Thank you Camaro Comrades! Camaro & Corvette made up 1/3 of 2011 Sports Cars Sales

[fbodfather]

Good morning, Camaro Comrades, Firebird Friends, and Corvette Cousins!

Let's take a walk back in time to 2001, shall we?

In August of that year, I was asked to help craft a press release that would upset a lot of people. That Press Release announced to the world that, indeed, we would discontinue the production of the Chevrolet Camaro (and Pontiac Firebird) by August of 2002. We put a word in that press release (...that got a few of us within GM into a bit of trouble internally......) - and that word was "hiatus."

A few hours after that Press Release hit the wires, I sent a note out to the Camaro/Firebird Enthusiast community at large -- and in that note, I begged you to please "Keep the Faith."

I wanted you to know that one day the Camaro would once again return to the American and Canadian Market.

None of us within the company knew for sure WHEN that would happen......or, for that matter, that it WOULD happen. I simply knew that this legendary automobile was beloved by so many Enthusiasts --- the very people who put other GM and Chevrolet cars and trucks in their garages. And - as many of you have heard me say over and over: "Everyone - EVERYONE - has a Camaro in their past......."

After reading that Press Release in the summer of 2001 --

You could have said "....OK.....that's it.....I'm done with GM....."

.........but you didn't.

You could have said "........fine - I'll buy a Mustang and get rid of my Camaro and all of my Camaro stuff.....the HECK with GM....."

..........but you didn't.

Many of you could have said "....well....what's the use in even having a Camaro Club? - let's just close it up and move on......."

.........but you didn't.

In fact, most of you continued to grow your clubs - and gather many times a year to celebrate these great automobiles.

You could have sent me many nasty-grams and told me "where to get off"..........

.........but you didn't.

No - you didn't. Rather:

--you trusted GM -

--and you trusted me -

--and you "kept the faith" --

--and you kept gathering with like-minded individuals to preserve 'All things Camaro.'.........

--and together, we (that's you and me...) watched as the Camaro roared back into the market-place. By any measure, it's been a resounding success. It continues to win awards......it continues to win accolades.

And 'whoda thunk' that we'd be offering a Camaro -- straight off the showroom floor - with 580hp?

So - I share this next Press Release with you -- and we have YOU to thank for our success. Without you and your enthusiasm and your 'faith' -- none of this would be possible.


So - Thank you - thank you - THANK YOU!


It IS INDEED - a GREAT time to be a Camaro enthusiast!


Your Camaro Comrade -

Scott

For Immediate Release: Monday, Feb. 27, 2012

Chevrolet the Top Performance Brand in the U.S.
Corvette and Camaro accounted for one in three sports car sales in 2011

DETROIT – Chevrolet is America’s favorite performance brand, with Camaro and Corvette accounting for one out of every three sports cars sold in the United States in 2011.

In 2011, Chevrolet accounted for 37 percent of the sports-car segment with the sale of 88,249 Camaros, surpassing its nearest competitor, the Ford Mustang, by more than 18,000 units. That lead is expected to increase when the new Camaro ZL1 goes on sale this month.
Chevrolet accounted for 27 percent of the luxury-sports-car segment in 2011, with a total of 13,164 Corvettes sold. Corvette – currently the only domestic car in the segment – more than doubled the sales of its nearest competitor, the Porsche 911.




Top 5 Sports Cars by 2011 Total Sales and Market Share:

1. Chevrolet Camaro - 88,249 37%

2. Ford Mustang - 70,438 29%

3. Dodge Challenger- 39.534 16%

4. Honda CR-Z - 11,330 5%

5. Hyundai Veloster 9,284 4%

-----------------

Top 5 Luxury Sports Cars by 2011 Total Sales and Market Share:

1. Chevrolet Corvette 13,164 28%

2. Porsche 911 6,016 13%

3. BMW 6-series 3,903 8%

4. BMW Z4 3,479 7%

5. Mercedes SLK 3,220 7%



“With the addition of the Camaro ZL1, there are only a handful of brands in the world with two cars that can match the performance, technology, and excitement of Corvette and Camaro,” said General Motors North America President Mark Reuss. “Unlike many competitors’ performance cars, the Corvette ZR1 and Camaro ZL1 are appropriate for both daily drivers and track use from the factory – with standard coolers for brakes and drivetrain.”

“And we challenge any company to bring two cars to compete with the Corvette ZR1 and Camaro ZL1, dollar for dollar,” Reuss continued. “They will discover what enthusiasts already know – that Chevrolet Camaro and Corvette are the world’s best performance cars for the money.”

To demonstrate the capabilities of the Corvette and Camaro, Chevrolet recently tested both cars on the “Grand Course” at Virginia International Raceway. The Grand Course configuration is a challenge for production cars because it requires prodigious power, precise handling and tenacious grip to record a fast lap.

The 2012 Corvette ZR1, equipped with new Michelin Pilot Sport Cup tires, lapped the Grand Course in 2:45.6 – faster than the published lap time for any production car.

The 2012 Camaro ZL1 lapped the Grand Course in 2:52.4 – more than 10 seconds faster than the published lap time of the Ford Mustang Boss 302 Laguna Seca on the same track.

Car and Driver Magazine, which conducts the annual Lightning Lap shootout at VIR, called the track “the nearest thing to the Nurburgring’s fabled Nordschleife.”

“The Grand Course at VIR is an excellent test of all-around vehicle performance,” said
Al Oppenheiser, global chief vehicle engineer for Rear Wheel Drive and Performance Cars, General Motors. “Like the Nurburgring, a single lap at VIR tests every aspect of a car, including power, brakes, steering, tire grip and chassis balance. To break a three-minute lap on the four-mile Grand Course is an incredible accomplishment for any car.”

The Corvette ZR1 is the most powerful vehicle Chevrolet has ever produced, with a supercharged, 6.2L, LS9 V-8 delivering 638 horsepower and 604 pound-feet of torque. Of all mass-production companies, Chevrolet is the leader in carbon fiber use, with the lightweight material used for structural components on the ZR1 including the front fenders, hood, roof, front splitter, rocker panels and floor pans. With a curb weight of 3,353 pounds, the ZR1 features a power-to-weight ratio of just 5.2 pounds per horsepower. As a result, the ZR1 is also the fastest Chevrolet ever produced, capable of accelerating from 0 to 60 mph in 3.4 seconds, and reaching a top speed of 205 mph. The Corvette ZR1 starts at $112,575, including destination.

The Camaro ZL1 is the most powerful Camaro ever produced, with a supercharged, 6.2L, LSA V-8 delivering 580-horsepower, and 556 pound-feet of torque. It is also the most sophisticated Camaro ever, with exclusive performance technologies including Performance Traction Management and Magnetic Ride suspension. Other standard performance features include six-piston Brembo brakes, and coolers for the rear differential, brakes, and transmission. As a result, the ZL1 is also the most capable Camaro ever, accelerating from 0 to 60 mph in 3.9 seconds, reaching a top speed of 184 mph, and lapping the famed Nurburgring in just 7:41.27. The Camaro ZL1 starts at $54,995, including destination.

Both Corvette and Camaro have also recently been recognized by IntelliChoice as being the best overall value in their segments – further proof that consumers are getting more performance for their money from Chevrolet.

[super60]

Thank You to our Customers for supporting GM and Team Camaro

Proud to be a part of your Build Team .

Mike Judge
Super60

[Obzen]

When you say, 1 out of 3 sports cars sold. What cars are in that category?

Also, I chuckled when it listed the Hyundai Veloster as a luxury sportscar lol.

[ljustin293]

Originally Posted by super60

Thank You to our Customers for supporting GM and Team Camaro

Proud to be a part of your Build Team .

Mike Judge
Super60

no thank you!!

[Jekyll-N-Hyde]

Ahhhhhhhhhhh YES I remember those words from you at a local North Texas Fbody gathering lol

"HAVE FAITH"


Boy am I glad I hung in there

Originally Posted by super60

Thank You to our Customers for supporting GM and Team Camaro

Proud to be a part of your Build Team .

Mike Judge
Super60

Have I told you lately THANK YOU lol hahahaha

[Dznts]

Originally Posted by ljustin293

no thank you!!

+1

[Darth_Emma]

Thanks to GM for the amazing styling of the new Camaro. You brought the car back to it's roots, but added a modern drive train. THAT is why I bought a new Camaro.

[fbodfather]

Originally Posted by Obzen

When you say, 1 out of 3 sports cars sold. What cars are in that category?

Also, I chuckled when it listed the Hyundai Veloster as a luxury sportscar lol.

Go back and look at the post - when I first posted it, MicroSoft Word didn't like the formatting - so I corrected it......

[monstertodd]

Thankyou Fbodfather, and the entire Camaro team!

Now lets hear about the Camaro Dusk!

[camaro2lt]

Thought this would be the dusk edition release but this is even better news!! Congrats to team camaro!

[meissen]

[kgilley09]

Thanks to all of you guys at GM that are making this possible for those of us who love these amazing machines! That post was very moving Fbod!

[90503]

Nice post...Seems like vettes and camaros have a good future...just wonder, though, in the "big picture" the future of these monster motors as far as upcoming Cafe mileage requirements...

Nice job again and thanks

[Deke736]

Scott and Mike- thanks for everything you do! The 5th Gen Camaro is absolutely amazing and I am anxiously awaiting my 2nd 5th Gen Camaro, a ZL1!

The awards and accolades are a reult of the time and effort that GM and Chevrolet have put into engineering the best production cars on the planet. We, the consumer, are the ones that benefit from your passion for these vehicles. For that, I take my hat off to you and your teams!

[garcmol]

Awesome! I remember the news in '01 and it was depressing. Still had little ones then and my dream was put on "hiatus". Thank you for bringing the Camaro back!

[SnowVert]

Impressive! And I hate to admit it, but I did laugh out loud when I saw my previous "sports car" on that list. The incredibly powerful 122hp Honda CR-Z. They market it as a "sports hybrid." And from my experience it wasn't good at being either!

[Bodih]

Thanks to the GM team for fighting their way through the politics and economic strife to produce this beast! As soon as I saw the concept car in 2006, I knew I'd own another Camaro! You continue to make this line stronger and better each year. Can't wait to see where you go with the 6th gen!

[2010 SSRS]

Excellent post fbodfather

[BeckyD@RodgersChevrolet]

Fbodfather, and the entire Camaro team!

[ChriSS84]

Awesome. I love my Camaro!

[OldJedi]

Thanks for the Press Release Fbodfather. It is a great time to be a Chevy enthusiast. Thanks to everyone involved for building my ZL1 #336.

[dianeokie]

Awesome post.........

as an owner of a 98 Camaro at that time, future owner of a 2002 Firebird and 2011 Camaro, previous owner of a 95 and 76 Camaro I hated it that the car was out of production for a while, but it worked out with my life at that time too! Thanks for giving us something to dream of, Scott, and all the Chevy and GM management and employees.........

[SSTG]

Thanks for making awesome vehicles!

[Obzen]

Originally Posted by fbodfather

Go back and look at the post - when I first posted it, MicroSoft Word didn't like the formatting - so I corrected it......

Oh ok, I got it. That makes way more sense now

Oh and Thank You. This is my first Camaro but I wanted a 4th gen all through high school. It was worth the wait

[molsonbrador]

Who says grown men can't get misty eyed?
Thank you GM, thank you.