Camaro Accessories on the Way

Suppose you’re thinking that the upcoming Camaro needs more pizzazz: Maybe a ground effects package, larger wheels, a spoiler or even a new grille. Don’t get ahead of yourself just yet, there’s still a good deal of time before the Camaro hits dealerships in early 2009. But when it does finally arrive, General Motors’ accessories division is going to have all those extras for the Camaro.   

Larry Sully, Global Accessories Design manager, gives us a peek at the development Camaro the company is using to design those parts in the GM Next video below; at the 2:24 minute mark, there’s even a quick view of the prototype rear body kit. We’re especially curious what the accessory grille and spoiler will look like. You can spot the basic shape of the spoiler, as there’s a cloth draped over it, and it looks huge.

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Chevrolet Camaro News

2010 Chevrolet Camaro Ready in a Year

For months, Chevrolet has hinted that the remake of the Camaro sport coupe would arrive in January of next year as a 2009 model, but Chevy general manager Ed Peper says, nope, it will go into production in February of next year and won’t be in showrooms until March 2009 — as a 2010 model.

Rather than a January intro and a short 2009 model run before switching to a 2010 designation in the fall, the Camaro will have a long run as a 2010 model before switching to a 2011 designation in the fall of 2010.

Peper said only the coupe will be offered for the first nine months of the model’s life, with a choice of a 400-plus-hp, 6.0-liter V-8 or a 300-plus-hp, 3.6-liter V-6. He said mostly V-8s will be produced, for enthusiasts eager to get their hands on the first ones off the assembly line.

The convertible will be added at the end of 2009, also as a 2010 model.

Through Ian's Lens: 2008 Chicago Auto Show Muscle Cars

So I started off this year's Chicago Auto Show with one goal in mind for this feature: Photograph the 2008 Dodge Challenger. That goal? It was achieved with smashing success. Dodge even put three different-colored models on the floor for us to crawl around in. After fighting off crowds of onlookers and pushing my way to the front of the pack of gawkers, I decided it was time to give the domestic car companies their due by producing a Through Ian's Lens post that highlights my three favorite modern muscle cars. So without boring you with more jibber jabber about design lines and aesthetic mumbo jumbo, here are the 2008 Dodge Challenger, the 2008 Ford Mustang GT500 KR, and the Chevrolet Camaro "Bumble Bee" concept. A full set of photos is below.

2008 Chicago Auto Show: Chevy Decides to Show Off Camaro After All

Yup, Chevrolet reads KickingTires.

Chevy officials read the recent item here that the Camaro sports coupe concept would be absent from the Chicago Auto Show that opens Friday, and how the move perplexed us when there would be another new muscle car rolled out nearby.

Chevy said the coupe and convertible concepts had already done the rounds at the major shows in Los Angeles, Detroit, Chicago and New York, and now it was time to feature it at smaller shows, like in Philadelphia, this year.

But at a time when GM could use visible enthusiasm for its cars, why not bring the Camaro to Chicago, the auto show on the circuit that attracts the most consumer interest and historically serves as a barometer of potential popularity?

"We read the item, asked some GM folks about why we couldn't show Camaro in Chicago and got permission to have it at the show; the yellow Bumble Bee Camaro from the movie ‘Transformers,’" said Chevy spokesman Terry Rhadigan.

So, Bumble Bee will be part of the Chevy display in the GM exhibit, where all GM divisions will be housed in the North Hall at McCormick Place. You can thank us in the comments below.

Production Camaro Not Coming to a Major Auto Show Near You

Even if you search the bowels of McCormick Place when the Chicago auto show gets under way next month, you won't find the upcoming Chevrolet Camaro that goes into production a year from now.

One reason, Chevy folks say, is that it was already shown as a coupe concept two years ago and as a convertible concept one year ago at the major Detroit, Chicago and New York shows, so now it's time for folks in smaller markets, like Cleveland and Philadelphia, to get an in-person peek at their local auto show. There aren't a host of pre-production cars built to travel to all shows in the country.

Part of the fear is that the Camaro was unveiled as a concept two years ago but won't go on sale for another year. If you show the vehicle too much before it actually goes on sale, you run the risk of having it look old even before it bows as a new car. What’s odd is that GM fears overexposure at the same time it's showing pictures of the Camaro — minus any pre-production camouflage — on its own website and asking enthusiasts who spot one undergoing testing around the country to post their photos on the site, too.

Camaro Front End Spotted

GM’s Fastlane blog has run what it says is a picture “captured” by a reader at a test track, supposedly in response to the company asking fans to take shots of test models when they see them on the road. Great idea, but this shot looks like it came from a company insider. Regardless, we get a little more info on what the front end might look like when the car is finally introduced. We’re guessing that will happen this week.

More Camaro News

Big Photo of Production Camaro Released

We saw a small version of the photo above last week, but now General Motors has released a higher-resolution version for us to digest. This makes us believe the company will debut the production version of this highly anticipated next-generation Chevrolet Camaro at next week’s Detroit auto show. The company has said it will begin road-testing the Camaro in the U.S. and wants people to photograph it as much as possible. Click here to download the full photo or here for a 1280x1024 wallpaper size.

First Look: Production 2009 Chevy Camaro!

Numerous blogs have been posting images of the upcoming production Camaro in camouflage. Car camouflage does what the name implies: it hides the true shape of the car from prying eyes and photographers. The latest shots have showed off pretty much all there is to know about the Camaro — except, of course, a clean image. So GM decided to upload this uncamouflaged shot to its own Fastlane blog to put a stop to all the rumors. Now we just want to know one thing:

Is it coming to the Detroit auto show in two weeks?!

More Camaro News (KickingTires)

This Week in Ask.cars.com

One of the most frequent questions we get asked outside the Cars.com offices is "Which car is the most reliable," or "How dependable is this car?" This week at Ask.cars.com we provided an answer for that question and included links to J.D. Power and Associates dependability studies, which we list in the Cars.com Advice section. We also walked away surprised at one of the models ranked best in its class.

• What model of car has the highest reliability ratings?
• If you drive a car through a big puddle of water can it ruin your engine?
• What are the most and least expensive cars?
• When is the new Camaro scheduled to be released for sale?
• Will the new Saturn Aura four-cylinder come with a six-speed automatic?
• What eight-passenger vehicle gets good mileage?

New Camaro Convertible Concept Photos

Some of us in the Cars.com office really like the look of the new Camaro concepts from the past few years’ auto show circuit. Others think it’s a mess of retro styling and odd proportions. One thing is for sure, though: When the real thing hits the streets sometime in 2009, it will be a head-turner. Chevrolet is saying the real thing will look almost identical to the convertible concept in this photo and the photo gallery below. Enjoy the images and let us know if you’re willing to wait another two years for one. 

Camaro Convertible Concept Photo Gallery

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The Camaro Concept Transformer (KickingTires)
2007 Detroit Auto Show: Chevrolet Camaro Convertible Concept (KickingTires)
Chevrolet Camaro Concept 2006 (Cars.com)

GM Halts Rear-Wheel-Drive Development Over Bush Mileage Proposals

We just got some major news from General Motors by way of Jim Mateja of the Chicago Tribune. Vice Chairman Bob Lutz told Mateja that GM is stopping rear-wheel-drive vehicle planning because of possible new fuel efficiency standards.

The upcoming Chevy Camaro is still on the docket, but the future Impala — which Lutz says may not be named Impala — could be shelved until a front-wheel-drive model is designed. The article didn't mention the upcoming Pontiac G8, due out in 2008, but we assume it's still in the pipeline.

Lutz says the RWD cars can’t achieve 30% better mileage, which is part of the Bush administration’s proposal to raise fuel economy over the next 10 years.

The move also curtails development of some exciting new vehicles we now may never see, including a high-performance midsize Pontiac — a possible G6 replacement? — a small Cadillac below the CTS, a Buick Lucerne replacement, and 300-hp versions of the Pontiac Solstice and Saturn Sky roadsters.

It’s an interesting article — maybe even a “must read.”

[GM Puts Brake on Rear-Drive Vehicles, Chicago Tribune]

The Camaro Concept Transformer

Many on our staff grew up with the original Transformers cartoons of the 1980s. We might even say that seeing a robot turn into a Porsche 935 helped to shape our love of cars. Hollywood is betting on that nostalgia with a live-action blockbuster coming this summer, directed by none other than Michael Bay (“Armageddon,” “The Rock”). Like the TV show, the Transformers movie is spinning off toys that transform, and one of them — Bumblebee — is based on the new Camaro concept. The Camaro will go on sale sometime in early 2009 but the toy will be available relatively soon. Keep reading to see Bumbleebee’s robot look.

Via Autoblog

2007 Detroit Auto Show: Chevrolet Camaro Convertible Concept

This concept wasn’t supposed to be seen until tonight but with the mysteries of the Internet we bring you the Chevrolet Camaro Convertible Concept today. Here is what we planned to run tonight including plenty of images below.

Last year Chevrolet wowed everyone with its look at the next generation of the Camaro. The concept car was such a success that GM pushed through plans for production; we’ll see the real thing on the streets in early 2009. This year, Chevy follows-up with the Camaro Convertible Concept, whose production counterpart will be released later in 2009.

It still seems like a long time to wait, but if you want to start saving money and clearing garage space, the advance warning is welcome. The concept shown here and in the photos below is painted in Hugger Orange with large black stripes, a color scheme not shown on the coupe concept. A V-8 engine powering the 22-inch rear-wheels — the fronts are 21 inches — should be a popular choice, but expect a V-6 standard when the production model comes around … in two years.