6th Gen Chevrolet Camaro: 2017 ZL1, Z/28

[YSSMAN]

Automobile Magazine - 2016 Chevrolet Camaro Sneak Preview

The basics:

• Moves to the Alpha chassis, but instead is on the same chassis as the CTS
  • Expects the wheelbase to grow by 2.3 inches
  • Expects a weight loss of "several hundred pounds"
• V6 and V8 options probably carry over, probably adds I4 Turbo power to compete with Mustang
• Bigger car leaves room for smaller sports coupe (ie, Code 130R or Tru 140S)

Calling in on a '70s style evolution seems like a bit of a jump, but then again, we didn't expect the Mustang to stay so retro-styled going into this generation. Who's willing to bet that GM is still shopping around two or three different looks before kicking the concept out the door? As much as I'd hope for a more futuristic evolution in terms of style, it isn't as though a modernized version of the '70s model is that bad.

As Jalopnik and others have rightly pointed out, that 2.0T engine will need a bit of a power bump if it is going to be considered a reasonable competitor to Ford's 2.3 EcoBoost. There was a rumor a while back that GM was looking to do a turbocharged version of the corporate 2.5L that's in damn-near everything... Perhaps this is the correct application to start?

Otherwise, the V6 and V8 options are really of no surprise. I'd imagine the V6 would directly carry over from the current car, 315 BHP from that DOHC V6, not much more. The V8 will be an interesting choice, whether or not they cut some costs and stick with the LS3, or jump up to the LT1 and start rolling those things out.

Keeping the car that big, despite the weight loss, seems to also indicate that the rumored SS Coupe isn't happening, and that the Camaro will continue to be the premium sports coupe (that isn't a Corvette) at Chevrolet. So, 3600lbs or so for the I4T and V6 models? The SS clocking in somewhere around 3700lbs? We'll have to see, I suppose.

But, it leaves room for the Code 130R. I'd much rather see that over the Cruze-based Tru 140S. The small, rear-drive segment is apparently exploding, and if they're taking the Camaro upmarket, they'll need something on the low end to drive up sales and continue to take away from the development costs of the Alpha chassis. I'd still bank on that car getting the 2.5L 200 BHP I4, and then probably the 259 BHP 2.0T from the Regal GS. Only question is how cheap they'd make it versus the already reasonably priced Camaro.

Exciting to see new Camaro stuff, but, ends up giving us more questions at this point. I suppose we'll see at Detroit in January?

 

[Slash]

I rather like the second gen Camaros. If they go to a modern version of that body style, I'll probably like it. In fact I hope they do.

 

[RocZX]

It sounds interesting, hopefully they go for an early '70s (70-73) look not later one.

I was thinking how a modern version of a '70s Camaro would like...

And I'm not sure why but this pop in to my head....

Remove the stupid bar across the grill .


The new Camaro sounding nice but this even more interesting....

[*]Bigger car leaves room for smaller sports coupe (ie, Code 130R or Tru 140S)
[/LIST]

👍

 

[Leonidae@MFT]

Code 130R please. It might even take Camaros '00 WS6 Trans Ams place as my favourite 'murrican car.

 

[Keef]

No.

 

[Cale]

Hopefully not like this.

 

[Tornado]

Man. The Mexican buyer demographic is going to skyrocket.

 

[LMSCorvetteGT2]

It's not a bad start but it isn't great either.

 

[BKGlover]

Where's my ax? That face has got to go.

 

[Doodle]

And I'm not sure why but this pop in to my head....

All of the yes.

 

[Slash]

This render is floating around.

 

[LMSCorvetteGT2]

This render is floating around.

Those lamps are ugly as hell, and that obnoxious SS badge on the front is stupid. The Fire wall back is lovely though.

 

[GranTurismo916]

This render is floating around.

 

[Azure Flare]

That is so ugly that I can't come up with a sarcastic remark about it.

If GM is so adamant that a 70's inspired new one is a good idea, they better not screw up.

 

[Slash]

The 70s take is going to be tough to modernize. All I can see is a Camaro badge on a CTS.

 

[Tornado]

This render is floating around.

lol VehiCROSS.

 

[GTPorsche]

Kill it with fire.

 

[xNEVER-ONEx]

Kill it with fire.

You have to bury it like radioactive material.

 

[Joey D]

I'd really like it if they dropped the whole retro thing. Give it a modern body, give it a good engine selection and offer it with a 6-speed manual and DCT, and finally give it a good suspension setup that will make it a proper sports car all for less than $40k.

 

[BKGlover]

Modern body? Perhaps something like this?

Here's the articles:http://www.caranddriver.com/features/25-cars-worth-waiting-for-20142017-feature

 

[Tornado]

Ew. That looks like a GTA IV car.

 

[BKGlover]

Follow the link and look at the 'Cuda we have yet to see anything of.

 

[xNEVER-ONEx]

Modern body? Perhaps something like this?

Here's the articles:http://www.caranddriver.com/features/25-cars-worth-waiting-for-20142017-feature

Doesnt look bad. Better than the current camaro.

 

[20832]

Modern body? Perhaps something like this?

Here's the articles:http://www.caranddriver.com/features/25-cars-worth-waiting-for-20142017-feature

Not sure about the grill, but I'm liking the overall design!

 

[Joey D]

That Car & Driver rendering looks like a Mustang with a different grill, I do think that's a better direction for the design though.

 

[MoLiEG]

Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope.

 

[Slash]

I'd really like it if they dropped the whole retro thing. Give it a modern body, give it a good engine selection and offer it with a 6-speed manual and DCT, and finally give it a good suspension setup that will make it a proper sports car all for less than $40k.

If it doesn't look like a past Camaro no one will buy it, or they will in small numbers.

 

[Zenith]

If it doesn't look like a past Camaro no one will buy it, or they will in small numbers.

F-Body.

On one hand I'd like to see the Big 3 Pony Cars move on to more modern designs and stop the 2000's retro fad, on the other I think that the Second Gen Camaro could look good with a retro design.

 

[Joey D]

If it doesn't look like a past Camaro no one will buy it, or they will in small numbers.

I doubt it would have an issue. Retro is starting to be way played out and design is starting to move away from it, which is why cars like the PT Cruiser and HHR are no longer around. The retro Camaro was an interesting idea, but I really feel the next gen is going to have to step it up with the design since it will take it into 2020.

 

[Tornado]

If it doesn't look like a past Camaro no one will buy it, or they will in small numbers.

The Camaro had so little design cohesion across generations that the second generation literally caught the entire industry off guard for how completely different it was (see the Challenger that debuted at the same time copying the same 1964 Mustang that the 1967 Camaro copied); and then they did so again with the 1982 redesign (though the 1993 one was pretty much just changing the edges to the 90s jellybean look).

That doesn't mean I think the render above is any good, since it accomplishes nothing but copying all of the worst elements and cartoonish proportions of the current car and strips out what little character that is there; but there is a middle ground between cartoonish pandering to an old design (the 2005 Mustang, the current Challenger, the interior of the current Camaro) and "completely anonymous car of the decade it was designed in". Ford did a good job with the 1999 Mustang, and Pontiac did a good job with the 1998 Firebird (though the latter was obviously not the most tasteful car). Even the current Camaro would be decent in that respect from the exterior if it was styled with a bit more subtlety than a Tonka truck.