Next-Generation Camaro Will Likely Be an All-Electric Sedan
General Motors boss believes that a fun and affordable Camaro will succeed, even if it doesn’t make huge horsepower numbers.
We have reported previously on the unfortunate demise of the sixth generation Camaro. With it leaving the market we said goodbye to one of the most iconic American performance cars ever made. No formal announcement has yet been made about a potential Camaro return. However, we suspect that we will get another Camaro at some point. But it will not be powered by a fire breathing V8 engine. If fact, it probably will not have an engine at all, but instead will use electric motors. Everything is speculation at this point, but we do have a little more insight into what a new Camaro might be like.
This new insight comes from General Motors president Mark Reuss who recently spoke to Motor Trend on the topic. For fans of the traditional Camaro there is a mix of good news and bad news. The good news is that Reuss does not want a new Camaro to be an EV crossover vehicle similar to the Ford Mustang Mach-E.
We can all applaud that decision. And it seems as though keeping the price low is another key goal in bringing the nameplate back to the market. A low price is certainly welcome news. However, the news from that point forward is likely to disappoint fans of the traditional Camaro.
The ‘New’ Camaro
Reuss is a Camaro fan at heart. His first car was a 1967 Camaro. However, the automotive landscape today is far different than it was in the late 1960s. So, the car must also be far different. What Reuss wants is a new Camaro to be an electric car (not a crossover) “designed around athletic dynamics and a low price point rather than huge horsepower and track-slaying performance.” He wants the new car to have a broader appeal.
He doesn’t want a Camaro designed just for hardcore enthusiasts. In other words, he hopes to sell a lot more of them. That is why it is also being reported that the next car will not be a coupe or a convertible, but instead a four-door sedan.
This might be a great strategy for General Motors’ bottom line. But most of you reading this are hardcore enthusiasts, and it seems like the new car is not going to meet your needs.
Pricing Strategy
“Reuss said the price of the Camaro EV could be similar to that of the 2024 Chevrolet Equinox EV compact crossover, which will start at $34,995 when the entry model goes on sale later this year.” And assuming the car is eligible for a $7,500 federal tax credit, the true price would drop to $27,495.
That would be about a $5,000 price drop from the least expensive sixth generation Camaro. It is not often that a new model comes out which is less expensive than the one it replaced. Of course, this new model is going to be nothing like that old one and that may be a disappointment to many, regardless of the price.
At this point nothing is written in stone, so we can’t judge the car yet. Let’s see what Reuss and General Motors come up with. Maybe they knock it out of the park, and we are all concerned for no reason. If not, you might want to take extra good care of the Camaro you have now.
Photos: Chevrolet
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