2015 Camaro's Future
With Ford Mustang hard at work for more fuel efficient sports cars for the future. The competition for Chevrolet is on, and why not the federal fuel standards are only going to get tougher. We all ready know that Mustang is building smaller and lighter sports cars and flirting with hybrid options. One can only speculate that Chevrolet has already been hard at work doing the same.
What Will the Camaro Be?
The
next iteration of Chevrolet’s recently reborn sporty/performance car,
which is currently outselling archrival Ford Mustang. Confirmation came
in early 2010 from a director of Grant Thornton LLP, a consultant to
parent General Motors, and from industry-analysis firm CSM Worldwide.
Those sources say the redesigned Camaro will launch in calendar 2014,
doubtless as a 2015 model, and will move to the rear-wheel-drive Alpha
platform that underpins Cadillac’s new ATS premium-compact car, due in
mid- to late 2012 as a 2013 entry. Today’s fifth-generation Camaro uses a
cut-down version of the Zeta 1 architecture developed by GM’s Holden
branch in Australia and which featured on the 2008-09 Pontiac G8 large
sedan.
Like the car it will
replace, the 2015 Chevrolet Camaro will be offered as a coupe and
convertible with powertrain choices ranging from mild to wild. Reporting
by website GM Inside News (GMI) suggests overall size and weight may be
little changed, even though a smaller, lighter Camaro would seem almost
mandatory in light of escalating federal fuel-economy standards and
growing consumer preference for more fuel-efficient vehicles of all
kinds.
According to GMI,
the Alpha program originated in late 2004 as another Holden project, but
languished until 2007, when Cadillac decided to develop the platform
for a long-desired challenger to the likes of Audi A4, BMW 3-Series, and
Mercedes-Benz C-Class. However, as GMI notes, the project suffered
“mission creep” as Cadillac decreed more and more changes that “quickly
turned a light, sporty platform on its head…” Among the conditions
imposed by the luxury brand were space for V6 engines as well as the
intended 4-cylinder units; engineering to accommodate optional all-wheel
drive; and a larger “Alpha +” platform for the next-generation of
Cadillac’s CTS premium-midsize sedan.
As
a result, says GMI, “Each addition has caused another issue to engineer
around, thus causing the Alpha program to exceed GM’s mass
requirements...by nearly 500 pounds. It is unclear how heavy Alpha
products will be, but every independent Alpha source…has indicated that
the final curb weight could push 4,000 pounds unless GM puts the program
on a [crash diet] before launch.” GMI goes on to cite company insiders
and supplier sources as saying “the Alpha program has been a
near-constant stream of drama and problems for GM, which were compounded
by the company’s June 2009 bankruptcy. Even today, as the program nears
its final stages...problems are still being worked out.” Among those
are a planned multi-link front suspension that no longer works as
intended with the accumulated flab and is being given the band-aid
treatment rather than a full do-over.
GMI
reports that engineers are “now struggling to reduce Alpha’s mass by a
quarter-ton,” a huge amount for a new platform at such a late design
stage. “One source has indicated that GM is willing to throw all sorts
of new composite technologies at the body, structure, and powertrain to
achieve that goal [for both] the Cadillac Alpha cars and the
sixth-generation Camaro.”
The Camaro's Speculations
With so many issues still
unresolved, it’s anyone’s guess at this point (June 2011) how the 2015
Chevrolet Camaro will turn out. Regardless of how many pounds are pared
from the platform, we suspect the exterior package will be downsized to
some degree, possibly close to that of the current Ford Mustang or even a
bit smaller, perhaps on the order of the original 1967-69 or 1982-92
Camaros.
As for engines,
several sources suggest that the 2015 Chevrolet Camaro will be offered
with a base 4-cylinder or two, possibly small-displacement jobs with
GM’s eAssist “mild hybrid” electric drive and available turbocharging;
one or more optional V6s, likely based on the company’s ubiquitous
3.6-liter twin-overhead-cam design and also perhaps with eAssist and
forced induction; and a smaller but more-efficient V8 than today’s
6.2-liter, something on the order of 5.0-5.4 liters, again with eAssist
likely and perhaps optional supercharging. The V8 would likely be the
same basic mill being rumored for Chevrolet’s next-generation C7
Corvette sports car and should be virtually all-new with the possible
exception of retaining overhead-valve cylinder heads for reasons of
lower cost and easier under-hood packaging, not to mention hallowed
“Chevy small block” tradition. Whatever the final choices, all engines
will doubtless maximize mpg with measures such as direct fuel injection,
“double” variable valve-timing (intake and exhaust), and low-friction
internal components.
Likewise,
transmissions for the 2015 Chevrolet Camaro will be chosen to provide a
competitive balance among performance, fuel economy, and refinement.
There’s talk of new 7-speed manual and automatic designs for V8 and
up-level V6 models, but we think it more likely that GM will stick with
its current 6-speed transmissions, at least for 2015-16.
Other
aspects also can’t be confirmed, doubtless because they’re still a long
way from decided. Even so, logic suggests the 2015 Chevrolet Camaro
will mimic the current car with a 4-wheel independent suspension (though
doubtless redesigned), standard 4-wheel disc brakes, and good-size
wheels and tires. Steering assist will probably go from conventional
engine-belt-driven hydraulic to electrohydraulic or pure electric, again
to maximize mpg.
Styling?
It’s almost sure to retain Camaro’s traditional long-hood/short-deck
proportions and the current models’ wide stance, but surfacing and
details will hinge on the final exterior size and on whether sales
trends suggest the need for a big departure from today’s aggressive
sharp-edged look. We know Ed Welburn, GM’s Vice-President of Global
Design, is an avid Camaro fan, so his Camaro team will likely strive to
blend familiar elements with fresh touches--and to improve aerodynamics
as another aid to fuel economy.
Camaro Expectations
GM has been working hard to
update and upgrade Chevrolet’s car line, starting with the new-for-2008
Malibu midsize sedan. The reborn Camaro is part of that effort and is
evidently seen as no less important to the brand’s sales and image than
mainstream products like Malibu and the new Cruze compact sedan.
Remember that Chevy’s ponycar was resurrected after six years in limbo
to start sale on the very eve of GM’s historic 2009 bankruptcy. As
noted, the fifth-generation has lately been outselling traditional foe
Ford Mustang--adding convertibles for 2011 has no doubt helped--and
management undoubtedly hopes the sixth-generation will do as well or
better. Even so, market conditions and buyer tastes are always changing,
so it will be interesting to see if the next Camaro resonates with the
public as much as the current one seems to. Of course, a lot will depend
on what happens to Mustang with its upcoming redesign, expected in
2014-15 in time to mark the model’s 50th anniversary.
The New Camaro's Chances
There is no mistaken, despite the
many factors now conspiring against affordable sporty/performance cars,
the 2015 Chevrolet Camaro is going to happen. Too bad we don’t yet know
much about precisely what will happen, but we do know somewhat of what will happen.
One can only hope that are American Sports Car does not turn into some that mimic those annoy Rice Burners/Tuner cars!
This is a really cool Q/A interview with Chief Engineer of the brand new Z/28, Al Oppenheiser
