Next-Gen Camaro Revealed via GM Design Sketch?
ICE Camaro might be headed into the sunset, but an electric model opens up all-new possibilities.
There’s always tons of eye candy on the GM Design Instagram account. But the render above proved particularly interesting — because it might serve as a preview of the next-generation Camaro design. While provided with no context, Casey Swanseger’s “light and athletic” sketch is pretty obviously a take on the General’s legendary muscle car, and it looks like a knockout. Of course, given that the next-gen Camaro will be all-electric, the large tailpipes would have to go.
My first impression is that Swanseger’s sketch is a blend of fourth- and sixth-generation design cues. It looks longer, lower, and pointier than the last two generations, while the rear fascia, gun-slit greenhouse, and pronounced hips look like an evolution of the current model’s. Overall, I think this is a great balance of future and retro, and I definitely think this is the direction GM should go. If I had my way? There’d also be a “Phoenix Edition,” which would give a nod to the Firebird while acknowledging the Camaro’s rebirth in the electric era.
That said, this is only a design sketch, and might very well just have been posted because it’s cool. But there’s a compelling case to be made for the idea that GM is surreptitiously testing out some concepts for its new green machine. After the disastrous 2019 refresh, it would be completely understandable if the design crew was looking to get some early feedback before anything gets locked. An entirely new car can’t exactly be fixed with, say, an emergency refresh at SEMA.
The other sketch that caught my eye was Dylan Schmidt’s — “bright and fun – ready for adventure!” — take on an off-road vehicle. If this were a few years back, I might think that this was a Blazer concept. But since we all know that Chevy, in its infinite wisdom, decided to answer America’s thirst for off-road vehicles by turning the Blazer into a car, it’s unlikely this is a reborn K5. Rather, if this baby did ever make it into production, it would likely wear a Hummer badge, and be sold as a more affordable alternative to the flagship Hummer EV.
While it looks sexy, I do have to wonder how the roof structure shown would handle a top. But I love the idea of a glass roof over the rear seats, as it would give everything a safari-like feel. Regardless of what badge winds up on the sheet metal, it seems like the General would be leaving money on the table if it didn’t produce an electric vehicle to compete with the Ford Bronco and Jeep Wrangler. Especially since all the tech could trickle down from the halo Hummer EV and the Hummer EV SUV. More news on the next-gen Camaro when we have it, so stay tuned!
Photos: General Motors