I've always been function before form (and seemingly in a vast minority ) Since this thread is explicitly on styling I guess I'll have to throw that out the window.

I'll have to see what's underneath before making any judgements. If the hardware is there it might be worth enduring the poor styling.... retro is so disapointing, I'd rather see simple/funtional (aka GTO) than retro. If I can't have sporty give me "elegant" before old.... but should Camaro be anything BUT sporty??? I'm not excited about the new Mustang so I was hoping GM would spark something in me instead of following that horse out to pasture.... especially with no more Firebird to balance the more conservative Camaro.

These days it's hard to be passionate about automotive styling It truly seems that styling has become the #1 selling point for cars. Look at the GTO threads (I don't care if it's dual exhaust, it comes out on one side ) Possibly because people don't know anything else automotive? Have we all become "ricers"? What's the fascination with the "old days"? Elvis is dead, leave him be

Bottom line: If the exterior styling is transparent I can look past it, if it's gimmicky that's hard to do.

 

I counted up all the retro cars I'd buy and I came up with zero. The only one I think looks average is the SSR, and the PT Crusier, Beetle, Thunderbird and 05 Mustang all look like junk to me.

We've put too much time/energy into a car we didnt know existed until a few months back to totally dismiss it, but based off my opinion of the current retro cars, this is going to have to re-define retro (possible?) for it to make me say "Damn, I have to have that car."

 

to everybody that dislikes this "retro" thing: Do you REALLY think that this will be the ONLY GM car on this platform? GM makes money by putting multiple designs on the same platform.


Examples:
1. The freaking Corvette had it's own platform that it didn't share with ANY other vehicles for 50 years. Then the Caddy XLR came out. They put in an engine design that's 10 years old, "spiffied" it up a bit, then put a price tag on it that is 50% more than the Vette.

2. When the Solstice was introduced, GM kept insisting that it wouldn't share a platform with any other vehicle. Now we have 2 other vehicles on the same platform being shown.

3. Look at what has come from the I think it's called GM360? small-midsize truck platform. First, Trailblazer & Envoy, then the extended versions, then the SSR. I think the Colorado is a shrunk down version, but I'm not sure.

 

so basically, if you want a toned down one, wait for the Buick model

 

Hey, first post here, and I saw this posted in another board.

As a GM loyalist, muscle car enthusiast, and camaro fan and owner since I was 3 yrs old, I am very disappointed. Not only does it seem that the Camaro will be retro-esque, but that it doesnt look good, or sound like it would look good. IMO if you are gunna go retro, go for the gusto and go with Kris Hortons design. At least its very sweet looking.
As for retro, I dont agree with the whole idea at all. 35 years GM has been designing Camaros and out of thoes 35 years they havent looked back once. Same can be said for the Mustang, but they were getting very retro-influenced with the present generation mustang with cars like the Bullit, Mach 1, and other minor things like prancing pony decals and all that. Its only a matter of time before they make a Mustang II!!
But back to the Camaro. I dont like retro cars as they have yet to prove themselves for a long period of time to sell at sustained levels that the company wants. Perhaps the mustang will change that, but that has yet to be shown. Retro cars always get tons of ooos and ahhhs at car shows, but after you see tons of them(i.e. PT Cruser, Beetle) all over the streets, It looses its cool. Think about how many Mustangs you see now! That retro look is gunna get very old. Not to mention that 17 year old girls dont like "old" looking cars and lets face it, the Mustangs V6 owners are by and large female.
I think GM could have done way better. They have shown some seriously sweet designs with the C6, XLR, CTS, Solstice, G6, and even the Cobalt. I have also seen the Buick Coupe that is supposedly going to be sharing bunk beds with the Camaro. Now thats a sharp looking car. Deffinatly not a buick, but deffinatly a buick all at the same time.
GM could have done better with the design. I can only hope that Lutz has yet to dip his hands into the car. Maybe he can smudge out some of the more stronger retro cues.

 

I too think it's waaaaayy to damned early for people to be taking sides on the styling of the Camaro.......hell, we're just arm-chair quarterbacking here anyway.

My suspicions are that people are reacting to the possibility of a larger grille with the headlights inside (1st gen ish) as opposed to the 2nd-4th gen with them outside it.......but this is the one thing even Red hinted that we are not right about....so chill a little.

My thoughts are that most peole confuse Retro with what is called Heritage Styling cues.....how the hell are you going to be able to tell it's a Camaro (this is REQUIRED) if it doesn't have certian Camaro trademark styling?!?

Personally I love the fact that it is even being hinted (again, no confirmation) that it'll have the fender sweeps (ala 1969)......the Camaro has been long too devoid of any real character on it's sides....certianlly doesn't make it Retro but does use it's Heritage.

It seems as though we'll get back to having some form of a "coke-bottle" shape to it's midsection......again, this is a good Camaro heritage styling cue.....it make the car much more muscular looking than a straight beltline. Good tumble home and strong shoulders....ah yes, Camaro Heritage traits again....

I look forward to it having a trunk again...half the Camaro's Heritage had one....stronger structure, better security for your stuff and less work for the airconditioning...

It seems as though it'll have a better hood design.....scoops or cowl induction...either way, it says Camaro and is in it's Heritage to have it.....that and we'l obviously get a spoiler too.

See the pattern?

To me Retro is a complete remake of a certian model......ala the T-bird......to use Heritage Styling Cues is keeping the car's DNA alive.

Who'd want a car that we couldn't even tell it was a Camaro?!?

Heritage Styling Cues are a requirement to be able to recognize the car as a Camaro......but it doesn't mean it'll be Retro ...not by a long shot.

 

I understand that, but its sounding more and more like they have crossed the line of heritage, and have now entered retro. Hertiage is fine with me, but have it as an evolving heritage. Perfect example is headlights. They were your standard round sealed beems for the first gen, and continued thoughout the 2nd gen. Third gen came around and they were square, and there were 2 of them, including 2 parking lights. Then fog lights were added in the grill area. 4th gens kept the 4 square headlights, and 2 fogs in the grill. the 98 fbodies went to a solid plastic headlight with 2 bulbs per headlight unit and fog lights were put under the headlights. Evolution of a hertiage item.
Look at the nose of the Camaro which is what is argued now. At first it was the standard large grill up front with headlights in the grill. 2nd gens had headlighs mounted to the left and right of the smaller grill. Third gens moved the grill lower and made it smaller while moving the headlights to the corner pockets. 4th gens started out the same way with a smaller grill, and the headlights in pockets. 4.2's got a new updated nose with larger headlights and larger grill.
Rear section went from usual trunk to hatch.
Windshield rake keeps getting flatter and flatter.
Heritage is fine with me, but basicly making a modern first gen, thats retro, and thats what I am seeing and hearing now. That is what has me upset. All the Camaros have some form of heritage in them... its when they take on massive hertiage from one car or one generation of car... then its retro.

 

How about they replace the "Retro" front clip so it looks like a Chrysler, like on the 98-02 Camaro?

Retro or not, the important factor for me is that the car looks GOOD. There aren't any GM cars out right now where I look at and think "Man, they got all the details right ." There are several that come close (the C6 is an example - it looks pretty good but a few proportions aren't perfect and the interior, though improved, still looks only okay.)

 

I'm just going by what's been shown in this thread. Supposedly some of these concept drawings closely resemble what's on the drawing board.

Granted, it's been a while since I've had my eyes checked but last time I did it was 20/20. Every single pic I've looked at is dreadfully retro, I haven't seen anything progressive... not even close!

Corvette has done a good job with the evolution theme, I was hoping Camaro would follow.

 

No offense,but that's the dumbest thing I've ever heard. What you're speaking of blind loyalty. This is what usually leads to mass suicides in those wacko comet chasing religious cults.

If a company does not make anything you like there is absolutely no reason you should buy it. Just becuase I grew up a GM fan does not bind me to buying a Malibu or G6 when/if I like a Mazda 6 better.

You are speaking of a company's wet dream. A customer base that will buy it's products no matter how crappy they are and inferior to the comptition. That is the mentality that cost Detroit market share in the '70s and '80s.

Now, getting back to the retro vs. non-retro arguement....hasn't a few folks here with very good inside info stated a few time the next car would not be retro?

 

No, I belive you missed the point. Im sure they could come up with something better then the sebrings...I mean camaros of last gen.

If it looks good now, who says people will still think it looks good 3-4 years from its release when the fanfare and press release is over and the excitment of a new camaro is gone. Will it still look good? Many people said that the PT Cruser looked awesome and when it first came out there was a 6 month waiting list. Now that the style has had some time to soak in, There are less and less fans of the car. DCX keeps adding models to spice up the line up and bring some more people to the car, but its no where near the first PT crusers. Now, when in 3-4 years and the camaro is selling around 60k units a year, half of what GM wants it to sell... will GM kill the Camaro again? I cant see the Camaro die 2 times.

 

Very good post

I think we all need to chill a little here. All we've seen is drawings, thats it! I'm with Doug, I love my fourth gen, but the sides look plain as hell. I'm all for going back to the coke bottle shape with some bulging in the fenders. To me that says pony car, the 4th gen says sport touring car.

Also if I recall, its been stated numerous times by credible sources that the Camaro is NOT going retro like the Mustang did. Its gonna have quite a few heritage cues on it apparently but so what? It has to have them! It needs to be identifiable as a CAMARO without seeing the badge up close. We've waited this long and endured this long, lets at least give GM and our favorite car a chance without jumping ship and jumping the gun over a couple of sketches.

 

I’ve never been a huge fan of retro, but I can’t help but like this design.
http://www.wyattcon.net/images/F5Camaro.jpg

I also Loved Kris H’s drawing back in Hot Rod even though it defined “Retro”

I do see what your saying Mr. Harden. Maybe it’s why I like this look. “The Heritage Cues” I still feel like its borderline retro though. Yet this car would stand out rolling down the road and I like that.

Right now we just see a direction of the car. I’m going to wait to see sheet metal in person before I make my final judgment. Good to see they have taken so many styling cue from past Camaro’s for a car that might not be called Camaro.

But honestly if the interior goes modern, we get a healthy LS2, 6 speed, orange paint and a drop top I will probably buy one of these towards the end of the decade. The car has to be called Camaro though.

I also want to reiterate how I’d like to see a modern looking/feeling interior even if the body of the car relies heavily on 1st and 2nd gen retro styling. I like the new Mustangs body styling. I didn’t like it at first, but the more I’ve seen it, the more I like it. However I still hate the retro gauges and interior of the new Stang. Looks just like my 65 interior at home. That bugs me.

I don’t see T-tops being worked into this design which sort of sucks. I don’t even see a true Targa being worked into this. Maybe they will have a sun roof option. They just better have a convertible. That’s what I want.

I’m going to wait and make my final call when I actually see the car. Right now I’m feeling good about the look. Just my two cents.

 

If it wasnt for the front grill, It wouldnt look so damn retro.



that grill just looks way too first gen. round it off more and put some new healights on it or something. Also, tone down the rear 1/4 pannel to more of a slow arch. That screams first gen. The greehouse is a lot better and not so first gen as other designs.
And that front end just reminds me of the 05 Mustang. Its just got that bulgy looking front end.

 

Have you seen crispy's latest?

http://www.hardenmotorsports.com/ima...%20concept.jpg

Try to imagine the profile of a G35 with these styling ques.......hhhhmmmmm

I still think the grille is the thing the anti-retro people are reacting to....probably for good reason. I don't want it too blocky either, but this is just a sketch by an enthusiast......it's fun to see something though, ain't it?