Although the Chevrolet Camaro is synonymous with muscle car, General Motors wants you to think differently about the all-new 2010 model. With fuel efficiency and an overall green image being ever more important to today’s car buyers, GM will try to push some of the Camaro’s green attributes rather than its tire-smoking ability.
According to Mark LaNeve, GM North America’s vice president of sales and marketing, GM will highlight the Camaro’s styling and V6 fuel economy, instead of making the V8 high-performance model the face of the Camaro lineup. “We won’t position it as a muscle car,” LaNeve told BusinessWeek. “The mainstream positioning will be fuel economy, design and a V6.”
To further push the Camaro’s green credentials, GM vice chairman Bob Lutz confirmed at least week’s New York Auto Show that GM is considering offering a 2.0L turbo four-cylinder engine in the Camaro — the same engine that will be going into Chinese-spec Buick Park Avenues and could find its way under the hood of the Pontiac G8.
While Camaro faithful might consider a four-cylinder Camaro blasphemy, the 2.0L turbocharged unit does put out an impressive 260 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque — far more than the V8 Camaros built in the 1970s and 80s. And with that much power on tap, the four-cylinder Camaro would offer 50 more horsepower than a V6 Ford Mustang and 10 more ponies than a V6-equipped Dodge Challenger — all while delivering better fuel economy.


03/23, 1:07 PM
posted by:
murphy1
doesnt surprise me at all….the face of all muscle cars is changing as rapidly as gas prices…
03/23, 1:21 PM
posted by:
A4
yeah but the weight isnt, and that is going to be a problem
03/23, 1:32 PM
posted by:
jonmiles
dumb idea. The muscle car is barley hanging on as it is… stop trying to make it something it’s not.
03/23, 1:35 PM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
How can the General be doing this much scrambling before the car is even introduced? Nobody went out of their way to buy the V6 or the anemic Iron Duke 4 in the past, so what makes them believe anything will be different this time around? The only good news in this is that the production percentage will heavily favor the 6 cylinder cars making the real Camaros- the V8 cars- even more desirable and a better investment.
03/23, 1:42 PM
posted by:
autonut
I saw Camaro yesterday in NYC auto show. In it’s infinite wisdom GM placed it next to 620 HP ‘Vette. It is understandable that the car that cost 100K should be better looking then the one 1/4 of that price, but placing them next to each other did not do any service to Camaro. It did not look good.
4 cylinder Camaro was sold in ‘84-’90. The car was better looking. The current or future one took cues from ‘67 but something amiss. Maybe Australians or European design houses should had the job, ’cause domestic studio botched it up.
03/23, 1:46 PM
posted by:
autonut
Johnny, there were a lot of Iron Dukes Camaros were sold in ’80s. High school kids of either gender were buying it. It was inexpensive, good looking and easy on the pocket to keep. It was also popular with single moms, waitresses (I think I mixed/crossed market segment here) and hairdressers (oops I did it again). From single mom point of view it was great car - you could not sire another one in it; strictly oral.
03/23, 2:15 PM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
Don’t laugh autonut, but the only people I knew who had an Iron Duke Camaro were my mother’s hairdresser and his partner in the 80’s. So you’re reference to things oral definitely applied to more than just single moms.
03/23, 2:52 PM
posted by:
autonut
johnnycanuck, you inadvertently proved another point of mine: fags have elevated sense of beauty, my statement that ‘84 Camaro was a great looking car is justified (scary to think about it but it is justified by fags gratifying each other orally)
03/23, 2:52 PM
posted by:
Madcapp
Those headlights are puketastic. They’ll look great in a trailer park.
03/23, 2:57 PM
posted by:
autonut
The whole car looked like it belongs to trailer park. And my guess is that majority of them will find home there. Camaro looks a bit better in pictures, but in reality there is nothing to write home about.
By same token, 5.0L (305) V8 in ’80s was 140-180 hp, therefore 260 HP 4 cylinder is not a bad thing. Don’t recall how it was tuned in Camaro and Chicken, but Chevy Impala was 140 hp.
03/23, 3:53 PM
posted by:
RicardoHead
The base model Camaros and Challengers may even be the best models in the entire range.
03/23, 5:48 PM
posted by:
jackjimturkey
Muscle car stereotypes?
Mullets,smashing coors cans with your forehead. Attracting sluts Marlnborous in the shirt sleeve.
03/23, 5:55 PM
posted by:
murderedout
Why not a turbo V-6 like the Buick Grand Nationals, Regal T-types or Pontiac Turbo Trans Ams? GM needs to bring back PAS.
03/23, 5:58 PM
posted by:
howsmydriving
While marketing the Camaro as green might seem like a stretch, never underestimate GM’s marketing spin-meisters to pull off the impossible.
03/23, 6:04 PM
posted by:
Stinky007
I’m all for the “green muscle car” idea…
The 4banger is a good temporary solution, as it has proven itself to be a good engine in a lot of GM cars, and has been well received both on the US market (Cobalt SS, Solistice) and the European one (Opel GT, Opel Astra OPC). The only problem is, these are all small performance cars. The accent on small!
They should still focus on tradition though. How about making a smaller turbo/supercharged V8? That would give decent mileage AND keep with the traditional muscle car image…
03/23, 6:06 PM
posted by:
autonut
I don’t know how marketing will help, price perhaps. In the flesh Challenger looked much more solid and better looking.
03/23, 7:03 PM
posted by:
corvette
cant wait till the Camaro comes back, amazing car.
03/23, 7:59 PM
posted by:
Classic-auto
In 2020 dose this mean i lose my Muscle car I own now, or is it that all car makers have to make 35mpg or better cars, but we can still own the cars we have now even if they are below 35mpg.
03/23, 8:19 PM
posted by:
tripleonefive
PUSSIES ! Try making something reliable GM
03/23, 10:41 PM
posted by:
sprockkets
The last Z28 camaro did 281hp. But the 260 ecotec engine will never last as long as that naturally aspirated engine. Neither can it throw you to the back of your seat when you floor it either.
Oh, and it won’t have the v8 noise either.
Sad, this generation camaro reminds me of the same generation car that ppl drive because they cannot afford to buy anything newer. All of them are dirty, falling apart, and in the case of one person, had ****roaches in the back hatch because it leaked.
03/23, 10:53 PM
posted by:
autonut
sprockkets, Camaro had the worst reliability record when it was manufactured. Regardless of how long and well their engine might worked compare to 4 cyl ecotec you can hardly find functioning Camaro. The brainiacs who piloted them thrashed most of them even before warranty expired. Those V8’s were tuned for performance not durability.
03/23, 11:33 PM
posted by:
jdasch1
a low volume car chasing the top selling low volume car…the mustang. What’s the point..still not going to raise the average to 35 MPG…to low of volume. Chevrolet will produce it in low numbers and it will be cross platformed with 4 banger, 4 door models…wow, what a sportscar!
03/24, 1:09 AM
posted by:
brocky
This is why I respect Chevy’s over other American brands.
03/24, 2:09 AM
posted by:
Rover3500
Those aren’t the real headlights, this is a prototype…ugh
03/24, 2:59 AM
posted by:
murderedout
Most people, when they buy a car, care more about looks and performance than reliability.
03/24, 11:21 AM
posted by:
hateful83
How can we talk about reliability when the car isn’t even out yet? Can’t really talk about reliability of the turbo ecotec either. I’m sure if it were a piece of ****, gm wouldn’t be putting them in everything. Like I said in the past, all the engines they plan on putting in this have a sporting edge to them. It’s not like the V8 is the legitimate one and the others are afterthoughts.
03/24, 11:59 AM
posted by:
CleanGTO
This is American meat ‘n potatoes. It comes in 4 varieties? So what–so does your mother. If you ladies can’t handle it, take a hike back to wherever you left your panties the last time you got NAILED! Wooo!
03/24, 2:22 PM
posted by:
SS4LIFE
lol @ autonut. I liked your generalization of who mostly owned the 4cly Camaros from the 80’s. My mom actually had an IROC-Z (but an automatic).
To market the next generation Camaro is tougher then all of you may think. And with the way our economy and rising gas prices are inversely going to market the Camaro as an expesive, powerful gas thirsty car could overall hurt its image. While the general public doesn’t carry many of our shared perceptions of what a muscle car should be let GM market the Camaro to a variety of people.
For those who want power and performance (and can afford it) then they’re going to buy the SS or Z28 which are expected to have the LS3 400hp and the other a 500hp + LSA, which one is getting which I have no idea.
For those who want the fun of owning a RWD 2+2 seater but at an affordable, and more fuel efficient way then owning the 3.6L V6 with around 300hp or a possible LNF powered Camaro.
Why do you think the Ford Mustang experiences such strong sales, It’s not just because of it’s image, or it’s legacy, It’s the VARIETY in this almost exclusive market that it caters too. With offering both V6 and V8 coupes and convertibles (at an affordable price), and then more performance oriented models (Bullit and Shelby GT500) that’s a very wide demographic of people you are selling too. The Challenger clearly seems to be selling more towards performance oriented buyers already so I wonder when gas is at $4.00 or $5.00 per gallon how many Challenger SRT-8’s and R/T’s we’ll be seeing.
03/24, 4:09 PM
posted by:
svt3246
C’mon GM, this has got to be the stupidest marketing strategy yet, a “green” muscle car…kinda like military intelligence…and I can say that cause I’ve been there and done that…
03/24, 7:21 PM
posted by:
audi-lover
now that I think about it, that is true. But they still shouldn’t take away any power from it. This is just why GM sucks.
03/24, 11:06 PM
posted by:
johnnieB
Classic Auto
I respect your comment and it was a childish response to answer a childish comment(American Made). As for my age I am old enough to buy a V8 and pay for the gas(29). And if you have to ask your wife for permission to buy a 4 cylinder CAMARO then that sounds like a problem. Me and my wife went to a Auto Show this week and saw the Camaro. There are no split decisions in my house hold. My two sons will see how its done in a V8. To bad most people will confuse me for some kid who bought a 4 cylinder. I will have to step my game up and get a vet just to avoid from looking like the rest of the babies crying about f/e in a muscle car. Hey if you don’t like it, get any car. Any other car. I worked hard so I can afford a true iconic muscle car. Not so I can blend with the sheep. Get a Camry for pete’s sake.
03/24, 11:10 PM
posted by:
Veda
2.0 turbo with 260HP isn’t bad at all and for college kids, it might just fit their budget for a new car. It’s certainly a lot more powerful than Audi’s.
03/25, 12:52 AM
posted by:
Classic-auto
Well you see there is a good reason why my wife would say no to a new Camaro. (and well **** if i bought one its going to be a V8) One we got a new car in 2004, Two I just payed $5000 of the $9346 to buy my daughter a new car, and last i already own a beast of a Muscle car and i would have to sell it to buy the new Camaro and thats not going to happen since i have owned that car since i was 16.
03/25, 1:16 AM
posted by:
johnnieB
Wish I owned a old school myself.
03/25, 10:27 AM
posted by:
planet_drive
Its hard to change the muscle car image. Whenever I hear Camaro, Mustang, or Firebird, I think of some depressing small town, guys with mullets, stained shirts, an 8th grade education, and family outings to the local demolition derby while eating dusty nacho’s and cheese. I want a Camaro!!