Camaro boasts 10,000 advanced orders

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By George Skentzos | January 01st, 2009

General Motors has reportedly received more than 10,000 advanced orders for the Australian-developed Chevrolet Camaro sports car.

While the new Camaro will be manufactured overseas in Canada, this announcement still bodes well for the viability of the Australian-developed car.

GM-Holden developed the Chevrolet Camaro from scratch following overwhelming response to what was initially a concept-only show car, displayed initially at the 2006 Detroit Auto Show.

“We’re a little bit surprised at the model mix. We thought we’d have a lot of V8 orders, SS orders, that type of thing, which we do.

“But we are getting a considerable amount of V6 orders,” said Mark LaNeve, GM’s head of North American marketing and sales. He said the orders are coming from “people who are just interested in a very stylish car that gets pretty good fuel economy. It’s kind of a sign of the times.”

Although there may be a delay in its release, with GM suing Cadence Innovation, a bankrupt interior parts supplier that is in liquidation, to get back parts and equipment it needs for the Camaro.

As is standard industry practice, GM supplied Cadence with the parts it needed to produce components for the new Camaro.

However after the firm entered liquidation it refused to return any of the production equipment, which GM says must be returned by January 12 or the start of Camaro production will be delayed.

Bavarian Missile ( . ) ( . )

Mate in U.S.A tells me this morning its coming out in a 550 hp model too,hes waiting for that one!

84% of the orders are V8s so much for the all important fuel economy everyone harps on about in this great green world.

Stuff the carbon footprint,I like my horsepower in multiples of hundreds thanks !

Great looking car!
Wheelnut

This is the car we should be getting from the USA [along with the HH-R Delivery] instead of the ugly Caddie-yuck.

Because given that it’s built on the same platform as the VE Commodore it will/should handle better than the CTS
Myke

^The CTS handles pretty well from what I’ve heard. Why on earth would you want an HHR? I’m sure its awful to drive with terrible interior plastics, like the PT Cruiser.

Anyway, this will cream the Challenger and the Mustang.
Bavarian Missile ( . ) ( . )

“Anyway, this will cream the Challenger and the Mustang.

What do you mean ? In sales ? I dont mind the look of the Stang or the Challenger either,both tough looking retro cars.
Myke

^The way it drives, I like the look of the Mustang, but it is hardly an advanced car.
Wheelnut

I think the HH-R would be an ideal addition to the Holden line up particularly the Nomad/Delivery as it could become the next generation Sandman.

Its a relatively practical versatile car with a lot of potential [as seen on Rides].. so even if it does handle like like an Aurion with a bit of work it could be a goer.
Bavarian Missile ( . ) ( . )

I have to agree with you there Myke!
Alex

Wheelnut, I recently read in a Top Gear review that the CT-S handles “like a dream” so this may not handle better.
Is it just me or does that car look an awful lot like a Dodge Challenger? At least from that angle it does. That’s another thing actually, I think the Challenger look just a bit better than that so if I was gonna have a car like this, I would take the Dodge.
Chevrolet’s just aren’t as cool as Dodges, even as a Camaro these days mainly because they now have the Matiz, the Aveo and the Lacetti to their name.
Pablo

What motor is in this thing?
Hope it’s not the same detuned donk in the new auto SS Commodore.
http://. Naughyius Maximus

Really dont know what fuss is over……cause its ugly abd wedgy looking and outdated style! MASSIVE FUGLY
Wheelnut

Alex – I also like the Dodge Challenger and its awesome Mopar Hemi V8.
I can’t understand why Chrysler-Dodge Australia don’t push harder to get the Challenger over here as I believe it can be made in RHD and they are in desperate need of a hero car to improve their image.. mainly because they are asociated with the 300C; Crossfire; Sebring; and PT Cruiser.. oh and then there’s the Jeep Range.
Wheelnut

Quote [NM]: its ugly wedgy looking and out dated style!

That’s one of the reasons behind “Retro-Tech” designs.. take an iconic car from the past such as the Mustang Camaro or Challenger and “morph” it into what it would look like had the car evolved into a more modern car whilst retaining the classic curves/lines.. it may look old but it also looks cool [unlike the 300C or Caddie CTS]
Tim

The Dodge Challenger is on my wish list – coolest ‘new’ retro car out there by far!

This is ok, but it reminds me of lines from the Mustang, mixed with Challenger front end.
Captain Mainwaring

10,000 advance orders is an insignificant number.
If this thing reaches a retail customer before GM goes into Chapter 11, that will be a big surprise.
Alex

Wow, Wheelnut, for once I actually agree with you on the fact that this is a good looking retro remake. However, in most peoples eyes, the 300C being associated with Chrysler Australia is a very good thing as many people like the look and it’s actually not a terrible drive, certainly not for the price. And Jeep isn’t too bad either, the Patriot is a legitimate contender in the compact SUV lines, even if it does defeat the purpose a bit.
Duck

Wheelnut, I agree with Myke. The CTS apparentley has very good handling. Have you read articles about the new Caddy CTS?
ZF

Not a patch on the Mustang. Mustang looks way better as its retro design has morphed much better than this car. Anyway as captain mainwaring says I doubt if anyone gets one as GM will go broke after the prop up money runs out.
Wheelnut

I have just read a few articles [from international car magazines] on the Caddie and it appears that Caddie must have done some serious work on the car to make it handle as well as it does – because its based on the Sigma Platform which is the platform Holden engine-nerds rejected as the basis for the new VE.. One of the reasons they rejected it was because of its “loose” suspension.

If we [have to] get the CTS I hope it includes the top of the range 400Kw AWD model
Wheelnut

If GM do eventually file for Bankruptcy…. that doesn’t necessarily mean it will be the end of Chevrolet or Holden.

Because what could happen when GM are bankrupt is that they could simply sell off all their property etc in the US and move overseas under a new company. I mean GM don’t actually make cars although they do own a number of car manufacturers.

GM have released a statement outlining their plans to restructure their business and streamline operations. In it they say the maing companies they will keep are Cadillac Chevrolet Opel and Holden..

Therefore; they could restructure their operations so RWD projects are predominantly built in Australia – taking advantage of Holdens RWD expertise etc.. and FWD cars could be built predominantly in Europe taking advantage of Opels FWD expertise.

They could even use the money from the US bailout for a range of projects overseas in preparation for pulling out of the USA – Infact given that they just approved Holdens plans to build a new small-medium sized car at Elizabeth indicates that that’s what they could be planning to do.

Its even more likely given that the US Automotive Workers who are getting paid upto $45p/hr + penalties etc have refused to take a $20p/hr pay cut – which will help keep GM in business [a bit longer] and keep their jobs.
http://www.sutcliffe.com/blog Michael Sutcliffe

- which will help keep GM in business [a bit longer] and keep their jobs.

If American car companies could buy labour at market rates, and did away with their non-performing executives, they would be very competitive and relevant. They have good ideas and build quality cars.

The Autoworkers Union and the executives are in cahoots – they know they’re onto a good thing and they’re trying to bleed the company dry while they can. One way to shock them into reality would be to make sure they knew this was the last government handout they would receive, so sink or swim, your choice.
Frontman

The captain points out the real truth, I believe that Gm would be thinking 10,000 forward orders is far to small a number at this late stage.
With fuel being back at reasonable prices (yes the yanks are back to buying what they like, F150 line is back to three shifts!) I feel certain the powers that be would have been looking for more than double that amount for an Icon. IIRC Monaro had nearly as many advanced orders in Australia alone!
Gibbo

Id sooner see the Monaro name plate bought back in Australia before we import a Camaro
Crouchy

“But we are getting a considerable amount of V6 orders,” said Mark LaNeve, GM’s head of North American marketing and sales. He said the orders are coming from “people who are just interested in a very stylish car that gets pretty good fuel economy. It’s kind of a sign of the times.”

Is he serious? Its taken them this long to work out that people dont want V8s anymore.. and the worst thing is that V6 is hardly the most advanced, fuel efficient engine getting around haha. In america it seems that buying a V6 is the equivalant of buying a hybrid anywhere else….

Why doesnt this s*** surprise me?

Nice looking car btw.
Wheelnut

Gibbo – its likely that the Camaro will eventually make it to Australia; once all the advanced orders along with the orders that are taken immediately after its release have been fulfilled in the USA.

When we get it expect GM-H to call it the Monaro as it has a greater following in Australia than the Camaro. So the Camaro is due for release in 2010 we probably won’t get it until 2012.. there could be a few subtle cosmetic changes
Crouchy

2 door, RWD sports car? Monaro? Please?
Wheelnut

That’s it I think if Holden allowed car enthusiasts and Holden fans to name a couple of their upcoming models – just as they did with the previous model Monaro.. they would sell in greater numbers

The Camaro would then most likely be called the Monaro
The Insignia will most likely be called the Torana
The “?” car will most likely be called the Gemini

Because one of the reasons the [retro-tech] Camaro Mustang and Challenger are so popular is because of their link with the past and their motorsport heritage etc. Therefore; people who grew up with posters of Mustangs or Monaros on their walls are now able to buy one – fulfilling a childhood dream
Wheelnut

Michael Sutcliffe – I agree that GM Ford and Chrysler could do away wiht a number of Executive positions and still be able to operate [more] efficiently.

However; how many times do you read that when a company is in troulbe the [out of touch] company directors make the valiant decision and get rid of their own jobs first?
Andrew M

wheelnut,
names like gemini, torana and monaro will never be main stream names again.

if they light those names up again, they will severly limit their target audience.

I mean, how many females in todays society would cream themselves over the chance to purchase a gemini?? and the same can be said for the rest of those names you mentioned.
To most people (females especially) a gemini is a clapped out old bomb, and a torana is a hoons/bogans car.

more people would turn at those names than would turn to them.
If those names returned, they would only be niche products.
Holden needs each to be a volume product. Even the previous Monaro was a niche/novelty product. they were snapped up in the beginning, but was cut because the sales died off, and now the resale = bugger all on them even though advertising called them an instant classic
Dlr1

Well said Andrew M, some names just have the wrong image associated with them and should be consigned to the dustbin for good. Could you imagine Ford renaming the Mondeo the Cortina? Or what about a new 120Why?

The Monaro nameplate was atleast an aspirational model in the range and can still work with a niche vehicle
Crouchy

The names gemini and torana will never return because as andrew said, people associate them with bogans. The monaro however still has a good name and could easily return i think. Sure beats Tiida (throws up)
realcars

Shame about Corolla name plate as I associate it with Bogans.

Cardigan wearing Bogans.LOL.

If u reckon Torana is a Bogan name then your balls mustn’t have dropped yet i.e you weren’t around when Torana was conquering the mountain.
realcars

I wouldn’t like to tell someone with a schmick GTR XU1 or L34 Torana etc that they drive a “bogans” car.LOL.
Andrew M

realcars,
im a big motorsport fan myself, and i love the well kept classics,
but my head isnt up my A*se, so i can see that not every one is a die hard “Tim The Tool Man Taylor” grunting style car lover.

If all of us were die hard Brocky poster plastered bedroom fanatics, then no way would we let the Corolla be number one seller in the very same country that holds that great mountain that made a king out of Brocky.

Holden need cars that put together solid runs on the board.
the news flash is that females heavily influence the buying choice.

And above and beyond all that, if you want to talk testicles and all that, WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING TALKING MEDIUM AND SMALL CARS.

I myself wouldnt be caught dead spending my loot on anything less than a full sized car.
Generally speaking the people without testicles shop in the small and midsized classes. Those very people dont want a vehicle that screams of testosterone. If you give them a name that does, they will deflect to buy a Corolla or Mazda3

To summarise……..
those that buy cars with a Tim Allen style Grunt, dont shop in the small car range, thats why such names as Torana and Gemini would only hit a very small part of the market.
Rory McRorts

I think I’d be in the queue for an ‘SS’ version of this car if they decided to go with the right hooker for Australia.

It’d be a shame to have so much of our automotive talent tied up in the damn thing and not be able to buy one. We’re selling our Commodores for a good price there in the US (Not that they’re selling many) …maybe they can give us a break on price here ?

I better start saving that deposit now so I’m ready if it lands here