Give the People What They Want

[!!!TED!!!]

http://fastlane.gmblogs.com/archives/2006/...eople.html#more

Give the People What They Want

By Bob Lutz

GM Vice Chairman

Ever since we launched this blog over a year and a half ago, a few recurring themes have peppered your comments and feedback, and perhaps one more than any other. For a while there, it seemed like Fast Lane would turn into "All Camaro, All the Time."

We'd post something about fuel economy; someone would respond by telling us to build a new Camaro. We'd write about the latest J.D. Power Dependability Study; someone posts about missing Camaro. Our revamped value pricing system? Camaro. A brand-new GM rollover testing facility? Camaro.

And this was before the 2006 Detroit show when we unveiled the new Camaro concept! That just intensified the drumbeat.

As you probably know by now, the Camaro program has been approved for production, as Chairman/CEO Rick Wagoner announced at the annual industry Management Briefing Seminar in Traverse City, Mich., this morning.

I'm not going to tell you that Camaro is happening because the blogosphere demanded it; that would be disingenuous. But I will tell you that the enthusiasm shown for Camaro in this forum is a shining and prominent example of the passion that exists for this automobile, and we thank you for sharing it with us.

I'll also tell you that we're going to deliver a car worthy of that passion. We'll follow the formula for providing a beautiful and compellingly styled car that, depending upon which engine and what options are chosen, will also be extremely affordable. No matter what the combination, Camaro will absolutely offer tremendous value for the money.

While this is indeed the return of an American icon, I think what sets us apart is that we didn't slavishly go back to the old 1969 Camaro styling. We took the essence of that — its DNA — and styled a completely modern car around it. In other words, it looks like a '69, but it doesn't look like a '69.

Its appeal will go well beyond just those people who are fans of the '69. We love those people and their enthusiasm, and we want the car to appeal to them, but also to a broader audience. It has to appeal to people who have never even heard of a Camaro. Outside certain age groups, and outside the United States, people have to look at it and see a beautiful car, period. If we are too literal in our interpretation, then we would fail to be relevant to a lot of people.

Camaro's beauty will apply to its performance as well. It will be a sensational chassis, a variant of our all-new global rear-drive architecture engineered in Australia, our center of large RWD expertise. (Design work will be done in the U.S., making Camaro a product of our now truly global product development organization.) The new RWD architecture is designed for optimum steering, ride and handling, vehicle dynamics and safety. In terms of chassis excellence, we will be completely "no-compromises."

It will be an absolutely premium-feeling RWD muscle car at a very attractive price, and I predict it will drive huge volume for Chevrolet, and be a big image boost for the brand and for GM.

I also predict that you will tell me in no uncertain terms whether you agree with that assessment, and I further predict I will read a lot of posts with the word "Firebird" in them. Love that enthusiasm!

For more on the Camaro announcement, take a look at the official press release.

Posted by Lutz at August 10, 2006 08:22 AM

[ocnblu]

Oh God... he said "Firebird"... is that a hint??? It sure did context as a hint.

[capriceman]

today at the heritage center some one asked about the Firebird and the answer was. "at first there was just the Equinox now theres the Torrent. there was the just the Colorado now theres the Canyon" so who really knows?

[Guest YellowJacket894]

If a Firebird flys along and perches over at Pontiac, let's hope that it doesn't look like a bastardized Camaro and has cues from another year model.

[Sixty8panther]

Wow... the great news just keeps on pouring in.

There's already been a few excellent Firebird chops done

on this board and a few others. The Firebirds I really

liked were the ones with 2nd gen. styling hints.

[Flybrian]

How about some good Buicks and non-Firebird Pontiacs?

[capriceman]

How about some good Buicks and non-Firebird Pontiacs?

178774[/snapback]

AGREED!!!!!

we dont need another sprots car we need mainstream cars.

[zhawk]

I second that motion. The new Camaro is excellent now let's make sure all of GMs line ups are world class.

[Drew Dowdell]

Bob Lutz -

I summary, STFU about the Camaro! We're building it! Now can we talk about some of the other ideas we have?

Edited August 12, 2006 by Oldsmoboi

[zhawk]

LOL at Oldmoboi...

But I agree that Lutz would love to hear as much enthusiasm and feedback for other products.

I really hope the upcoming cars from all divisions of GM blow people away.

Edited August 12, 2006 by zhawk

[Drew Dowdell]

today at the heritage center some one asked about the Firebird and the answer was. "at first there was just the Equinox now theres the Torrent. there was the just the Colorado now theres the Canyon" so who really knows?

178682[/snapback]

hmmm

I don't like that thought too much

how about "first there was the Lucerne and then there was the DTS"

or

First there was the Malibu and then there was the Aura

I don't think "first there was the Cobalt and then there was the G5" would cut it.

[ocnblu]

I'm totally dying to see the rest of the NA Zeta lineup.