Camaro lite? - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

Doc · 02-13-2014, 07:38 PM

I'm curious. I've been struggling with working on a possible future Camaro concept but having no luck. Considering how expensive performance Camaros are getting to be ($40k-$75k) I'm wondering. Would there be a market for a Camaro lite? An entry-level sports/pony car that starts at say $18,990 and goes to maybe $25,990 tops; has 4 and/or 6 cylinder engines, not a huge amount of tech to keep the costs down, but has a nice interior, great body style, good handling and gets say... 30-40 mpg around town and 35-45 mpg on the highway?

The idea would be to create an entry point for young, new buyers or people wanting a second "sporty" car that's reasonably affordable. I think GM still owns the rights to the name Corvair, or maybe come up with a new name.

Would this be worth working up some design concepts for?

*Camaro_Corvette* · 02-13-2014, 07:41 PM

Rwd cobalt

Doc · 02-13-2014, 07:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Camaro_Corvette

Rwd cobalt

Hmm. Yeah that and the new Chevrolet SS kinda sorta goes in that direction but the styling is too pedestrian. I'm thinking a real sports/pony car; not just a sporty sedan.

*Camaro_Corvette* · 02-13-2014, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doc

Hmm. Yeah that and the new Chevrolet SS kinda sorta goes in that direction but the styling is too pedestrian. I'm thinking a real sports/pony car; not just a sporty sedan.

I forgot they made a Cobalt in a four door. I only ever cared about the two door. Cars should only have two doors.

Return of the Nova.

if a camaro got the mpg numbers your talking of, I would definitely buy one as a daily driver!

*DGthe3* · 02-13-2014, 09:13 PM

I've thought of something similar before. Slot something in under the Camaro (I'd call it the Nova). But then I realized how it probably isn't going to happen.

What you are basically describing is the Scion FRS & Subaru BRZ. Under 3000 lbs, 4 cylinder only, get low 30's highway, mid 20's city. Mediocre performance. I think the two of them combined for about 25k units last year. GM would probably consider themselves lucky to hit 20k if they made an entry into that segment, 15k cars feels more reasonable. A car with half the volume of the Corvette, at less than half the price would probably be a pretty tough sell to GM management.

As for getting young people into buying new cars ... I don't see it happening. Too much debt, not enough income. A 10k price-point is pretty high for someone still in university (or most recent grads). And even when you've got the money, cheap new cars face fierce competition from higher-positioned used cars (in the case of the car you described, it would be used Camaros). Afterall, the average car is now about 11 years old. Average. Anything newer than 5 years is usually still in pretty good condition. Its not like it was a few decades ago when a car that's a couple years old is probably a disaster waiting to happen.

FenwickHockey65 · 02-13-2014, 09:42 PM

Just build a Spark SS, a Sonic SS, and a Cruze SS and call it a day.

TheCaptain · 02-14-2014, 07:13 AM

Really Fen? A Spark SS? I know the Spark is a pretty good car, but an SS version? I would think an SS Sonic and Cruze would have that covered.

GretchenGotGrowl · 02-14-2014, 07:39 AM

What about starting with a Saturn Sky but give it a small back seat. Then do your magic updating the styling and see where it takes you. It does seem to me that there is something missing between the hatchbacks and small sedans (Cruze).

If you really want to make me happy, do a retro Nomad about the size of the current Impala.

Blue Thunder · 02-14-2014, 07:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GretchenGotGrowl

If you really want to make me happy, do a retro Nomad about the size of the current Impala.

Now THAT sounds like an awesome wagon!

FenwickHockey65 · 02-14-2014, 08:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheCaptain

Really Fen? A Spark SS? I know the Spark is a pretty good car, but an SS version? I would think an SS Sonic and Cruze would have that covered.

Dead serious. The car is a runaway hit for GM. GM needs to do more "why the hell not?" moments like they did with CTS-V Sportwagon.

snizzle · 02-14-2014, 08:20 AM

I thought they already discussed pulling back the SS designation because it was watered down and deserved to be a true performance indicator.

FenwickHockey65 · 02-14-2014, 08:25 AM

When they were simply sticking a more powerful V6 into cars like Malibu and calling it a day, yes. Now the Chevrolet brand has only three performance cars.

Considering Spark, Sonic, and Cruze are the most attainable for the youth market, there should be performance models.

102SS · 02-14-2014, 08:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by snizzle

I thought they already discussed pulling back the SS designation because it was watered down and deserved to be a true performance indicator.

Thats what they said,no more pasting it on every model with a stripe and wheel upgrade.

snizzle · 02-14-2014, 09:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FenwickHockey65

When they were simply sticking a more powerful V6 into cars like Malibu and calling it a day, yes. Now the Chevrolet brand has only three performance cars.

Considering Spark, Sonic, and Cruze are the most attainable for the youth market, there should be performance models.

Maybe so. How could they make those true performance models worthy of the name though given the base? Maybe we should leave SS alone.

Redline/greenline stolen for the now defunct Saturn?

02-13-2014, 07:38 PM	#1
Doc Dances With Mustangs Drives: 2010 1SS/RS MT Join Date: May 2009 Location: USA Posts: 3,819 View My Garage	Camaro lite? I'm curious. I've been struggling with working on a possible future Camaro concept but having no luck. Considering how expensive performance Camaros are getting to be ($40k-$75k) I'm wondering. Would there be a market for a Camaro lite? An entry-level sports/pony car that starts at say $18,990 and goes to maybe $25,990 tops; has 4 and/or 6 cylinder engines, not a huge amount of tech to keep the costs down, but has a nice interior, great body style, good handling and gets say... 30-40 mpg around town and 35-45 mpg on the highway? The idea would be to create an entry point for young, new buyers or people wanting a second "sporty" car that's reasonably affordable. I think GM still owns the rights to the name Corvair, or maybe come up with a new name. Would this be worth working up some design concepts for? __________________ Blue Angel is here!! 1SS/RS LS3 M6 IBM

02-13-2014, 07:41 PM	#2
Camaro_Corvette 36.58625, -121.7568 Drives: Team 1LE Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Earth Posts: 23,709 View My Garage	Rwd cobalt __________________ I am seriously never serious vv V vv Next order of business

02-13-2014, 09:13 PM	#5
DGthe3 Moderator.ca Drives: 05 Grand Am GT Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Niagara, Canada Posts: 25,372	I've thought of something similar before. Slot something in under the Camaro (I'd call it the Nova). But then I realized how it probably isn't going to happen. What you are basically describing is the Scion FRS & Subaru BRZ. Under 3000 lbs, 4 cylinder only, get low 30's highway, mid 20's city. Mediocre performance. I think the two of them combined for about 25k units last year. GM would probably consider themselves lucky to hit 20k if they made an entry into that segment, 15k cars feels more reasonable. A car with half the volume of the Corvette, at less than half the price would probably be a pretty tough sell to GM management. As for getting young people into buying new cars ... I don't see it happening. Too much debt, not enough income. A 10k price-point is pretty high for someone still in university (or most recent grads). And even when you've got the money, cheap new cars face fierce competition from higher-positioned used cars (in the case of the car you described, it would be used Camaros). Afterall, the average car is now about 11 years old. Average. Anything newer than 5 years is usually still in pretty good condition. Its not like it was a few decades ago when a car that's a couple years old is probably a disaster waiting to happen. __________________ Note, if I've gotten any facts wrong in the above, just ignore any points I made with them __________________ Originally Posted by FbodFather My sister's dentist's brother's cousin's housekeeper's dog-breeder's nephew sells coffee filters to the company that provides coffee to General Motors...... ........and HE WOULD KNOW!!!! __________________ Camaro Fest sub-forum

02-13-2014, 09:42 PM	#6
FenwickHockey65 General Motors Aficionado Drives: 2023 GMC Canyon, 2020 Colorado Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Florida Posts: 37,371 View My Garage	Just build a Spark SS, a Sonic SS, and a Cruze SS and call it a day. __________________ 2023 GMC Canyon Elevation 2020 Chevrolet Colorado W/T Extended Cab (State-issued)

02-14-2014, 07:13 AM	#7
TheCaptain N7 Spectre Drives: 14 ATS Performance 3.6L AWD Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Moosomin, Saskatchewan, Canada Posts: 2,734 View My Garage	Really Fen? A Spark SS? I know the Spark is a pretty good car, but an SS version? I would think an SS Sonic and Cruze would have that covered. __________________

02-14-2014, 07:39 AM	#8
GretchenGotGrowl Drives: 11 F150 EB/13 Sonic RS/15 Z06 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Little Rock, AR Posts: 7,129 View My Garage	What about starting with a Saturn Sky but give it a small back seat. Then do your magic updating the styling and see where it takes you. It does seem to me that there is something missing between the hatchbacks and small sedans (Cruze). If you really want to make me happy, do a retro Nomad about the size of the current Impala. __________________ New Ride -- 2015 Z06 2LZ (stock) -- Journal Old Ride -- 2012 Camaro 2LT/RS (647 RWHP & 726 RWTQ) -- Build Thread

02-14-2014, 08:20 AM	#11
snizzle Recalled user Drives: '12 Camaro SS, '18 Colorado Z71 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Richmond, VA Posts: 3,414	I thought they already discussed pulling back the SS designation because it was watered down and deserved to be a true performance indicator. __________________ 2012 2SS 45th AE LS3 M6 Borla ATAK Catback Kooks Stepped LT Headers CAI Intake Hexvents VMAX CNC Ported Throttle Body RX Catch Can Hurst Short Throw Shifter Pfadt ZL-Spec Stage 3 Suspension Forgestar F14 Tuned by Frost

02-14-2014, 08:25 AM	#12
FenwickHockey65 General Motors Aficionado Drives: 2023 GMC Canyon, 2020 Colorado Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Florida Posts: 37,371 View My Garage	When they were simply sticking a more powerful V6 into cars like Malibu and calling it a day, yes. Now the Chevrolet brand has only three performance cars. Considering Spark, Sonic, and Cruze are the most attainable for the youth market, there should be performance models. __________________ 2023 GMC Canyon Elevation 2020 Chevrolet Colorado W/T Extended Cab (State-issued)