B-Pillar will be on Camaro, confirmed by Lutz

[rray200]

SANTA MONICA, Calif. — GM product guru Bob Lutz has confirmed that unlike the Camaro concept car and the 1969 Camaro it emulates, the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro will not be a true hardtop when it reaches production.

Despite the fact that GM Chairman Rick Wagoner originally said the 2010 Camaro would be "virtually identical" to designer Sangyup Lee's concept that debuted at the 2006 Detroit Auto Show, Lutz confirmed that the production Camaro will in fact have a B-pillar, making it a standard coupe instead of a traditional hardtop coupe.

Lutz said the standard coupe structure is necessary to keep production costs down and ensure the Camaro's frame is as light and tight and possible.

The same fate is true for the Dodge Challenger. The Challenger concept was also presented as a hardtop coupe in 2006, but the 2008 production version will be a standard coupe when it goes on sale next spring.

What this means to you: Cost-cutting has killed the hardtop coupe for the everyman, with the last holdouts belonging to Bentley and Mercedes.

http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do...ticleId=122816

[acscamarochick06]

Great find... Thanks for posting!


Glad to hear about reduced weight & cost!! Now will we have a roll-down rear window?!

[Silverado]

I'm fine with it....

It paves the way for (I'm sure you all know what I'm going to say.....drum roll.....lol)










T-TOPS!

[The_Stache]

T-TOPS!

Cant this please die... we know already... t-tops are dead for the time being..

[2001ragtop]

Well at least the convertible won't have a B-pillar.

Hopefully the back window of the coupe will at least look like it can roll down even if it doesn't.

[Mr. Wyndham]

I have a feeling we'll see something similar to the mustang. I don't mind, I really never did: I'm still getting a Camaro.

I am really happy to learn that this will help wieght, and cost. Anything for that.

I'll try and chop something up now that we know what is going to happen. Anybody else want to give it a shot, too?

Oh, andGREAT FIND!!!

This is the kind of juicy tidbits we're looking for. Why out of the blue does Lutz comment on this? Maybe because he wants us to be prepared for what we see soon? maybe? huh, huh?

[Pencil.Fight]

I'm kind of disappointed by this new revelation, but I'd have to see their design before passing final judgment.

[gurulu68]

I agree with Pencil.Fight. How much wight did we save, maybe 5 pounds? I guess I'll have to waite and see what the final version looks like but for now I'm leaning towards the vert. even though I wanted the hard top.

[JeepinMatt]

I'm really concerned about weight, but I want a hardtop. I'm painting the pillar flat black.

Could someone photoshop a b-pillar onto one for us?

[gurulu68]

The quarter window is not likely to roll down. It will probably be glued in since they want to save so much money. That really blows!

[gurulu68]

You won't notice the differance from the outside unless you open the windows.

[Power Junkie]

I must admit one feature i really liked about my 68 was the lack of a b-pillar.... it's a shame that this new one is not going to follow this.

[JeepinMatt]

Originally Posted by gurulu68

You won't notice the differance from the outside unless you open the windows.

Is it going to be one of those thin, black strips that goes between the windows? Or a painted metal one?

[acscamarochick06]

Originally Posted by Silverado

I'm fine with it....

It paves the way for (I'm sure you all know what I'm going to say.....drum roll.....lol)










T-TOPS!

+1! +1! +1!

T-tops will NEVER die for me!