Quote:
Originally Posted by protovack
As long as theres a platform available they'll make a camaro. A "next gen" camaro is a bit of a misnomer. They would not design a one-off platform just for a Camaro, that's true. But the platform, alpha 2, is already done and in the books. It's being used for cadillac cars already in development. It doesn't take a lot of investment to re-skin it and call it a camaro. Just like the ATS before, camaro will continue to be a re-skinned cadillac and simply a great way for GM to turn out more of those platforms and get more of them into consumers hands, at a high ATP.
Remember when a car company gets a winning design for a chassis that people really like (and is cheap and profitable to build), they will do everything they can to build as many of them as possible. I.E, just put into the ATS the chassis would not be profitable. But throw that chassis underneath a value sports car for the masses (Camaro) and suddenly that plant producing the alpha chassis is running 3 shifts all day every day for years. That's what they want. They will use that chassis until they are forced to stop, either by new regulations or some larger shift in the economy.
The alpha, and alpha 2 chassis, are already great. That's the part that requires the most engineering investment, and its already done. Designing and manufacturing new body panels and dashboard pieces isn't particularly expensive. We'll get our new Camaro. In fact the 7th gen camaro is kind of a "gimme" for GM. There aren't any crazy new regulations to deal with, and they have an awesome chassis. It's a no-brainer. Update the styling, address some criticisms, evolve, and get it out to the market for 2021.
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You made a GIANT leap when you claim Alpha is cheap to build (it isn’t that’s why Cadillac uses it) and profitable (not sure where that claim even comes from. ATS/CTS HAVE SOLD HORRIBLY and it would be surprising if GM has made any real profit on Alpha.
Also the Camaro is not a re skin. It’s basically an all new upper and interior. Likely hundreds of millions to get a Gen7. A new front and rear fascia, grille, headlamps tail lamps were probably 8 to 10 million or so in tooling alone not counting the cost to engineer, develop and validate.