Hau Thai-Tang — director of Ford’s SVT division and advance product creation — hopes GM gives the Chevrolet Camaro Concept a green light for production and Chrysler approves the Dodge Challenger Concept, reports the Chicago Tribune. Why? “Competition helps the sports car breed,” he says. “People interested in Camaro and Challenger are people interested in sports cars.” He said interest in the Camaro and Challenger concepts has also helped spur increased interest in the Mustang. He also offered some advice to GM — keep the V6 version affordable. “Keep in mind that 70 percent of Mustang sales are the lower-priced $20,000 V-6 models [...] Chevy has to make money on an affordable $20,000 V-6 Camaro to be able to support a higher-priced, high-performance V-8 version,” he said. GM’s Bob Lutz has confirmed there will be a V6 Camaro if production is approved, but some have speculated it would cost more than a V6 ‘Stang.
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05/25, 1:35 PM
posted by:
Downshift
When exactly did a Camaro, past or future, become a sports car?
05/25, 1:50 PM
posted by:
Pruce
Wasn’t it always at least somewhat of a sports car? I always thought of it as an entry level sports car.
05/25, 1:54 PM
posted by:
Downshift
Or the Mustang or Challenger?
05/25, 2:42 PM
posted by:
Brett
If they aren’t sports cars what are they? What is your definition of a sports car? The Camaro always was and still is an entry level sports car.
05/25, 2:42 PM
posted by:
Adam
I think they’re sports cars in the loosest sense of the word. I’m glad Ford is backing this and I do hope GM and Dodge keep in mind the V6 advice. Let the pony wars begin!
05/25, 2:46 PM
posted by:
anonymous
For the record, all of these cars were introduced as pony cars. Not quite sports cars, but not quite muscle cars either. Anyway, it’d be interesting to see the horsepower wars all over again. I have a ‘69 Mustang fastback and wished I was around for those horsepower wars, but it looks like that it may happen all over again!
05/25, 3:18 PM
posted by:
:)
Bring back the glory! I have the ’05 Mustang and it is a pleasure to drive. I am planning on adding more muscle to my lineup and I’ve already committed myself to the Challenger when it finally goes into production. Those classic lines from the muscle car era are timeless, which is why they still look good today. GM…bring back the Firebird and Trans Am while you’re at it!
05/25, 3:27 PM
posted by:
gsh
that crazy viet, he might as well endorse bmw or porsche sport cars too
05/25, 6:02 PM
posted by:
Dav
the new camaro is ugly, the challenger isnt. the new stang is a hot car if it has a v8. the camaro though…no. dont build it. build the firebird/trans am instead…and make it cool and good looking, not a travesty.
05/25, 6:04 PM
posted by:
adam
the line that seperates sports cars and not sports cars is very blurry, IMO. when someone says “sports car”, my mind immediately gravitates toward classic british roadsters, porsches, corvettes, ferraris those types of cars. i think that a pony car is more of a sports coupe than a sports car, if that makes sense. anyway, this part time ricer, full time car guy thinks a pony car revival is pretty cool.
05/25, 7:13 PM
posted by:
anonymous
Not a sports car. Sports car has to do with handling, not horsepower.
05/25, 9:01 PM
posted by:
All American Cars Are A POS! Thats Right, You Heard ME.
GM should stop playing games and just confirm the damn thing is going to be produced. When I first saw the concept I was like…RIGHTON! I’m tired of hearing that GM hasn’t oked it yet. Talk of the Camaro is itred boring. It’s just gonna be another over hyped POS. Gm should learn from BMW. The 3 series coupe was so over hyped and kept a secret that when an offical photo of the car came out it was nothing but dissapointment. The 3 series sedan was a let down too. I’m glad I went with the Lexus IS350.
05/25, 11:55 PM
posted by:
Derek
People who dont post under a ridiculous name like “All American Cars Are A POS! Thats Right, You Heard ME” (did you think of that all by yourself, or did Consumer Reports help) are going to buy the Camaro whether you like it or not.
05/26, 3:42 AM
posted by:
anonymous
Hey, #12, have you heard yet that the BMW 3 series is on the top 10 world’s best cars list? Yeah, what a disappointment to make it on that list. Whatever. I’ll bet BMW is hardly let down by accomplishing that.
05/26, 4:55 AM
posted by:
Donfuy
i don’t have nothing to say.
06/01, 4:00 AM
posted by:
Digital Boy
The new Camaro (I’d place money that you see them in dealerships by calendar 2007) is more of a sports car now than it ever has been.
The Epsilon platform is shared across several other model lines, and takes a lot of manufacturing processes from the C5/C6 Vettes and the CTS line (hydroformed side rails as one example) and, thankfully, have *FINALLY* purchased a clue and rid themselves of the antiquated solid beam rear axle in favor of a very nice independent rear suspension. Now the Camaro (and most likely new GTO, which has been greenlighted to return for MY ‘08 and will be built on the Epsilon platform) and GM’s other sporty RWD offerings will have the handling potential to match the LS series drivetrains.
Now if only GM would learn to spend a few pennies more and put some decent plastics in the interior, and make sure they all fit properly and don’t start rattling after a month…