[SS22]

Hey all,
Anyone think this new Camaro might be a hardtop style like the 2006 concept? Looking at the side profile it looks like it would not lose much structural rigidity. Would you want this as a option? The high performance models could have fixed rear windows. I think this would give the car a premium open air feel with out messing with the roof. What do you guys think?
Just a thought to kill some time till May 16th.

[Bhobbs]

I doubt it would pass the side impact testing without a b pillar.

[90503]

I always like the "bubble-top" look....but I doubt we'll see it these days....

[HDRDTD]

Originally Posted by Bhobbs

I doubt it would pass the side impact testing without a b pillar.

Convertibles don't have a B pillar.

[DenverTaco07]

Originally Posted by HDRDTD

Convertibles don't have a B pillar.

I think they have less difficult test to pass as a vert. A hard top has different standard...same arguments against t tops...this is what I learn from folks here on forum.

[Johnman]

Originally Posted by Bhobbs

I doubt it would pass the side impact testing without a b pillar.

Then how does Mercedes manage it?

[DenverTaco07]

Originally Posted by Johnman

Then how does Mercedes manage it?

Which model and what price....I'm sure it can be done but $$$$

[SS22]

That pictured Mercedes is a 100k car though.

[hotlap]

Originally Posted by 90503

I always like the "bubble-top" look....but I doubt we'll see it these days....

Me too. GM has a deep retro well to draw from if they wanted. GM styling dominated in the 60s

[HuJass]

Man, the Camaro concept is just perfection.
I'm not sure GM can top that.

I remember back then everybody was hoping that they would find a way to keep the hardtop.
My guess is they won't be able to for the 6th gen either.

[fradaj]

Originally Posted by SS22

That pictured Mercedes is a 100k car though.

That Mercedes is probably a million dollar concept car. Not sure if they actually do have a production hardtop.

[DGthe3]

That Mercedes S Class Coupe also happens to weigh about 4700 lbs, in addition to costing more than a hundred grand. I bet thats a big part of how they manage to delete the b-pillar & still have it pass safety regs.


Without a b-pillar, you essentially have nothing tying the roof to the floor in the middle of the car. In a rollover situation, all loads must be transmitted to the front & rear instead of front, rear, and sides. Same goes for side impact. You could have something akin to a free-standing post that stops at the glass area, but without anything tying into the top of it, it would need to be very strong to sustain any sort of impact. Even then, the car wouldn't be able to distribute the impact load throughout the vehicle in the same manner as it would if there were a b-pillar. In either case case, a greater concentration of stress means that you will need a stronger structure. A stronger structure means that you need to use either a) more steel (adding weight) or b) a lot of aluminum (adding cost).

There is no free lunch. Everything that you add has some price, either in outright cost or a weight penalty or maybe something else. If it were possible to make the 6th gen (or any coupe) without a b-pillar without increasing weight or cost, wouldn't you think that everyone would be doing that already?

[Ant_ss]

Originally Posted by DGthe3

That Mercedes S Class Coupe also happens to weigh about 4700 lbs, in addition to costing more than a hundred grand. I bet thats a big part of how they manage to delete the b-pillar & still have it pass safety regs.


Without a b-pillar, you essentially have nothing tying the roof to the floor in the middle of the car. In a rollover situation, all loads must be transmitted to the front & rear instead of front, rear, and sides. Same goes for side impact. You could have something akin to a free-standing post that stops at the glass area, but without anything tying into the top of it, it would need to be very strong to sustain any sort of impact. Even then, the car wouldn't be able to distribute the impact load throughout the vehicle in the same manner as it would if there were a b-pillar. In either case case, a greater concentration of stress means that you will need a stronger structure. A stronger structure means that you need to use either a) more steel (adding weight) or b) a lot of aluminum (adding cost).

There is no free lunch. Everything that you add has some price, either in outright cost or a weight penalty or maybe something else. If it were possible to make the 6th gen (or any coupe) without a b-pillar without increasing weight or cost, wouldn't you think that everyone would be doing that already?

EClass Mercedes coupe is pillarless also, roughly the same price as a fully loaded Camaro. Probably around the same weight.. Just cause I don't see it's been mentioned.

[DenverTaco07]

Originally Posted by Ant_ss

EClass Mercedes coupe is pillarless also, roughly the same price as a fully loaded Camaro. Probably around the same weight.. Just cause I don't see it's been mentioned.

E400 coupe
MSRP $54,200 add Nav and your at 59,900
329HP
3935 LBS

If a Camaro came with those numbers I bet EVERYONE would be really HAPPY

As the saying goes, "You can't have eaten your cake and still have it in front of you" aka "You can't have your cake and eat it too".