General Motors is to launch the production of the New Chevrolet Camaro

General Motors is to launch the production
of the New Chevrolet Camaro

by Charles-Bernard ANDREANI

The legendary Camaro will resume the quasi-totality of the specificities of the Concept Car presented in Detroit (NAIAS 2006). This new generation of the legendary sports coupé will be produced as from late 2008. GM is presently studying the possibility of importing the Chevrolet Camaro in Europe. The New Chevrolet Camaro represents the universal dimension of Chevrolet today: from 27 to 35 years old, the designers come from all over the world and share the same passion for Camaro and American sportscars. Consequently, the New Camaro will offer performances, innovations and the technology of an avant-gardist car, while preserving the charm of its inspirer.

Rick Wagoner, president of General Motors, announced the upcoming production of this new sports coupé directly inspired by the Concept Car presented at the Detroit Motor Show in 2006, where it created the surprise, winning an immense success with the public and also an award. All over the world, this new presentation of the Chevrolet Camaro awoke passions: petitions, deposit checks … everyone used his own strategy to endeavour to acquire a model one day, even before its production was decided. Although it has not yet been presented at a European show, the possibility of importing and selling the intended Chevrolet Camaro in Europe is very seriously studied by the managers of Chevrolet, in particular Wayne Brannon. Indeed, the president of Chevrolet Europe declared: " We try to estimate at best the potential market for this fantastic car. It would aim at a clientele of passionate persons but maybe younger than that of its main rivals on this segment. Useful in everyday life, the Camaro would offer unique performances and style at more attractive prices than those applied by the European manufacturers on the GT market. We are therefore studying the opportunity of importing this vehicle on our European market and integrating the Camaro in our Chevrolet range."

The production of this new car should begin at the end of 2008, to be commercialised by the first quarter of 2009. Ed Welburn, Vice-president of the design of General Motors, himself owner of a Camaro SS of 1969, declared with a point of enthusiasm: " The New Camaro will be almost identical to the concept car, a modern interpretation of the original version dating from 1969, which is still considered as a reference of motorcar design ". The New Chevrolet Camaro will naturally be equipped with V6 or V8 engines placed at the front. It will also be proposed with the option of an automatic or a manual transmission. Ed Peper, General manager of Chevrolet, clarified that this new Camaro is conceived for both men and women, for the nostalgic of the previous models but also for those who discovered it in January in Detroit.

For history, it is important to remember that with about 4.8 million copies produced between 1967 and 2002, The Chevrolet Camaro is a true phenomenon. This craze is confirmed by hundreds of Internet sites dedicated to this symbol of the present American mechanical sport on the Web and by more than 1 000 clubs still existing today. According to a recent inquiry, the Camaro ranks among the top 10 cars the most sought for on Internet.

http://www.media.gm.com/us/gm/en/index.html

Chevrolet EcoPack Series:
Economy rhymes with ecology

Chevrolet pursues its efforts in favour of the environment, proposing a special offer on its whole range since the autumn term.

Christened Ecopack, the Matiz, Kalos, Lacetti, Nubira and Rezzo offer an unbeatable price / service / equipment ratio, mainly thanks to the moderate cost price of the GPL and to the tax credit proposed for this type of fuel since last June 30th.

The finance law voted in 2005 clarifying the modalities of allocation of the tax credit for the acquisition of vehicles running on little polluting energies, was rectified by an official tax bulletin. Initially fixed at 140 grams per kilometre, the limit of CO2 emissions allowing to benefit from the 2000-euro tax credit was revised to 200 grams per kilometre. Since this reform is retroactive, all the models registered since January 1st 2006 are concerned.

2000 euros tax credit and 1100 euros Chevrolet premium

Chevrolet participates in this policy to promote non-polluting energy by proposing the Chevrolet EcoPack Series since September 1st. These models benefit from significant premiums offered by the State and the constructor. The GPL alternative can be acquired at less than 9 000 euros with the Kalos.

All the models: Matiz 1.0 Ecopack, 9 190 e (12 290 e - 2 000 e tax credit - 1 100 e Chevrolet premium); Kalos 1.2 3p. Ecopack, 8 990 e (12 790e - 2 000 e tax credit - 1 800 e Chevrolet premium); Lacetti 1.6 Ecopack, 14 050 e (18 050 e - 2 000 e tax credit - 2 000 e Chevrolet premium); Nubira SW 1.6 Ecopack, 14 750 e (18 750e - 2 000 e tax credit - 2 000e Chevrolet premium); Rezzo 1.6 Ecopack, 15 350 e (19 350 e - 2 000 e tax credit - 2 000 e Chevrolet premium).

Let us recall that GPL is the n° 1 alternate fuel in the world, with more than 10 million vehicles already equipped. It is the 3rd motor fuel used on our planet. In France, the GPL is one of the fuels supported by the government, which wishes to see it taking on an increasingly important part throughout the country. Indeed, thanks to its ecological virtues and its availability, today it appears to be the best operational alternative to limit the phenomena of pollution. It significantly decreases the polluting emissions and gas with greenhouse effect such as CO2 or NOx. Its combustion produces neither particles nor smoke, and it does not produce sulphur,
benzene, or lead.