It would make me think less of Malibu, and, honestly, more of 2005 Mustang... which I think we all know is the path that Chevrolet is traveling here.

Take the "Chevy Spear" out of the grille, put a running horse in there with the changes you mentioned, and I think it smells like Mustang.

Of course, if the top grille went away in favor of the the lower grille (al la 3rd/4th Gen) rather than having two grilles then I think it could look more like a Camaro to me...

I dunno... it just seems like this thing is going to be waaaay to upright/sedanish/pedestrian looking for me... especially after all the wait.

Before someone jumps in and says it: I know, I know, I haven't seen it yet... but what I am visualizing doesn't thrill me...

 

Those things would make it a better BelAir concept....but I hope you're not thinking a good Camaro.

I thought certain aspects of the Bel Air were innovative. Using a turbo I5 for example. I also found that developing a car off of cheap truck architecture interesting.

I'm just surprised that the Bel Air -as we saw it- actually made the show circuit.

 

Can you say RED interior.

 

Well, I've seen it. I probably spent 30 min looking at, (luckily no crowd around it).....hoping that some revelation would hit me...if I just saw it from the right angle.
Nope. Didn't happen.

The car I was looking at....THAT CAR....will NEVER be visually exciting enough to be a Camaro.

 

No, No... I meant i haven't seen the 5th Gen Camaro in person yet. (I should have been more clear, sorry.)

I *DID* see the Bel Air concept in person up in Cleveland, and it was the definition of boring. People walked past it and barely even glanced at it. Nothing about this car says "Camaro" to me.

 

I saw the Belair in person, and it actually is a good looking car.

The only problem with Belair was that because it was placed on a truck chassis, it's proportions were out of whack. It looked too tall, too narrow, and too short.

The Belair was actually a design idea for another car. It was altered & adapted to try out an idea of using a truck based chassis as a low cost platform for a RWD car that could possibly be made on an existing truck assembly line.

Though it doesn't have the "presence" the 300 & Magnum have, with the right proportions, I think the Belair would be one pretty attractive car.

 

Well, GM had better hurry:

"The source also indicates the auto maker is toying with the idea of launching a 2-door version of the Charger, as well as a 4-seat convertible, based loosely off the Chrysler Hemi C concept vehicle that debuted at the 2000 North American International Auto Show in Detroit."

 

That 2 door Charger is aimed at us. It's going to be in the same market as GTO-Mustang-Camaro.

If it comes out, it won't be before the 2007 model year. GM's got it covered.

 

I think if people take a look at certain parts of the Belair you will see some Camaro looks to it. Particularly the area where a B pillar would be. I can very definately see a very 1st gen like hump where the rear fender starts. I think the Belair was a preview of the next Impala but suited for the GMT355 chassis. Now we know styling parts of the SS concept are present in the next Impy. Remember this was a concept car a few YEARS ago.

 

Considering how the SSR turned out - pushing 5,000lbs in weight and nearly $50K in MSRP - the truck-based Belair would probably been another disaster.