[Chris 96 WS6]

Source: http://autoextremist.com/page6.shtml

GM, Chevrolet. Journalists were given yet another preview of the Camaro concept this week, but GM would not confirm that the project is a "go." We can confirm, however, that the make-or-break business case for the new Camaro won't be the 400HP V-8, six-speed version, because GM can do that car in its sleep and make it great - and that package is as close to being a "no-brainer" as you can possibly get. The real issue is the V-6 version, a car that must be worthy of the Camaro nameplate, first of all, and be premium in every respect - while delivering an outstanding performance/value equation vis-a-vis the competition. This is the car that GM must get right if the Camaro is going to be a success in the market. We'll stick by what we said immediately after the Detroit auto show, however: The Camaro is a done deal - GM is just making sure that it's every bit as good as people want it to be. And we'll probably get official confirmation of its production timetable by the fall.

 

[OverAnxious]

That makes sense considering how well the v6 cars sold over the v8 cars before.

 

[Chris 96 WS6]

That's certainly the case with the Mustang..the V6 sales are more profitable per car, which in effect subsidizes the V8 version and allows them to do all the special editions, etc.

 

[OctaneZ28]

Camaro sales by engine the last 5 years of production:
1998: V8 - 36%, V6 - 64%
1999: V8 - 41%, V6 - 59%
2000: V8 - 45%, V6 - 55%
2001: V8 - 44%, V6 - 56%
2002: V8 - 59%, V6 - 41%

4th Gen surely didn't hinge on the V6 sales, but it also didn't sell a crapload like the 5th Gen will. Also it wasn't marketed right.

5th Gen has alot going for it, and there will be some great marketing to back up the already amazing product.

Whoever thinks this thing won't hit the 100K per year sales mark is inhaling too many fumes!.

 

[Chris 96 WS6]

In the end not selling enough V6 cars did the F-body in. If you will look at the raw numbers you will see they sold about the same amt of V8's every year.

Problem was the V6 cars were too blaa, too vanilla and nobody cared. The 5th gen V6 needs to be stylish (they have that covered) and loaded with cool stuff. It has to be a gotta-have package.

The 4th gen, in the end, was just a motor in a box...a sleek box at that but w/o the big motor it was a pretty ho-hum car to the average buyer looking for a coupe.

 

[Gonna be a 5th gen owner]

the camaro has to have a solid v-6 for them to sell in numbers let's say a v-6 with about 230 horse power because the 4th gen had the 3.8 that put out about 200 horse power and the camaro has to always to out perform the mustangfor about the same price

 

[OverAnxious]

the camaro has to have a solid v-6 for them to sell in numbers let's say a v-6 with about 230 horse power because the 4th gen had the 3.8 that put out about 200 horse power and the camaro has to always to out perform the mustangfor about the same price

Out performing the Mustang has never really been a problem.
Pricing has hurt GM before IMO, hopefully it is priced very close to the Mustang...

 

[Gonna be a 5th gen owner]

but the mustang has a 200 horse v-6 and I agree the priceing has to be there

 

[Chris 96 WS6]

I think there's a good chance the V6 will have more than 230hp...if they go with the OHC HFV6 you're looking at near 300hp or more....

 

[Gonna be a 5th gen owner]

300 horses might be a little expensive to insure for the younger buyers which could hurt sales

 

[Chuggernaut]

I'm still not sure about 100k in the first year, but judging by the latest releases from GM, they're taking the V6 challenge head on. Here are just 2 candidates:

3.6L VVT V6 w/ Direct Injection

3.9L V6 E85 and AFM variants

 

[Gonna be a 5th gen owner]

a 100,000 will be no problem in the first year there is a lot of hype going for this car!

 

[OverAnxious]

I'm still not sure about 100k in the first year, but judging by the latest releases from GM, they're taking the V6 challenge head on. Here are just 2 candidates:

3.6L VVT V6 w/ Direct Injection

3.9L V6 E85 and AFM variants

The Chevy & Pontiac Fbody did that combined with no problem, I think it would happen.

 

[Chris 96 WS6]

I think 100K/yr is easy if the V6 car is right. You know they can count on 30K V8 units a year just based on enthusiast sales...that's essentially what they were doing in the last years of the 4th gen. But if the car appeals to enough non-enthusiasts and especially to women, another 70K in v6 sales would be a breeze.

The only thing I'm concerned about is the new design doesn't seem to do diddly squat about the complaints heard from women like they sit too low to see out, they can't see the hood, etc. etc.

 

[Chuggernaut]

The Chevy & Pontiac Fbody did that combined with no problem, I think it would happen.

True, but you're relying on Pontiac diehards to convert over. With every indication being that the next GTO will share platforms 6 months or more later, I'm sure a good number of them will hold out until reviews of the Camaro are readily available. In the long run, GM will be right back into the bind they had with the F-Bodies fighting each other while Mustang sales continue to soar.

 

[TheDecalSite.com]

True, but you're relying on Pontiac diehards to convert over. With every indication being that the next GTO will share platforms 6 months or more later, I'm sure a good number of them will hold out until reviews of the Camaro are readily available. In the long run, GM will be right back into the bind they had with the F-Bodies fighting each other while Mustang sales continue to soar.

unfortunatly i would have to agree with you bob, ford isnt competing with itself. it hasnt since the cougar xr7 was killed IMO

 

[Chris 96 WS6]

I don't think the GTO and Camaro will be similar enough to cause the overlap problems of the past. GM gets the two cars have to be different.

I expect GTO to be a larger car than the Camaro.

 

[OctaneZ28]

Yeah, GTO won't directly compete with Camaro cuz it'll be a bigger car and be in a different class.
Also it's not geared for big sales numbers... 25K-30K per year.
At least that's what I'm expecting.

 

[Chuggernaut]

Well guys, one of the driving reasons I'm concerned about the effects of the GTO is that there have been multiple references by Lutz and others of the two cars sharing the same platform.

Furthermore, before Pontiac opted for the band-aid fix to the lack of a RWD vehicle by bringing over the Holden Monaro as the GTO, they did have a concept car that was eerily similar to the Camaro concept. Granted the GTO concept is about 7 years old now, but the proportions and size of this thing are way too similar to say that it won't be a clone.

 

[MaxLegroom]

For the v6, 300hp would be nice, but I'd take 240. If they don't take out the IRS, they've got, of all things, a 3-series coupe beater of the first order, even with the V6, which would be comparable in performance to the base 325 or whatever Ci.