2009 Camaro is a Go

August 11 - It looks like the Mustang will have another competitor - again. Among forty company 'treasures' that GM will be showing at this year's Woodward Dream Cruise, one will be a special car of tomorrow - well, maybe next year or the year after that.

There is no doubt that the spectacular Camaro Concept captured the hearts and minds of enthusiasts across the nation, following its debut at the Detroit Auto Show in January.

GM Chairman and CEO , Rick Wagoner, announced yesterday in Traverse City, MI, that the company has green-lighted the concept for production. It will likely appear as a 2009 model year car. Pricing was not announced.

The all-new Camaro will begin with early production versions at the end of 2008 and will go on sale in the first quarter of 2009. "The new Camaro will be almost identical to the concept, a thoroughly modern interpretation of the 1969 model, considered by many to be the best design of the car's first generation," said Ed Welburn, GM's global vice president of design, who owns a 1969 Camaro SS.

The front-engine, rear-wheel-drive sport coupe will feature an independent rear suspension, and will be offered in a variety of models with the choice of manual and automatic transmissions and V-6 and V-8 engines.

Chevrolet General Manager Ed Peper said the new Camaro will appeal to both men and women, and unite customers with fond memories of previous Camaros with those who first experienced a Camaro when the concept was unveiled in January.

"We intend to make the all-new Camaro relevant to younger buyers while retaining its appeal to current fans," said Peper. "The beauty of the best Camaros is that they have always been beautiful to look at with performance that rivals expensive European GTs. Yet they were practical enough to drive every day and priced within the reach of many new-car buyers."

In fact, the Camaro Concept design team embodies the universal appeal that Chevy envisions for the car: The core team reporting to the lead designer ranges in age from 27-35 and came from all over the world, yet they all had similar experiences growing up with a love for the Camaro and American performance cars.

Their concept redefines the Camaro for both existing and new generations of fans in a contemporary way with responsive performance and modern technology.