Although high gas prices threatened to ruin the fun earlier this year, the Pony Car wars are officially back on with the recent launch of the Dodge Challenger and the impending launches of the 2010 Ford Mustang and 2010 Chevrolet Camaro. The latter has been absent from the road for nearly six years, and apparently Camaro fans have been missing it.
According to Automotive News, Chevrolet has already taken more than 10,000 orders for the revived muscle car. Mark LaNeve, General Motors’ head of marketing and sales, revealed the news earlier today in a conference call.
LaNeve failed to break the pre-order sales down by model, but the V8-powered SS model likely has a slight lead over the V6-powered models. Despite the Camaro V6’s potent 300 horsepower, early adopters tend to go for the performance model, and with gas price nearing 5-year lows, there isn’t too much downside for the 400+ horsepower SS model.
A supplier issue is threatening to delay the start of Camaro production, but as long as there are no major setbacks, the Camaro should begin rolling off the assembly line in February.



12/30, 12:22 PM
posted by:
EuroDurance
It was to be expected. The world is full of stupid people. EuroDurance has spoken.
12/30, 12:28 PM
posted by:
RaineMan
I have a feeling that after the years of hype people are going to be dissapointed in the real thing.
12/30, 12:38 PM
posted by:
Borat
I recall there is only one successful “back to the future” project – Mini. This model keep strong sales after 6 years in the making. Everybody’s else creation are dying off in 3-5 years. WV Bug, ‘tang, etc. Those projects have small chance to succeed, because what do you for the next model? Retro again? New exterior? Those things sell well in the first year ’cause they are retro in the first place. Senior generation is reverting to dream of their youth in the car they’ve owned secondhand or could not afford then.
Being 20% heftier then original probably will not help after debut year either. Looks more of technological stagnation then progress.
P.S. I loved ‘67-’69 models.
12/30, 12:41 PM
posted by:
darx_ider
If they plug-in a diesel engine in this Camaro that makes it travel 1200 KM on one tank without the vibration noise, and make it as at least reliable as Honda Civic, then I will buy one
12/30, 12:43 PM
posted by:
darx_ider
Borat, You are in the wrong news, Mini is one page up Lamo LOLOLOLO LOOOL Hahahahahah
12/30, 12:58 PM
posted by:
JakeK66
“with gas price nearing 5-year lows, there isn’t too much downside for the 400+ horsepower SS model.”
Awesome, you thought you’d never hear that 6 months ago. Almost like the auto gods are telling us to buy up the V-8’s before the CAFE standards are made rediculous in 2015.
“If you buy the SS, Joy will come”
12/30, 1:00 PM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
Borat, in 4 or 5 years we’ll worry about what’s next if indeed there is going to be a next. In the meantime let those who have been waiting enjoy themselves. And the only ‘T’ word people worry about when buying a car like this is torque. If you want technology, look in the dictionary between tampon and training bra.
12/30, 1:00 PM
posted by:
Borat
But it was’;t there when I posted this! It is purely coincidental.
12/30, 1:04 PM
posted by:
Soul of a Driver
This is great for GM. But I can’t believe that idiots are going to go for the V8 just because “current” gas prices are low. Ladies and gentlemen, please hand down sound financial skills to your children.
12/30, 1:06 PM
posted by:
Borat
Johnny, I wasn’t out of line commenting on technology. Do you recall small block pushing this baby to ungodly speed on strait line in your youth? If bitch gained 20% heft you need much more torque to push it along and even more then much more to accelerate! As far as 4-5 years down the road, that is the project planning and production cycle. The manufacturer should have already designed the next version of Camaro today. Of course, I am out of line, ’cause no one has any idea if GM even will continue to bleed our tax dollar in 4-5 years or our government all of sudden will get bulb light go on and cut of the welfare to prosperous.
12/30, 1:12 PM
posted by:
yarddog82abn
AND A $10,000.00 DEALER MARK-UP… NICE…….
I’LL JUST WAIT A YEAR AFTER, I’M LOOKING FOR A INVOICE DEAL, IF NOT THEN I’LL JUST GET A VETTE…
12/30, 1:14 PM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
Borat, yes I do recall what a small block could do but I also recall people dying when their cars crumpled like beer cans from impacts that you’d walk away from in even the cheapest cars today. I also recall poor panel fits, sagging doors and more creaks and rattles than a daycare centre. Given the level of advancement in build quality it’s almost amazing they don’t weigh even more.
12/30, 1:15 PM
posted by:
howsmydriving
When gas prices were high, I wrote that it was too early to know how Camaro would land. Now we know.
One thing about cars like this: they generate enormous excitement in the beginning, but that excitement soon wanes. Good deals will be had on Camaro starting about the third year of production — sooner if gas goes way up again.
12/30, 1:26 PM
posted by:
Borat
Johnny, now you are talking! I don’t advocate cars to crumble like beer cans, and all cars are much safer now, but they don’t necessarily have to gain so much heft. Essentially this is a 2 seater (as was before) that suppose to go fast and hopefully handle well (was not the case 30 years ago actually). As far as rattles and creaks and poor panel alignment it is a must! Old geasers like you and I will not have right memories of Camaro without them. If you want rattle free car you better shop for Jap model
12/30, 1:27 PM
posted by:
gallonoffuel
I doubt the majority of people flocking to the V8 model care about gas prices. This is not the vehicle you commute to work in every day, although it could be. This is the car you take to dinner with the top down on a cool summer night, and flog at the track on the weekend. And it’s not the like the SS gets craptacular mileage, especially not for 400 horsepower.
12/30, 4:19 PM
posted by:
desertdriver
I’ll hold out until there is a model with a version of the S/C 6.2L V8 that is in the CTS-V and ZR-1. If such a model does not come out, then GM does not receive any of my money. I hear the C63 AMG is an awesome muscle car.
12/30, 4:21 PM
posted by:
Get Real
Fans miss the car, not the shody build qualitythat killed it 6 years ago.
12/30, 4:59 PM
posted by:
AudiS4
LoL are you kidding???? “This is not the vehicle you commute to work in every day, although it could be. This is the car you take to dinner with the top down on a cool summer night, and flog at the track on the weekend” by dinner you mean McDonalds and track you must mean where taxis race in circles (Nascar) or just a simple straight line?? This car is not the right direction for GM, invest more into Opels and bring them here so we can take back everyone who buys Toyotas
12/30, 5:32 PM
posted by:
DetroitWatcher
Did any Opel imported to the US ever become a sales success? The last one they tried (Catera) handled OK (I guess) but was incredibly bland. Camaro will connect with its audience on an emotional level, and will probably perform its muscle car duties well. Handling might not match its straight line prowess, but should be competent, at the very least.
12/30, 5:44 PM
posted by:
AudiS4
If they had imported them before they were dated they would have been a success. If they had the Insignia here right now as the Malibu it would go head to head with the Accord and the lame Camry. They need to develop a universal style like Ford is working on, and please kill Saturn. As for the Camaro I think it will have a short success, a little late in my opinion.
12/30, 6:34 PM
posted by:
anti-believer
The last Opel import is the Astra.
Camaro will do like all coupes….. big sales the first/two year and fall from the peak.
Most sales will be the V6 not the V8.
Most people buying Camaros are white males.
12/30, 6:35 PM
posted by:
anti-believer
Insignia doesn’t look anything like a Malibu would look like.
Insignia needs to be a Buick Regal. Oh!, it is in China.
12/30, 6:39 PM
posted by:
02WRXPSM
Build quality does NOT equal more weight as a given. There are plenty of lightweight cars out there that can take a crash and do just fine. The Volvo C30 is 2,950 with a tank of gas and is 5-star across the board. The Citroens are the same in Europe. Lotus has been making sturdy cars under 2800lbs forever. The SmartForTwo could weigh less, and it has proven solid in crash tests. The Camaro’s pig-iron weight has nothing to do with build quality or safety, it has to do with big American asses and big American demand for a car interior cluttered with junk, plush seats and tons of useless materials.
12/30, 7:20 PM
posted by:
A4
congrats borat your a dipsh!t
the mustang is not a retro design, yeah the headlights take cues, but it is completely modernized.
the camaro is the same way, taking cues from the past, but by no means is it “retro”
the beetle has been on the market for over 10 years now, in its same form, with a facelift or two here and there, and continues to sell strong for VW. not 3-5 years, 10+, and it will continue for a good amount more.
also, 02WRXPSM, when you go from a 2000lb to 3000lb car, you generally have a 50% greater chance of survival.
12/30, 7:23 PM
posted by:
A4
in addition to that, the volvo C30 does not have 400+ horsepower, and neither does a lotus. Nor are the lotus prices at under $40,000, nor does it even come with a radio half the time, or any other creature comfort. Maybe a lotus is somewhat “sturdy” but it sure as hell is the least comfortable car available.
12/30, 7:41 PM
posted by:
CP92804
10,000 and then what? Just like their Hybrid SUV, people that wanted it will buy it, and then the rest will get lot rot when they dont sell. T-Bird, Mustang, and Challenger once the idiots that will pay way over sticker buy the first few, the rest will get biig rebates and discounts just so the dealers wont have to keep paying flooring on the damned things. Challenger fad already over, the dealer down the street from where I work has had the same stock number on the point for 1 month now.
12/30, 8:08 PM
posted by:
DrFill
It does have a big lardass
And it’s interior won’t win any awards
But this is a winning design, one of many recently, for GM
Expect it to outsell Mustang 2 to 1 for the forseeable future
DrFill
12/30, 11:00 PM
posted by:
vortec4200
It’s a big fat ass porky car. It’s interior is probably as poorly crafted as my Shetty TrailCraper. But it’s the sexy fat ass girl of a car. I can’t wait to ram it in the ass like 1115’s mom always has taken it. There is no forseeable future to outsell the Mustang. The bolognia pony is always more adept than a fat ass.
12/30, 11:10 PM
posted by:
DrFill
Fine ass or lame ass?
I think the people will move towards one side
DrFill
12/31, 12:29 AM
posted by:
Bankruptcy2009
Borat your idiot. DrFillupmygasguzzlingcamaro. You sir have no idea what your saying. When GM had all their Muscle cars from Buick, Chevy, Olds, Pontiac they did’nt outsell Mustang. What makes you certain they are going to reverse that?? Hmmm I don’t see. I saw the Refresh Mustang and think it will remain on top the way they did for the last 45 Years and that is a long time!
12/31, 12:30 AM
posted by:
Bankruptcy2009
Its not about to change anytime soon. Sorry Bowtie boys
12/31, 10:45 AM
posted by:
02WRXPSM
A4, you are missing my point — I’m saying that weight does NOT equal safety, something johnnycannuck eluded to at the beginning of the thread. Let’s put it this way then: there are a lot of 4,000+ lb vehicles that go tits-up in a wreck at the slightest bump and get two-star ratings from the insurance companies (most of them American cars.) You CAN build for safety and crash protection and also fit-and-finish and still end up under the 3,500lb mark, there is zero excuse for the weight and size of the Camaro.
12/31, 10:47 AM
posted by:
02WRXPSM
LOL, the profanity filter does not catch tits. Perhaps it thinks I am referring to the bird?
12/31, 12:20 PM
posted by:
DrFill
Mustang sales are down 30% this year (thru October)
They will fall far short of 100k sales
Sales have been down for 3 years in a row
The 2010 model won’t change that much
And the new Camaro will help continue the slide
DrFill
12/31, 1:29 PM
posted by:
inline6
02WRX,
The Volvo C30 is on the small side of the compact class, and it weighs 3,000lbs! Your AWD WRX sedan weighs that much! It also costs, to start, about $3k more than the Camaro will.
The Camaro is a bigger, wider car, with a much bigger standard engine. So 3,700lbs in this day and age is totally understandable.
12/31, 1:31 PM
posted by:
inline6
It’s also worth noting that a loaded V6 Accord tips the scales at 3,600lbs.
12/31, 2:03 PM
posted by:
02WRXPSM
no, my curb weight is 32,450
I’ve driven and parked the WRX next to a C30 and it is not as small as it looks, it is the same length and height or bigger and is quite a bit bigger than the Mini. it also seats four comfortably. And you are the SECOND person to miss my point, which is not about the C30 at all, but about the idea that we need oversized, overbuilt cars to feel safe and comfortable. You are absolutely right about the Accord, that’s another car that has been supersized (it used to be $12k and 2,600lbs, imagine that) for reasons that we don’t have to justify any more. There is a replacement for weight, it is ENGINEERING and NEW MATERIALS. Look at the Corvette for an absolutely perfect example.
12/31, 2:24 PM
posted by:
inline6
And you’re missing my point, too, WRX:
The ENGINEERING and NEW MATERIALS are EXPENSIVE. Which is why Volvo charges $25k for what amounts to a Euro Focus with a floating console. It’s also worth noting that sales in this country have yet to pass the 5,000 unit mark, IIRC.
12/31, 4:16 PM
posted by:
carstuff
Insignia doesn’t look anything like a Malibu would look like.
Insignia needs to be a Buick Regal. Oh!, it is in China.
More misdata. The LaCrosse soon to be built here is the same as the Regal that will be built/sold in China. Now the Opel Insignia could be an excellent Pontiac G6 in AWD. Or it could be a nice Chevy if they keep the price down. It was going to be the next Saturn Aura but that is gone now.
12/31, 6:42 PM
posted by:
02WRXPSM
If everyone used that ENGINEERING and NEW MATERIALS consistently, the price would drop. Detroit’s fear of the future is revealed yet again. And you need to get off the C30, that’s distracting you from the real issue here — overweight, 20th-century design.
01/01, 6:36 PM
posted by:
scratchy
i hope this won’t be too expensive in Europe ,i want to see one of of these in the flesh.
01/13, 5:38 PM
posted by:
Mutant@DCX
[img]http://jbres79.googlepages.com/detroitwallpaper09_14small.jpg[/img]