GM Boss Knows What He Wants From A Future Chevrolet Camaro

Is It Time For A Camaro Comeback?

The very last sixth-generation Chevrolet Camaro rolled off the production line back in January 2024, and although it was an aging car with some flaws, it was also one of the best to drive in its segment. General Motors hasn’t totally discounted the idea of a Camaro comeback at some stage, and GM President Mark Reuss has now given his thoughts on what such a return would require. Speaking with GM Authority, Reuss said that a new Camaro would need to offer a little of everything to appeal to a market base that doesn’t value muscle cars as much as it once did.

“I think that formula of beauty, and a little bit of functionality and fun, all of that is important,” said Reuss. “If we were getting back into Camaro, that piece of it is really important.”

Camaro May Not Mean What It Once Did

Those who groaned reading the above know where comments like those from senior auto executives usually lead: a place where a singular focus on performance cannot live. Reuss reportedly mentioned GM’s major rival, Ford, recognizing that the Mustang Mach-E all-electric crossover has often outsold the traditional gas-powered muscle car. The idea of a Camaro SUV has been rumored to be under consideration, and there have been hints that such a thing may also be all-electric, but in the current market, which is more enamored by hybrids than EVs, that may be risky. That said, an electric Camaro would take some time to develop, and when it’s ready, the buying public’s appetite for an EV may have grown. Reuss has previously indicated that the Camaro nameplate could find itself on a four-door of some description, so a sedan cannot be ruled out entirely, but the smart money says a crossover would be a bigger seller.

Anything Could Happen

It’s unclear what direction Chevy will ultimately take. In its last few years on the market, the Camaro received only mild updates while the Dodge Challenger was getting more and more powerful variants and numerous special editions, and only the Mustang challenged the HEMI recipe. Dodge did this as a glorious farewell to the V8 as it prepared to go all-electric in the segment (a decision that has since been reversed), while Ford chose to introduce the Mustang Mach-E while retaining the regular coupe, introducing a new S650 generation.

GM and Stellantis appeared to be under the impression that EV demand would grow at a rapid rate. That’s proven to be a miscalculation, and with EV incentives expiring soon, this is unlikely to change. Our best bet? If the Camaro returns someday – and it may well not – it probably won’t be a coupe, and it probably will be a hybrid. But if it sticks to Reuss’s formula of beauty, function, and fun, that may not be such a bad thing.