Those headlights are a bit of a disappointment, I hope they are just developement items.

I agree with Aaroniero.

Either way man, big man Lutz kept closesly to his word by keeping this car as close to the concept as possible. I'm loving it.

Such literal retro-interpretations of classic styling features seldom have any real substance ...and this Camaro is a case in point.

The desperate resurrection of past cars which had some kind of cult status -- it's what you do when you haven't got any fresh ideas or direction.

While that's true, in this case I don't think it's a bad idea. While everyone has complained that chevy has ruined comaro for a while, they went back to what made that car special. I always wanted to own an old school camaro-ss but trying to buy one now is VERY expensive. With this, I can get a more fresh car with the same retro looks. What's wrong with that? I don't hear anyone complaining about Mini, Fiat500 and other non-american cars based off old cars. Why such animosity against american retro designs? (rhetorical questin, not directed at you SDNR)

To me, retro designs always indicated a bankruptcy of ideas, an implicit admission that your past is better than your present. So while it doesn't bode well for the company's future, it doesn't necessarily mean that the individual model looks bad - and in most cases it actually looks good as in this case.

I wouldn't necessarily call it a "bankruptcy of ideas" but rather it's the fastest way of designing something that will be good, and won't upset your customer base. Since everyone loves the original, and GM really needs the cash, they updated the original with modern features and looks. Problem solved.

Well I did complain quite a lot about the Fiat 500 .

The Mini is completely different because it is not such a literal reinterpretation of any classic styling -- it is a thoroughly modern-looking car. The Mini retains the spirit and concept of the original car but is very much up-to-date with its iPod-looks. The Fiat, on the other hand, is pure pastiche ...all intended to give you a vague feeling of the 1950s.

I have also been quite critical of the Mercedes Ocean Drive Concept for similar reasons -- I find it to be too 'figurative'.

I just think cars like the Camaro are really superficial ...and don't actually add much to the advancement of car design in any real way. It is essentially designed to appeal to the sentimental nostalgia of the Baby-boomers who had posters of the original Camaro on their bedroom walls as teenagers.

Retro design is now over 20 years old -- I really wish we would move on from it now.

Yeah ....that is an important point.

I must make it clear that I am not in any way saying that this Camaro looks bad -- because it does look pretty good

^ You know what ....since I typed that last post, I've been thinking about this a bit more.

Maybe I have been wrong -- could it be said that 'Retro' is not just a superficial styling trend but a legitimate design philosophy in its own right?

Are Retro cars more than just nostalgic imitations of older models with new engineering?

After all, there is nothing old-fashioned about this Camaro ....it looks pretty fresh and new. I guess it all comes down to how well it is done and how sincere the intentions of the designers are.

....I would be interested to read what others think.


+ You guys have probably noticed that I can be pretty opinionated at times ...but please don't think that I am not open to other points of view -- I like to be challenged -- it is good for me . I think it is important for me to remain open minded about these things.