I think this is a good idea (yes including the color)...My International Management degree is pretty heavily focused in Marketing and what some people are failing to remember in their analysis of whether they think it's a good idea or not is that it's all about the target market...Sure, not everyone likes black, but they're not trying to sell this particular version to
everyone and that's supposed to be exactly what sets it apart for this market...That it's not
everyone's Camaro - that it's the special edition for the successful/ambitious business executive (or something like that)
Who's the target market in this case? Typically American business executives that want a beastly muscle car underneath but need a comfortable and refined vehicle inside...Why black? Well if we first establish that the target market is going to be classified as higher income and tie it to the trend that higher income, executive type people like solid, strong, and typically conservative colors, black makes sense...Black is a solid color and is supposed to represent strength and resilience...How many times a week do you think these business executives wear a black suit to work? Of course notably also would be the CGM because it is a very solid color as well and that's probably the second most popular business suit color (dark grey)...Again, because it is a strong, solid color and color does have a lot of pull in Marketing and psychology because it's something we react to without really thinking about it...Executives and the business world tend to fall towards these colors because they rely heavily on portraying a strong image in order to accomplish their ambitions or career goals.
Ever given thought to why a stop light/stop sign is red and why a green light is, well, exactly that? Psychologically, red and yellow are the most stirring/unsettling colors so they catch our attention most easily, whereas green and blue are the most calming colors and are used for affirming things, not negation...This is all stuff that goes on in our brains without really thinking about it and yes the same thing happens in the business world with strong and weak colors...If you had a job interview for a really important executive job, would you wear a green, blue, or red suit to the interview? No, of course you wouldn't because you would look like a sleazy used car salesman haha...You would most likely wear your nicest black or grey suit with a solid color tie...Yeah, that's an intro into the mentality of the business executive and strong colors - so yes, black does make sense even if you don't personally want to buy a black car...Remember this is a specific market segment and has unique typical characteristics. That doesn't mean all buyers in this segment will want exactly the same thing or be exactly the same, but there are definitely trends that GM is paying attention to. In my opinion, about 70% of those cars will most likely be automatic transmission due to the fact that they will most likely live or work in the city and will have to deal with traffic and in my opinion having the automatic transmission will most likely be another refined luxury item for this target market since it's less of a hassle and they still get the option to paddle shift when they have the urge.
Also, do you really think the majority of the suit and tie-wearing, high-income, business executive types are going to drive their black car down to the local $1.25 car wash and spray down their car or hand wash it in their driveway hahaha I personally wouldn't think they would because they don't have that kind of time with their always busy schedule. I think they will tend to use professional detailing outfits or at least the large scale, automated car wash chains (in New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Texas there's a popular one called Octopus) because that way they can either have someone come pick it up and get the job done for them or wait a quick 15 minutes at the large scale, automated car wash. Either way, they're enjoying the luxury of sitting back and relaxing while their car gets all fresh and shiny...So I think the black-car-getting-dirty theory would be negligible if you apply the same consideration to the given target market
And to talk about the "why not a Corvette" question...Well, for one, just because you can afford a Corvette doesn't necessarily mean everyone wants one...Secondly, some of these business executives might think that by buying a Corvette they will portray the image of going through a mid-life crisis - as many tend to associate with such action (not saying it's true, just that sometimes people jump to that conclusion). That, in turn, would portray an image of a lack of self confidence or panic in the character of the business executive and that's not what they want to portray...Thirdly, over the years American executives have gotten younger due to an increasingly enterprising nature or perhaps due to more baby boomer executives reaching the age of retirement...So maybe if the old theory about the mid life crisis purchase of a Corvette were true, maybe today's American business executive hasn't reached that age yet where he/she feels the need to buy a Corvette to try and feel young again...The Camaro is a younger, more brute kind of car and the only thing that would really be missing to attract the younger business executive type would be the refined interior that they're considering.
There could be a plethora of reasons why they wouldn't just buy a Corvette and I can guarantee GM's marketing division has given that question some thought as we have...
This is probably the longest post I've ever written so I hope someone actually takes the time to read it hahaha...This is just my opinion from a marketing standpoint
I think it's a cool idea...Keep up the brainstorming GM
