........a believable business plan for bringing back the Chevelle??

My only thoughts on this are weak at best........i.e. a Chevy GTO counterpart.......or because we can't even say Camaro for another 30 months or so???

Which nameplate has more recognition in the general public?

Honestly, doesn't GM already have enough other models that would leach sales from a sports sedan?

Especially with the new SC'd SS's from the MC and the Impala...and the Bonnevile GXP...and not withstanding the other rumored V8 RWD sedans in the pipline.......?????

I don't mean to step on any toes here.....I simply can't make a business plan for a Chevelle..................

 

Assuming that Chevelle would be a Coupe, like GTO... and Monte Carlo does in fact go RWD, I don't really see how/why they'd bring it back... maybe I am missing something though.

 

Unless a Chevelle would exist as a replacement for the Monte Carlo.

 

Yes, agreed... but we have been hearing that MC and Impala will be going RWD/V8 in the near future, and they used the MC name specifically, so that's why I assume MC will continue... but that could change.

 

Just to refresh everyone's memory, I originally posted this on 10-14-02...
Making a Chevrolet version of the next gen GTO isn't that far fetched of an idea. However as others have pointed out why have both a RWD Monte Carlo and Chevelle SS? Logistically it doesn't sound practical... however, keep in mind this is the same company that is giving us the "SSR" and presumably "Belair."

Perhaps the Chevelle SS will return as a limited run "speciality" car much like those. Not completely out of the question and certainly inline with recent trends from the Bowtie boys.

 

Im afraid too much performance out of GM will choke our chances for the F5.

Thats weird saying that.

 

We know GM can't call the performance coupe they are making Camaro (at least for now) so what would you call it untill then?

 

You would only have to assume that by pure logic Monte Carlo and Impala will use the exact same chassis's , motors ect. as the by then all new GTO which will most likely be paired with a Grand Prix as the 4 door on the pontiac side . This has been brought up quite a bit lately ....I just can't see no matter how you look at it where a Chevelle would fit into that anywhere .....unless the very recognizable and somewhat popular Monte Carlo name will get changed to Chevelle in 06 . Not unless they pull the Pontiac thing ( firebird/Trans Am ) and use Monte for the lower end cars and Chevelle for the performace versions . Anythings possible I guess .

 

Call it what you want. I'd like a Camaro very much. However a properly styled (subtly muscular without being a cartoon) Chevelle would be fine so long as it doesn't become incredibly overweight and incredibly expensive. It must also have a modern chassis, a manual trans and plenty of power.

If those criteria can be met (and I think they would) then I'm sorry to say that this whole Camaro thing would be a distant, unpleasant memory for me. I mean all we're really after here is an affordable, reasonably sized, RWD, V8 coupe right? If we wanted just the Camaro name we wouldn't care what that name was on. If we can't have a Camaro then bring on the Chevelle!

Now where did I put my Nomex underwear?

Please keep in mind that I do in fact want a new Camaro. Especially one maybe about 7/8 size of the 4th gen. This post is simply a "What if we don't get one?".

 

Why does alot of people here think Camaro can't exist if there is another RWD V8 car around?

Part 1
Monte Carlo has existed next to Camaro. Monte Carlo has totally different demographics as Camaro as Grand Prix has to Firebird, and both have existed side by side for years.

For those of you who can't seem to grip this, check these out:
Monte Carlo: http://media.gm.com/division/chevrol...monte/demo.htm
Camaro: http://media.gm.com/division/chevrol...amaro/demo.htm

Part 2
Any RWD coupe that is NOT a small, space challenged 4 seater, does not infrenge on Camaro's buyers. A roomy RWD coupe would be a replacement for the existing Monte Carlo/ Grand Prix. This includes a Chevelle SS, should a version of it be made off the new Monte Carlo line.

Saying that simply because a car has RWD, a V8 and is a coupe does not mean they are competetors to a Camaro. Minivans have 4 tires, bucket seats, and tachometers. Do they infrenge on Camaro's demographics?

Part 3
The RWD coupes GM is planning replaces the Grand Prix, and the existing Monte Carlo. The Camaro is an entirely different ballgame.

Now that that's been settled, what if....
The 2006 Monte Carlo & Impala were FWD V8s, and GM brought companion cars (an Impala SS and a Chevelle SS) that were RWD & V8s as well?

No new news, but just throwing out a far fetched thought.

 

The MC and the Camaro are apples and oranges as they are today...this ain't 1975...or even 1985.

Why in the world would GM replace the successful MC nameplate with the Chevelle???

What would a Chevelle offer that a V8, RWD Impala / MC will not?

Where does a Chevelle fit in Chevy's lineup? Especially when the Impala and MC get their upgrades to more power and possibly RWD.

The Mustang's sales levels have much to do with the fact that they are not canabalized by other Ford offerings....forgetting the V8, RWD....how many other 2 door sedans does Ford offer??

I personally don't see a need for, or a place in the Chevy lineup for a new Chevelle.......not if I also want a new Camaro that is.......

 

Why can't the chevelle be part of Chevy's new lineup along with the MC and Impala?It would make the lineup more diverse to me,more to choose from.Chevy only has the MC,Impala,Cavaler,Malibu and the Metro.Not really a lot to choose from if you're a chevy guy that likes cars more than trucks.Aside from the MC SS there isn't a performance sedan in their lineup....so why not?

 

You asked for a business case? How about this.

Chevrolet has a version of the GTO Coupe (the 2006, US made version). Pontiac's GTO is a Grand Touring car, expanding on the upcomming GTO, pricey, but alot of comfort as well as performance.

Chevrolet's coupe is divided into 2 levels. The Monte Carlo & the Chevelle SS. Monte Carlo is the high value coupe line as it is today. Because of the engineering done for Monaro's CV6, the Monte Carlo even keeps the supercharged V6 comming out this fall.

Meanwhile, the Chevelle SS becomes a version of the Monte Carlo the way mid-90s Impala SS was a version of the Caprice. It's positioned below GTO much the same way it was back in the late 60s-early 70s. Not as fancy (ie: GTO's alumunum-look interior trim vs the comparatively plain look of the new Malibu), but still with much the same performance, say an LS1 while GTO has the LS6.

The Monte Carlo- Chevelle SS would be differentated by grill, taillights, and other modest cosmetics. The difference between Pontiac's and Chevrolet's coupes would be the interior, nose & rear.

Monte Carlo would make up the bulk of GM's RWD coupe sales (and have base & S/C V6s), Chevelle SS, though minus a few cosmetics & a V8 is a Monte Carlo, & would be Chevy's Performance entry representing the mid-price version of the 3, while GTO is (for lack of a better comparison) the Cobra level car. A 4 place, pricey but worth it, comfortable, very quick GT.

This way, the Chevelle SS costs next to nothing to create. Whatever crash testing & certification needed with the V8 has already been done by Pontiac's GTO. By using the Monte Carlo as the doner car, the investment in appearence changes is as cheap as the '94-97 Impala SS changes over Caprice, and the Chevelle SS will fill in the gap between the full on GTO and the family-personal luxury coupe of the Monte Carlo. Creating the Chevelle SS (along with a returned full line Camaro) all but completes Chevrolet's link to it's historic past, for very little investment with the potential for alot of return in public intrest.

I think that would about complete the business case.

 

Where does a 120k units per year Camaro fit in there?

I just don't see it..........A link to Chevy's historic past is hardly a reason to crowd the field any more than it already is.....almost guaranteeing limited Camaro sales.

 

Camaro would fit much the same way it always fit in when alongside Grand Prix coupes & Monte Carlo. As a stylish, smaller sports car.

The GTP never affected Camaro's sales. Even the lightning quick Buick Grand Nationals never fazed Camaro's sales.

Simply returning the drive wheels to the rear & subsituting a V8 in place of a supercharged V6 isn't going to turn a car into a Camaro.

Camaro is lower, it has a smaller overall size, it's more "intimate" inside, and as a lighter vehicle, it would most certainly be quicker & faster than the Chevelle SS with the same engine.

Camaro is closer to a Corvette than it is to a GTO-Monte Carlo-Chevelle SS. Corvette's doing just fine, even with the $13,000 surcharge it had over the Camaro SS.