GM Touts New Camaro's MPGs. Huh?
Yesterday's autoblogosphere was all abuzz with the Camaro reveal. We meant to cover it, we really did. And we will, with the same sense of urgency GM's shown in this interminable ponycar hypefest. Is it us, or are you, our Best and Brightest sharing a sense of ennui with a car that STILL won't be available until NEXT SPRING? Anyway, from my POV, the story here is that GM is touting the new Camaro's fuel economy. "We'll be promoting the fuel economy story very much," Ed Peper, vice president of Chevrolet, told Automotive News [sub]. "We are 2 or 3 mpg ahead of the competition." Right. So someone contemplating a Mustang, Challenger or Camaro will make their final choice based on fuel economy. Sure, I believe that. "Peper said the V-6 version will get an estimated 26 mpg, while the V-8 version will get an estimated 23 mpg. The V-6 will get 304 hp, while the V-8 will get 422 hp. 'And we are still working on it,' Peper said. He also hinted that a turbo 4-cylinder version could be in the works." So that's that then, yes? We're done here? "GM will disclose a price once the vehicle is closer to production, but Peper said the Camaro will be the 'best value in the sports car segment.'" As for volumes, Camaro product manager Cheryl Pilcher promised "we will build as many as we can sell." Or more!
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I am amazed by the mpg figures quoted. If a vehicle received similar reccommendations here in the UK it would bomb. At current fuel costs this equates to some 18 gb pence a mile or 36 cents. A round trip from my home to London whic a year ago cost me £60 GBP would now cost £110 GBP, the equivalent of 220 dollars to travel 620 mile. Thes vehicles are a deffinate no no for the UK market
The fact that GM generates the most buzz about niche cars that don't exist yet is a bad sign for the company. The whole thing smacks of the Attention Deficit Disorder that is commonly critiqued here. By the time that it arrives, we'll all be bored of it. The general public won't even know that they're supposed to pay attention to it. If they actually sell any, they'll be taking sales away from Ford and Chrysler, instead of from the transplants who pose the greatest threat to their survival. Ironically, this car would prove to the American consumer once again that Detroit is only capable of building gas guzzling trucks and V8 coupes, and is not their place to shop for practical, useful efficient transportation. That damage having been done, GM corporate will move on to the next flavor of the month, flogging the still non-existent Volt or whatever they have dreamed up whil forgetting all about the car that actually exists. Is it really any wonder that these guys don't make any money?
The Camaro will most certainly be a great sports car value once the hype is over and dealers lay on the incentives. What's the resale value on a GTO these days? I don't see the problem with GM's propaganda machine for touting the base Camaro's fuel economy. BMW does the same thing, even though you would think someone who can afford a BMW can afford bad gas mileage.
Areitu, Do you have an example? I heard a Bimmer ad today. It was touting "average" not highway.