Uncle Bob Driving the Camaro Prototype!!!
 

TheGMSource - The man crush of TheGMSource has checked in with his thoughts from the land down under, aka Oz.

The cigar smokin', stock selling, helicopter flyin' Bob Lutz has nothing but good things to say about the boys (and girls) of Australia.

Maximum Bob says that GM "sampled G8s in various states of tune, and they were fabulous" He goes on to state that they were also able to sample the Chinese Buick Park Avenue, but gave us a nice hint at some "other things in the rear drive hopper."

We'll let Bob take over from there:


http://www.thegmsource.com/index.php...articleid=673&

I love how he teases us by saying "the big v8"

Can we take that to mean that there won't be a push-button start?

I like this bit from bob's Blog on the original site (http://fastlane.gmblogs.com/archives...nderful_w.html

HELL YES!!!! Lutz is a cool SOB! Damn it i wanna know what that "big V8" is!! But all in due time i guess. Sounds like pretty soon we will be seeing the car as well...ABOUT TIME!:headbang:

Who wants to head down to the D with me and grab a beer and cigar with Bob? He would be a fun guy to hang out with. :drinking:

Dark Knight beat me too it... Yes, he does seem like cool ass SOB

SWEET!:eek: Some spy photos better surface soon because all of this waiting is driving me crazy! mmmm Big V8!:thumbup:

Don't even need to use my hands to count how many times Maximum Bob has been flat-out wrong...and this quote makes me come to tears...

I can wait a bit longer. I've said it before, and I'll say it agsin - this will be a release to remember!

Oh, btw..."tuning to be done''...can anyone say Nurburgring? :evil: :laugh:

Actually, no I can't say Nurburgring I probably couldn't even spell it if you hadn't posted right above me

so now theres a black/white camaro concept.

:laughabove:

well prototype i want photos lol.

Yep, we call it the "Camooro"....:sm0: Oh, God, I crack myself up!

Where is a picture of corn when ya need it?!?! ;)

ask and yee shall recieve
http://www.worldcommunitycookbook.or...hotos/corn.jpg

BTW its not a concept.. its a prototype

the order of things is Concept->Prototype->Pre-Production->Final Production

Differences are that a concept is merely an idea, nothing needs to work. Prototypes are fully functional, but need testing and some tweaks. Pre-production is exactly the same as the final production in terms of the dimensions of parts, but the parts are all specially made and assembled by hand. Final production is what we can start buying in 2009. The good news is that to go from one stage to another takes progressively less time. it took nearly 2 years to go from concept to prototype. Pre production cars will be appearing in about 6 months. The final production one will be about 6 months after that.

The camaro is on its way.

Oh, and I wouldn't read too far into the 'big v8' comment. Consider how many engines are under 3L. So a big V8 nowadays is any v8 over 5L. surprising considering that the first Z/28 had a 'small' 302 cu (4.9L) engine

Well now we know there is a prototype. That's freakin' awesome. Hopefully some pics will be leaked soon!! This is even better than seeing the concept, now they have something that can actually be driven hard. Not some pieced together semi functional trailer queen.

It's gonna be wierd switching over....I mean, from saying 'concept' to 'prototype'. I've learned to type concept so quickly.:laugh:

Wow.... this is exactly what we have been waiting to hear since the Detroit autoshow in 2006! Finally, now we can look forward to having more to talk that the same old speculation!

I think that GM will release a torrent of information on the New Camaro either during or right after the Chicago Auto Show. That way the Challenger has already been revealed to the Public and GM can try to take the spotlight away with its superior specs and features on the Camaro. Thinking as a marketing guy (which I'm not), that's what makes the most sense to me.

This is some great news!!! You know...it's so nice to finally get some good info on this and see it progress. I can't wait to see some soon to be released spy shots!

Turn the key....good point. Hopefully it's just a turn key on the prototype. I'd love that push button for my Camaro.

According to allpar.com, the challenger's gonna have keyless entry/ignition, so I don't see why we couldn't get it for or Camaro. The other thing I noticed is that challengers not coming with a spare tire, thought that was kinda odd.

The tires/suspension probably couldn't handle any more weight.....

:laughabove:

This is how they make it sound like it's less heavy than it really is. "ummm....well, boss....we couldn't figure out how to shave off any more weight." "WHAT??? IT's already 4,200 lbs!!!" "Well, we can get rid of the spare tire and jack?" "DO IT!":laugh:

It's possible, but then why even mention that a key was being turned in the first place? Most likely Bob was getting us ready for the eventual announcement of a turn key ignition. Who knows?

I agree, I'd love to have a push button start. The plastic around my ignition is really scratched up from the other keys on my keychain swinging around.

Maybe it'll come with run-flats like the vette?

:sm0: Could be right, I remember that picture awhile back with about six guys pushing it down the road, gas tank'll probably be an option too.:laugh:

LMAO!! :sm0:

Man, I can't get over how heavy the Challenger is supposed to be. I was looking aroung and found this Challenger Info That can't be right. Carbon fiber body and STILL over 2 tons!. Even if the Camaro comes in at a fat 3750 lbs, thats still 400 shy of the Challenger's projected weight. THAT means that the base V8 Camaro will likely give a SRT8 6.1L Challenger a good run. Its almost not fair. Almost

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!! "Freakin' out" A prototype!!

so will all or most of the prototype's testing be done in australia?
If so, doesnt this mean less chances of spies getting a pic of it?

there's a .au car site that I knew of...they were the ones responsible for the first Camaro "mule" pic....

So, maybe - but the poeple down there are supposedly more obsessed about cars than we are...:headbang:

Found this while cruising the web....
Autoblog

More than this mystery video...what do they mean by 'January'? Well, :bonk: obviously NAIAS, but I thought our car wasn't going to have any - even quasi - production models there...:rolleyes: *scratches chin*

I am learning to respect GM's skill at secrecy. They make an innocent statement here and there, and let our imagination fill out the details. I never heard that they won't have a Camaro at detroit, I'm kinda surprised actually. Where did you learn this?

Hmm...good news I guess. But, could they mean January...09? What could GM do at NAIAS this year w/a Camaro? I mean...they unveil the coupe in 06, the vert in 07, ??? in 08, and the production model either at the end of 08 or Jan 09? This timeline is just kinda off... Maybe they could release a Z28 or SS edition at NAIAS this year?...something with some subtle exterior and interior changes? I would think they should have something.

Could see the clay mockup at NAIS?

Not that they won't have a Camaro, but - rather - not a production version. They may have the prototype...but I'm not betting on it...:cry:
Per Scott, btw...;)

I'll see if I can pull any info on it this weekend.