2028 Camaro 7th Gen is Coming

[klink]

Had an F body (catfish) Camaro for a short time after high school. Slow by today’s standards but I really liked it. The newest generation (I count 2010-2023 as the same even though there were some design changes over the years) looks great from the outside and performs really well, I could never get over the visibility from the cockpit. It handles more like a sports car right off the shelf (the Alpha platform is really good) vs the Mustang which is really more of a GT car (at least out of the box). Both have their pros and cons, and I’ve said it before I almost bought a Camaro instead of a Mustang (twice). The visibility was the deciding factor, all other factors when I did my comparison were pretty much even.

No doubt the visibility is severely compromised in the sixth generation. It takes quite a while to get used to.

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[martinjlm]

.... The newest generation (I count 2010-2023 as the same even though there were some design changes over the years)...

Despite design similarities 2010 - 15 and 2016 - 24 are two very different vehicles. The 5th Gen 2010 - 15 were built in Oshawa, Ontario Canada on the Zeta platform borrowed from the Holden Commodore (Australia). They used the LS3 6.2L V8 and LSA 6.2L SC V8. LS7 7.0L for the Z/28. 426 hp for the LS3, 580 hp for the LSA, 505 hp for the LS7.

The 6th Gen 2016 - 24 were built in Lansing, Michigan on the Alpha platform that underpins the Cadillac CT4 and CT5. The Alpha platform shaved about 4 - 500 lbs off the car and the new LT1 (455 hp) and LT4 (650 hp) way outperformed the 5th Gen engines. The 7th Gen will share the upgraded Alpha 2 platform with CT5 and the top version will share powertrain with CT5 V-Series Blackwing.

In this picture I'm racing my 6th Gen Convertible SS (455 hp) against a 5th Gen ZL1 (580 hp). He caught me at the line so we tied on ET but he trapped higher, meaning he had to play catch up pretty much the whole race. That's how much difference the weight reduction meant. A coupe SS would have most likely held him off since it's about 200 lbs lighter than my convertible.

 

[martinjlm]

No doubt the visibility is severely compromised in the sixth generation. It takes quite a while to get used to.

For some. Took me about 10 minutes. If you set your mirrors correctly (most people don't) it's a non-issue.

 

[SrBio]

It’s okay to love them both. One for high revs and one for low down grunt. I’m ready to see the new model.

 

[MAGS1]

For some. Took me about 10 minutes. If you set your mirrors correctly (most people don't) it's a non-issue.

It’s more than blind spot/mirrors for me (although I could not get the mirrors in a spot that I was comfortable with). Visibility out of the front and rear is not nearly as good as the S550.

 

[Hack]

My 2017 Camaro Fifty SS Convertible...

In front of the Lansing Grand River plant

My hood liner and trunk liner art...

I prefer the styling of the front end on the earlier cars like yours over the later ones like the 2021 I owned. I think black helps hide some of the shapes I didn't love in mine.

Despite design similarities 2010 - 15 and 2016 - 24 are two very different vehicles. The 5th Gen 2010 - 15 were built in Oshawa, Ontario Canada on the Zeta platform borrowed from the Holden Commodore (Australia). They used the LS3 6.2L V8 and LSA 6.2L SC V8. LS7 7.0L for the Z/28. 426 hp for the LS3, 580 hp for the LSA, 505 hp for the LS7.

The 6th Gen 2016 - 24 were built in Lansing, Michigan on the Alpha platform that underpins the Cadillac CT4 and CT5. The Alpha platform shaved about 4 - 500 lbs off the car and the new LT1 (455 hp) and LT4 (650 hp) way outperformed the 5th Gen engines. The 7th Gen will share the upgraded Alpha 2 platform with CT5 and the top version will share powertrain with CT5 V-Series Blackwing.

In this picture I'm racing my 6th Gen Convertible SS (455 hp) against a 5th Gen ZL1 (580 hp). He caught me at the line so we tied on ET but he trapped higher, meaning he had to play catch up pretty much the whole race. That's how much difference the weight reduction meant. A coupe SS would have most likely held him off since it's about 200 lbs lighter than my convertible.

I agree with this. The improvement was very significant. We all talk some crap on here, but I genuinely wasn't impressed with the Gen 5 cars I drove. I test drove a few over the years and they just didn't do it for me. But I absolutely loved my 6 Gen. With all cars there are some nits to pick, but they were minor on the Camaro for me.

I still like the character of the Coyote, especially with a tune and on the road course, but on the street I don't think DOHC is a good substitute for cubic inches.

 

[Hack]

No doubt the visibility is severely compromised in the sixth generation. It takes quite a while to get used to.

IMO front visibility is fine. You just have to make sure no one is going to overtake you.

 

[martinjlm]

It’s more than blind spot/mirrors for me (although I could not get the mirrors in a spot that I was comfortable with). Visibility out of the front and rear is not nearly as good as the S550.

Agree. It is NOT as good. But I've been saying this for a long time. I can see what I NEED to see out of a Camaro. I can see MORE out of a Mustang or Challenger.

 

[detamble13]

Visibility is something the next generation Camaro needs to address. Trunk opening is #2. I'm used to the visibility in my 5th gen but can understand how it would be an issue for some. The car needs to be more daily driver friendly. My son doesn't appreciate loading his hockey bag into the trunk but it just barely works. This past weekend we had two hockey bags loaded in the car, one in the trunk and one on top of the folded down rear seats. The car is just practical enough when my wife needs the 4Runner. I can't imagine less space but thats not why I didn't upgrade to a 6th gen. That was mostly a money thing, or lack thereof. A new Camaro needs to strike a balance of sporty and practical enough to daily drive.

To add to James post above the 5th gen automatic V8 came with the L99. Also a 6.2 liter but with cylinder deactivation. It was rated at 400hp as opposed to the 426hp you got with the manual which was another reason to go with three pedals.

 

[MontiCristo]

Hmm. Will believe it when I see it. GM Authority has had a few misses over the years. CT5-BW is slated to be discontinued after 2027 as well. The articles referenced is the first I’ve seen of any talk of a BW continuation. Would be great if true, but not holding my breath on that one.

IF the Camaro makes a return, that should be good for all of us, assuming the V8 is included in the offerings. If it’s turbo 4’s only, I don’t think it’s a true Mustang competitor.

Agree with Strokerswild, a different design would benefit GM as well. The styling of the last generation lasted way too long, even though it was tweaked a few times (kinda like the S650 is just a tweak of S550). It got old. I had an F body (aka catfish), I wouldn’t mind a new Camaro that took cues from that. Or the 80’s Iroc’s.

I would hope that a full offering of Camaro would push Ford to look at the 8th gen Mustang as a possible ground up development, much like S550 was compared to S197. Maybe a hybrid powertrain and/or an AWD option. Maybe pull some bits from the GTD for a higher level trim/model.

A lot of good can come to us the consumers if Chevy actually does it. I remain skeptical though, just because the performance car market overall has and is changing.

agreed all around Mags, and Iroc esque 'maro would be epic

 

[Balr14]

I have owned several Camaros, Mustangs and Firebirds. When I was younger, I didn't care about the back seat being pretty much useless, or at the very least terribly inconvenient. But as I got older, I came to appreciate that better rear seat access makes the car much more useful. I'm not racing, I just like performance cars.

So, if a car has a back seat, it needs to be a convertible or have four doors. I'll take a BMW M3 (4 door) over an M4 (coupe). I wouldn't mind a 4 door Camaro if it was anything like a CTS/V or Black Wing. I really don't care about what powers them, either. Except I don't like four cylinder engines. Otherwise 6, 8, 10 cylinders, electric, fusion reactor, steam(maybe not), whatever, is fine with me.

 

[robvas]

Owned a few 3rd and 4th gen Camaros, never wanted a 5th gen. 6th gen was a big step in the right direction.

 

[detamble13]

So, if a car has a back seat, it needs to be a convertible or have four doors.

The rear seat is just practical enough for me to justify the car as my daily driver. A rear facing car seat was even part of a few trips.

The Vette can be the sports car and a Camaro needs to remain slightly useful by having a back seat.

 

[13GetThere]

The Mustang and other pony cars were intended to be transitional cars for young people just out of school with a new job and looking to find a mate. The back seat was for the first child after they got married. The back seat didn't need to be big or roomy; it was meant small flexible people. Auto makers figured couples would then trade their pony cars in for new mid sized family cars like the Ford Galaxie or Chevy Impala.

In my 70 Challenger I didn't have a console on the drive shaft tunnel, but it did have thick carpet. I did find that the back seat made a perfect pillow for my girl friend's head and the bucket seats held her hips in place

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