Ok, driving into work this morning in the misty rain and fog, I noticed a car in the distance that had the similar stance and taillights as an C7. Got a little closer and realized it was a Camaro... they pinched the taillights down, but they resemble the C7 from a distance very closely. My immediate thoughts were maaaaaaybe they’re trying to play some psychological tricks on the masses to get you steered towards a Camaro because the C8 will be a radical difference, and some Corvette purist won’t be able to handle that.

It’s a little bit of a stretch to imagine that theory, however, it could be some truth there based on the design they’ve been pushing toward with the newer Camaros. Think about this... C7 got lit up for the taillights being so different than the previous generations, imagine the talks surrounding a rear engine (possibly not a pushrod motor) aggressive new bold design. They need the Camaro to fill a niche where the new Corvette may leave some purists behind. Just a random on my way into work thought this morning... ok, flame away. Ha!

 

Been discussed. I am in the keep the FE and bring in a new ME (wishful) camp. But I think you are more right than wrong.

 

I just think it’s interesting that on a quick glimpse of the back of a Camaro the snapshot in your head says Corvette... which in my opinion is GM gearing folks towards that car to ease the pain of their bold new design plans for the mid engine car if/when if comes along. Will be interesting to see how it plays out and what the final product looks like.

 

Frankly, I have always thought of the Camaro as the poor man’s Corvette. Owned a 71 Camaro w taillights that mimiced the C3 Shark.

 

GM has been sharing body parts between the Corvette and Camaro for years. The early chrome bumper C3s basically had the same tail lights as the chrome bumper Camaros. We just didn't have the internet back then to read all the complaints.

I know many people think the C7 Corvette tail lights look(ed) like the 5th generation Camaro tail lights back in 2014, but GM confirmed that the C7 design tail lights came before the Camaro. It's because the C7 production was delayed due to the bankruptcy reorganization, that many think the Corvette copied the Camaro.

Either way, I've grown to like the tail lights on my C7Z with their functional vent design and I hope the C8 continues the theme with their more angular look. I guess from a nostalgia perspective, it would have been nice if they could have incorporated round tail lights, similar to the Ford GT or Ferrari 458 Italia tail lights, however GM chose a different direction.

 

Maybe the next generation of Camaro gets built on the C7 platform instead of Alpha 2. I know, 2 seats vs. 4. But I'd buy one.

 

I think the C7 is the best looking Corvette to date, so the Camaro closely resembling that isn’t a bad thing for me. I’ve got 2 friends with ZL1 Camaros, and they’re both very nice cars. 1 a 1LE stick car, and the other a low wing A10 car. I’d drive either one and be proud.

 

I've long thought it was logical for the Camaro to evolve more closely to what the FE Corvette was in the age of an ME-only Corvette.

 

Makes sense to me...

 

Maybe the plan is to have the Camaro replace the Corvette for Chevy and the C8 become its own brand to give it more prestige. ???

 

Doubt it. I think we're looking at the status quo with one Corvette platform under the Chevrolet umbrella, as it has been for nearly 66 years. GM eliminated Hummer, Oldsmobile, Pontiac, and Saturn over the last several years, and I don't think they're about to undertake another stand-alone brand at this point in time with the automotive paradigm changing dramatically. They're also still fighting to establish an identity for the Buick and Cadillac brands.

 

It would be cost prohibitive to create a new brand today, especially for just a ME sports car. The Corvette has been a Chevy since 1953, and GM certainly recognizes what it means to the bow tie brand... Almost as much as the Silverado! ��

If GM wanted to do some rebranding, putting all of their trucks under one brand might bring their PU market share right up there with Ford.

 

As I stated earlier, I don’t think they’re trying to rebrand or find an elevated status regarding their cash cow car... I just think in some ways they know their future, and plan to ease into a world with the ME competition that will shock their loyalist and pure diehard Corvette RWD/FE Corvette brand. At the end of the day, I believe it’ll be a Chevrolet Corvette and not anything less.

 

Other high end brands have both FE and ME cars for sale in their line up......why can't GM do that? Camaro is a pony car and has in my opinion a different role to play in the scheme of things....
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GM is doing that. Chevrolet is the brand, not Corvette. Just as Porsche is the brand with a number of SAVs and cars under their umbrella.

GM could easily change the direction of the Camaro has they have done many times, and morph it into something closer to what the FE Corvette is now. I think the term "pony car" has become rather meaningless, and was really only relevant in the late 60's early 70's.

Was the 4th gen Camaro a "pony car?"

 

What role do you think the Camaro plays? Honest question, not sarcasm. Do you not believe they’ve (GM) sent a message that their “pony” car is a track monster that’s to be taken seriously? It’s nipping at Corvettes heels isn’t it?

 

A 750HP LT5 powered 2020 ZL1 will be a very wicked ride. The top tier ZL1 Camaros handle exceptionally well and are really nice rides. These are not what I would consider the "poor mans" Corvette.

 

They will. The C8 will be ME, the Camaro will be FE.

How many other brands sell a ME and FE of the same MODEL?

 

Damn, I'd love to get my hands on an FE 911.

 

Is there a reason you would rather have the Camaro on the C7 platform instead of the Alpha 2?