Alot of speculation has gone out about the Velite being the actual dimensions & layout of GM's "performance" coupes. By looking at the Velite in pictures, I was pretty enthusiastic about the prospect of Camaro being based on the car. The car looks every bit as good in person as it does in pictures. It's very well proportionate, it's just that it gives off far more size than I expected.

Just to give an idea as to what I mean, compare the Velite dimensions to 2 other cars:

Mustang:
wheelbase: 107.1
length: 187.6
width: 72.1
height: 54.5

Velite:
wheelbase: 114.8
length: 185.7
width: 75.6
height: 51.9

4th gen Camaro
wheelbase: 101.1
length: 193.5
width: 74.1
height: 51.3

The Velite has a wheelbase 0.1" longer than the Crown Victoria, yet is a mere 2" longer than the 2004 Mustang or 8" shorter than the 4th gen. The 4th gen Camaro was already wide at 74". Velite is even 1.5" wider!

Don't get me wrong, or misread me. It's exactly the size coupe I'd buy if the price & performance were right. It looks as if it's going to be a comfortable high speed tourer, and if the Velite is any indication of the direction GM design is going, I'd say Chevrolet's version will be every bit a knockout as I've been hearing!

But if Camaro is going to be a shortened version of this, it's going to look very oddly proportioned (175" long with 76" of width & a 105" wheelbase? ), and if is indeed based on the Velite structure, it's going to seem a little large.

 

If they shorten it for the "Camaro", they could also likely make a narrower car on the same platform. I believe the new STS is around 4 inches wider than a CTS, and they are both on Sigma (similar change in wheelbase, too).

EDIT: "It's the largest of the Sigmas: Its 116.4-in. wheelbase, 196.3-in. overall length and 72.6-in. width are, respectively, 3.0, 6.2 and 2.0 in. greater than its CTS sibling's." From R&T's review of the STS. 3 inch longer wheelbase, 2 inches wider. Not quite 4 inches, but you get the idea.

 

as seen earlier possible velite, maybe solstice, what about the curve?

 

If it were up to me, perhaps the GTO and Buick coupe should be based off of the Zeta long variant. That's just my opinion. This would leave the short version for sporty cars.

Also...I may be wrong...but from what I've been gathering, the Holden VE (Zeta), short variant, sounds like it will be smaller than the GMNA Zeta short variant.. Maybe an opportunity there?

Regarding Velite's width....it's very, very possible that some of the car guys working on "our" car want a narrower car also.

 

How does the new Buick compare to the Monaro/GTO in size?

 

Velite:
wheelbase: 114.8
length: 185.7
width: 75.6
height: 51.9

GTO:
wheelbase: 109.8
length: 189.8
width: ?
height: 54.9

http://www.pontiac.com/gto/specs_dimensions.jsp

 

Monaro is 72.56in wide...I would assume thats the same as GTO. That spec is direct from the Holden dealer brochure pdf on Holden's website...Converted from metric of course.

 

Seems to me that by dimensions alone the GTO/Monaro is a Ponycar.

 

I definately would NOT want a big heavy Camaro. After owning both, I would say that to me, the Mustang is much closer to the size car I would want to drive. Similar size to a 4th gen on the inside, much smaller on the outside.

I think a 3200-3300lb Mustang sized (but Camaro shaped, of course) car would be sweet. Like C6 to C5 - smaller, lighter, faster, cheaper. If velite isn't the platform that can deliver, they need to find another platform.

 

Well if they are going to find another platform I guess you don't mind waiting about 8 years. The Zeta cars will debut at this years auto shows and that means 1 year till the 1st ones hit the streets, but if you want them to cancel the Camaro I am sure they can.

 

if length is the issue, what's the big deal? i thought length was a relatively inexpensive thing to modify for a given platform.

 

I'm sure some people would be happy with an overweight car and the wrong size and shape as long as it said Camaro on it, but not me.

 

The Velite's Zeta chassis looks to be about the right size, I dont know what the big deal is? Yeah, wheelbase is longer, that means less overhang and more interior room, not a problem. The third and 4th gens could have used a bit more wheel base.
And Velite is 7 inches shorter then the 4th gen? Where is the loss here? The C6 did pretty much the same thing. Enlarged the wheel base, decresed overall length.

We wont know what the greenhouse looks like as the only Zeta car so far is a Vert. Im sure that they can adapt the greenhouse to make it look like a Camaro. I think we are just getting antsy now.

 

Weight 1565 kg / 3450.2 lbs

Power 400 bhp / 298.4 kW @ 6200 rpm
BHP/Liter 111.1
Torque 542 Nm / 399.8 ft lbs @ 3200 rpm
Power to weight ratio 0.26 bhp/kg

Smaller overall than the 4th gen, IRS and still in the right weight range, with more interior room. If that is wrong in size then you aren't looking or a Camaro you are looking for a Monza. Also so far as shape, I have faith. I have seen enough close versions of the final car to say it WILL look like a Camaro but until it is out in public and released we can't all be in agreement.

 

Won't a car with a longer wheelbase and a wider track handle a whole lot better??

As long as the overall, outside deminsions are Camaro-like, it sounds like a win-win to me.