Say one group wants Camaro to be a "kick ***" car, or not bring it back at all.

Following that philosophy means that other chances to bring Camaro back pass it by.

A new GTO & Bengal are speeding towards production, and a version of a Camaro is just a skin & interior design, and a drivetrain certification away, it the group decided to base it on those cars.

Yet it's being held out, hoping that they can get exactly what they want, but run the risk of creating a car that's going to be, say, $5,000 more than the comprable model it replaced. Yet, if it went with either one of the other car structures, it would perform just as good, and with the Bengal structure it may actually be cheaper and lighter.

Should they hold to principle and have a unique chassis that wil be more difficult to get (and possibly more costly) than the others, or should they reskin one of the existing cars, and have a Camaro on the streets in 24 or so months.

 

I voted for the Bengal structure. I saw the concept at the Dallas Show and in my mind it would fit the dimensions of a Camaro. With a redesigned interior, an appropriate re-skin and a healthy V8 mated to a 6 speed I see no problems. It doesn’t seem to me that this platform is going to be second class anyway. I say keep initial cost down so we can have more development money for more options on the 5th Gen! Bring it back soon, It needs to get back into the game. As soon as I heard about this platform from Pacerx and GuionM as an option for the 5th Gen I have wanted it. It's our best bet for a successful next Camaro.

 

I probably agree, but it is kinda cool having your own unique chassis.

 

BTW when is the Solstice and Bengal suppose to hit the streets? '05, '06, '07?

 

It would be cool to have a unique chassis, but I don't think the extra cost and time would warrant it. Especially if it meant giving the new Mustang an even bigger lead.

If it meant getting a Camaro out sooner and cheaper without a serious performance compromise (we're talking Mustang beating performance in every aspect), re-skin the Bengal.

I just have a hard time seeing a downside to a re-skinned Bengal if it really brought us a new Camaro sooner that was lighter and less expensive, other than some die-hards whining about it not truely being a Camaro. If it performs like a Camaro, is priced like a Camaro, and looks like a Camaro, who cares what's underneath?

 

I couldent have said it better myself.

 

Me either. As long as it handles well, has a powerful V8 and RWD, and is reasonably priced for the average Joe, I think it would be a genuine Camaro.

 

True!

 

.....I MUCH rather have a new Camaro that was closer to the 350Z in pedigree than a big old heavy sedan......that, and there's no way we can afford a specific chassis......I want Camaro performance and style for a Camaro price...........

 

I went with VE because by then it'll have hundreds of thousands of cars on it along with already performance variants of the GTO and Monte, which imo lend themselves twards a new fbody more than the Solstice line does. Plus its a Sigma varient, which is good in my book.

I guess my last reason is because Holden, the company who was making performance cars within GM when it wasnt the cool thing to do, designed it. I have more faith in them with a modern full chasis since they've more recent expirence in it.

Btw, guion: the options are so swayed on the poll it looks like Brandon wrote it

 

VE car

Can someone explain to me why the car would all of the sudden have to be retro if it was a reskinned VE??? IMO a reskinned VE car would be perferct timing and have perfect technology for a 5th gen. hmmm.... 2006 GTO with 400+ horsepower or a 4cyl(?) solstice. Also, a 5th gen Camaro NEEDS to have decent reviews in magazines, etc. for it to be successfull. I just think that a reskinned solstice/bengal as a Camaro will get bashed over and over by the critics.

 

To be honest, the idea of the Camaro as just another notchback coupe appalls me, if only because it would be falling back in to he retro trap. Similarly, making it a rebodied Bengal/Sky/Solistice will make it just another daffy little niche car.

A real Camaro needs to be a low slung 2+2, not a "make-do" two door sedan. Similarly, it needs size and presence. It would be easy enough to design a RWD muscle car to the scale of the current Toyota Celica, but it would end up as a misshapen midget of a car. The F5 needs to be distinctive above all else.

The task of designing a dedicated F-body platform is not impossible. Finding suitable production capacity would prove to be the most difficult aspect.

Looking back to the F4, GM produced a very capable front suspension setup. Without the complexity of Magnesteer, the F4 yielded better steering feel than the C5 Corvette. Similarly, a transverse leaf IRS could easily take the place of the live rear axle.

I'm not about to suggest that a carried over F4 chassis could comprise a viable F5, but there is a economically viable conceptual framework. It makes me wonder if the Solistice clones shouldn't be cancelled in favor of a more flexible architecture.

Don't forget that the 1999 Nomad concept was considered as a platform mate to the F-bodies, a plan that was nixed by the planned closure of Ste. Therese. If an AWD sports wagon with an IRS was viable on the same production line as the F-body, it suggests that even the primitive F4 components set had potential.

 

It doesn't do me any good if I can't afford it. Plus, there are plenty of $30K RWD cars. The wide open niche is in the $20-30K range.

I'd like to see a lighter, smaller, faster, cheaper Camaro.

 

I think they can up with a new chassis without wasting time or expense. Look how fast they came up with the Solstice for Pontiac.

 

Reskinned,bengal but the sooner the better