the edge.

 

Is the new CTS the sedan that is supposed to be there? That would be interesting to see as well. Though I am more interested in the Chevy car that starts with a C .

David

 

I belive the Atlas engine series, the 2800, 3500, and 4200 inline enignes are VERY tall and would require a lot of work to get them into a present car chassis, thats unless you base a car off the 355 chassis.
Id just be happy with the Astra VXR's turbo 2.0 that seems to be burning it up on the other side of the pond. THAT needs to get here so that they can get a jump on the on-coming imports compacts.

 

the next gen Ion would be a nice place for the VRX's turbo 2.0...