Voice Your Comments/Suggestions/Input for Focus Group on 2010 Camaro

[96CAMaro]

1) Tranny cooler, oil cooler, (possibly) power steering cooler package
2) Power window motors that will last 100,000+ miles
3) Possible MPG display
4) Base model V8 that will clean the Mustang's clock
5) If not done so already, keep the weight below 3,650lbs
6) 275/45/19's all the way around (MINIMUM)
7) Aggressive cowl hood with vent opening for V8 models
8) Please, please, please, PLEASE have a distinguishing look for different models. I don't want to be mistaken for a V6.
9) Trans and rear end that will be able to handle the abuse of an additional 100-150hp of mods, easily.
10) Base model V8 should be faster and better than the 2002 model F-body's

P l e a s e

[RSHugger]

I have really enjoyed watching the transformation from concept to the latest and greatest pictures we see coming out on almost a daily basis. The engineers at GM will have a better handle on what can become reality and what can't just based on the fundemental design of the car... so here are my thoughts:

Exterior: Small rear spoiler, reverse lights either part of the tail lights or back as installed in the concept, rear gills... like the idea of a trim piece as installed on my 69 RS, functional cowl hood for the big dog, heated side mirrors, Bowtie emblems that are changed out with RS, SS or Z28 depending on trim levels similar to earlier generations.

Interior: My biggest concern is that my 6'-7" frame is not going to fit (not a wide body just a long one). I want the driver seat to sit far enough back and down that my legs and my head won't be crushed. Adjustable lumbar support in the seat... other adjustments would be welcome as long as they are not those bags used on the early 90 GM models that always seemed to deflate. Integral homelink for the garage door opener. 12 volt outlet for the back seat passengers. Dual comfort zone controls, 6 disk CD would be awesome,

Engine: Want a strong V8 with power, economy and durability. Want it to be easy for me to change the plugs. I want to make the GT500 crowd to cring when they see my car come down the street.

I am looking for a car that I can keep for years, one that will look nice next to my 69RS and that I will enjoy for years to come. This will not be a daily driver but I want it to be enjoyable to drive in city traffic as well as blasting down the interstate.

From what I have seen to date the car is pretty much on track for most of those items listed above. My biggest concern is the height issues. Even if I don't fit I don't see it stopping me from buying the car... it just means the first mod is moving the seat back!

Keep up the good work Team Camaro!

[Eisenhower]

-500+ motor
-AWD
-open hood scoop
-halo headlights
-true duel exhaust

[fredl11]

Originally Posted by Dragoneye

Put it here!!!!

You've all seen Fbodfather's post about the "12 Disciples of which there are 15". Well, there is going to be a Focus Group/Conference occurring in May of this year with these 15 lucky people. They will get to offer up some view, opinions, and general feedback directly to the Camaro team themselves!

Our site member Garfin (Elie), one of these 15 folks, has very graciously volunteered to bring with him any input our members of Camaro5.com happen to have for the team when he attends the Summit. So, before anything, I think we all owe him a big thanks.

Thanks to Garfin, there's no reason to go off to any other sites to offer input if you didn't want to. Now, ANYTHING you may have to say, any suggestions ranging from praise to powertrain to marketing suggestions, put them up here. The folks on the team are great listeners, and want to know everything we're thinking, so don't hold anything constructive back, even if you think it's a minor detail.

The moderators here will take the ideas and compile them here, in this first post, so that it will be easier for Elie to print out. And it will serve as a guide for you all to go by, if you're wondering whether anything has been said yet.

I must ask, however, that you do not put up any nonsense, or goof around in here. We don't really want to read through all of that just to find something useful. And by useful, I am insinuating that we will use our better judgement when choosing what to copy in here. If somebody goes off on a rant about how he/she wishes they wouldn't use the headlights from the prototype...obviously that won't be included. So please, think about what you're going to post before you post it. Thank You!!!!

Remember also that none of what you post up here will mean that that "issue" is resolved your way, or even "resolved" at all. It may not be an issue to the other 99% of people. The point of this thread is to simply provide our thoughts/feedback to the team; they want to know what's going through our heads. And chances are...at this point in the game, 90% of what you'd like to see has been discussed/finalized already, but don't let that stop you from speaking up.

With out further Ado, and once again our great thanks goes out to our friend Elie, Post away!!!!

----------------Updated as of 3/30/08----------------57--

Exterior:

• T-tops
• More agressive hood for the upper trim levels
• Smaller XM/Onstar/radio antenna (the "shark fin")
• If it's going to be used on the production car, color coordinate the "shark fin" with the body color
• The front scoop is one of neat little things we all like about the car (the fact that it's non-functional is a little issue to some, though)
• At least open the front scoop, even if it's not feeding the engine
• Make every attempt to not use amber colored directionals for Europe. Use amber bulbs instead?

Lights/exterior trim:

• LED lamps all around
• Smaller repeater lamps on the sides
• Relocate the reverse lamps to somewhere other than the middle of the bumper
• HALO headlamps (like the concept)
• Keep any daytime-running-lights out of the main Headlight assembly, if possible
• Side-mirror heaters
• Offer multiple stripes packages, the Concept Convertible's style, the side "hockey-stick" stripes, and the center cowl-hood stripe
• Could the stripes be painted on?
• Offer a close-to-Bumblebee yellow
• The Gunmetal grey/steel color on the ZR-1 is HOT! Can we get a very similar color? Pretty please!!
• Can the stripes NOT come as a mandatory option when purchasing higher trim levels?
• Would love to see some of the First-generation colors offered (i.e. HUGGER ORANGE!!!)
• The faux vents in front of the rear wheels. Could those have something done to them to make them look open? Instead of just being indentations

Powertrain:

• LSA or variant. Supercharged 6.2 for the top-of the line model
• Paddle-shifting with the Automatic transmission
• All Wheel Drive?
• LS3 engine or "better" (pretty please!!)
• Short-throw shifter for the manual option
• Optimize the Exaust note when in 4-cylinder mode
• AFM-equipped, E85-capable V6 AND V8 engine
• 300 hp Direct Injection V6
• Offering a 4-banger...er, 4 cyllinder engine, is a good idea for the success of the Camaro. We won't hate you for it.
• A sport-tuned Suspention
• 4-piston calipers, slotted/cross drilled rotors
• Please keep the tires the same on all four corners so they can be rotated

Interior:

• Keep the torque gauge, and keep that guage cluster right where it is!
• Heads-up display option (preferably as it's own option)
• Dual-zone Climate Control
• Auto-dimming mirrors
• Hands free Bluetooth
• Homelink, Temp, Direction, and Onstar (possibly all on rearview mirror)
• Premier sound system: Bose, Blaupunkt, Boston Acoustics, JL
• Quality materials, (i.e. Not hard plastic everywhere)
• A few Color accent schemes available
• 6-disk changer standard?
• USB drive for memory stick (MP3's type receiver so no more having to use CD's)
• Please make the manual transmission shifter resemble the Concept shifter (obviously NOT made out of billet aluminum)
• Include radio controls and cruise control on the steering wheel/seering column
• Heated seats. Cloth Heated seats?
• Navigation system available

Pricing/ordering:

• We understand the advanced components, and better interior, but please try and keep it affordable (as near to the Mustang as humanly possible)
• Reduce the "clumping" of options
• Offer LOTS of accesories/customizable "aftermarket" options
• IF the options MUST be packaged together, try to seperate the performance options from the luxury options (seperate packages)

Marketing:

• Highlighting the fuel-efficiency is a good idea
• Any ads must make as strong a statement, and be as bold as the car is
• Have a little hint about performance, like "Camaro: you'll spend more on tires than you will on gas". And highlight all the different fuel-saving features, AFM, E85(?), etc.

General Feedback:

• You've been able to keep this close to the concept?!? Wow. Great Job, and Thank you for that!
• The car is coming together really well.
• Thank you for bringing the almighty Camaro back to us!
• Please, spare no effort to absolutely destroy the GT-500 in the Camaro's corresponding trim level
• Thanks for listening to us!!! We really appreciate it, and want you to know it

Concerns/Questions:

• Are there any fuel Economy goals for both the V8 AND the V6?

For me All the above!

HUD and Nav

[ugoogalee]

I read all the posts and only saw this mentioned a couple of times, so I wanted to add my thoughts...

I had a 67 RS/SS 350, which had the sweetest deck spoiler! After seeing the red "decked-out" photos I have to admit that that spoiler looks too "non-american" (non-canadian?) to me.

My thought is that this bad-ass car won't need to have oversize spoilers on it to attract attention. But if the accessory team wants to offer it, can you at least offer a smaller spoiler as well for us folks over 40?

[blanz]

Please include a hidden 3mm input jack so that Satellite radio and MP3 players can have an input rather than the FM modulation connection.

[fireresq157]

First off thanks for the chance to make a difference. Secondly to all those who want a Cheap Camaro stop asking for the world and expect to pay pennies. What you need to ask for is to have lot's and lot's of options not just packages that give you only half of what you do desire. Like it used to be many years ago. I would not be to worried about engines and performance Chevy won’t let you down, besides there’s always after market if you won't be satisfied with the likely 450+ hp top model. Anyhow here’s my list.

All scoops vents need to be at least open if not like in the base models the completely omit them. Makes the car look like crap if they are fake.

Use the gas cap and location like the concept, that really made the car look and feel unique.

Use or have the option for a spoiler like the concepts that was classy, batwings are NOT cool.

Make turn lights side lights as small as legally possible but use powerful led’s to improve visibility when used.

Backup light need to be just like the concepts, engineer them is such a way to be functional and effective, if need be compliment them with lights directly next to license plate. When backing up turn lights on to back up when not backing up they can illuminate the license plate with another set all inside the same lens cover.

No amber rear lights for US, as nice as they looked on the second half of the fourth gen camaro, they will just ruin the rear end look to this generation.

The halo lights were the best looking front head light I've seen so far, keep those.

Please have option to paint on stripes/decals versus stick on. Stick on stripes fade allot quicker than a paint job. Makes the car look old and cheap only after a couple of years.

Introduce a radio with a USB hard drive port with variable HD sizes to accommodate any MP3 collection. Much like many desktop computers now have built in ports. Forget about just plugs , I hate having wires running everywhere. If you do choose to have plugs make them almost invisible.

If built in Hard Drive to Radio have Bluetooth technology to transfer music.

Bluetooth capability for radio for wireless/hands free cell phone use.

I personally love T-tops in my 4rth Gen SS, but I'm realistic it would make this generation camaro look like crap. Keep the sunroof option, and/or introduce a targa top for complete unobstructed views across. the top of car.

A hard top convertible option would be great, Rag tops look like crap after a couple of years in Florida weather. Some may not care because they change cars like they change their diapers, but a word of advise to GM cars are moving billboards how a car looks a couple years into it's age says alot of it's build quality.

Integrated navigation system would be nice especially if this car makes it into rentals. (I know that’s not what many want to hear)

Radio controls on the steering wheel or if not voice recognition capability for hands free radio use.

Cruise control capabilities in the steering wheel also.

All wheel drive option.

Thanks for listening/reading.

[XtremeBowtie]

1) Exterior: Lose the wing. After I saw the pic of the "custom" Camaro with the wing, I was honestly dissapointed. The other spoiler that was on half of the car looked great.

2) General Comment: Not everyone likes a 69 Camaro better than a 67 or 68. Can GM somehow make some subtle changes to the car to lose the 69 look (i.e. louvers in the quarters, the dash, instrument panel, etc.) By the way, the instruments, radio look killer!

3) There has to be hide-a-way headlights on the RS version! Nothing looks as wicked as seeing a RS front end on a 1st gen.

4) Other than the three comments I stated, keep up the great work. I look forward to seeing these at the local cruise ins giving the new Mustangs a run for their money.

[therealkitt]

thank you so much Garfin! my biggest complaint has already been mentioned which are the faux vents in front of the rear tire. either make them real, or don't use them at all. no sense in having an imposter looking peice of trim, on an obviously non-imposturous beast!

[silverstreak]

Loose the shark antenna altogether it looks like crap. Use a low profile flat antenna or integrate it somewhere into the rear deck so it's hidden.

Please tell me you guys are only using the single headlights for production and not the dual crap we've been seeing on the prototypes??

If you do have daytime running lights give us the option to turn them off.

[X-02 Z-28 Owner]

For those of us that might not like that tacky plastic sticker on the Z-28/SS, I think a "COPO" edition. You know all of the Z-28/SS goodies and a few "copo" badges in place off the Z-28/SS badges without all of those plastic stickers. How cool would that be?

[linkwpc]

1. HID for headlight option.
2. The space to add 18X10 in the back.
3. No "ricey" wing. Something a bit small. More American.
4. rearend options. ie 3.73 or 4.10 or 3.95 or 3.55
5. T-top would be nice
6. a option for black with red Racing Stipes
7. sports suspension option
8. big brake option
9. NICE seats that are better then the mustang's
10. A muscle car sound. maybe mufflers in the middle of the car.

[KevinK]

I do more reading than posting on this site (as well as a few others), ...since quite honestly, there just isn't enough time, ...but I'll jump in here with Elie, ...to mention I am another of the 'lucky' 15 folks selected by GM.
One thing for sure, ...rest assured, ...the voices of these boards DO get brought to their attention. Sure, we (the 15 folks) have our varied backgrounds with regard to the Camaro (I'm a 1st gen fan), ...but moreso we do understand that we are there to represent you...
Needless to say, ...I feel very blessed (extremely lucky) to be a part of this group, ...and I can honestly say, ...GM REALLY wants to know what the enthusiast think.
It's NOT too late to voice your concern/opinion. In some cases it's true, ...there may not be much change in certain areas, ...but there are others that they are indeed wanting feedback. We can't guarantee what the final outcome will be with what we convey to them, ...but rest assured, ..we will guarantee the thoughts and opinions voiced WILL be presented...

Thanks,
Kevin

....I can say this much, ...I am more impressed with the car the more I hear about what they have in the works

[o2camaross]

First, thanks Garfin, we really appreciate it. Secondly, please, please, please make a ZL1 or some other comperable model to destroy the GT500 and the GT500KR. We've all heard rumors but please make something with mid to high 500 hp numbers. Also we need to be able to fit 10'' wide rims in the back, if possible 12". Make alot of performance parts for it for people like me that cant have too much horsepower.