The crowds around the stage were 20-deep in every direction. Vintage Trans Am racing was on the big screen and GM CEO Rick Wagoner was standing off to the side looking giddy to see the car's reception. And he's definitely not the giddy type. There wasn't a more anticipated press conference at the show and GM was prepared to milk it for all it was worth.

From the time ESPN motorsports announcer Jack Arute kicked off the festivities to the moment Bob Lutz drove the Camaro concept onto the stage, it was a Camaro lovefest from beginning to end. It started with a parade of the most legendary first-generation Camaros GM could assemble, from Mark Donahue's legendary Sunoco racecar to an original and very rare 1969 ZL-1 (Chevy made just 69 of them). And just to assure everybody that the new concept was in good hands, the last Camaro down the line was a '69 Super Sport owned by GM Vice President of Design Ed Welburn.

A couple interviews with Roger Penske and former Chevrolet general manager Jim Perkins later and the crowd was sufficiently soaked in the aura of GM's long since discontinued pony car. Jack Arute finally gave the signal to Bob Lutz who fired up the concept from a distant stage and drove the car in amid cheers and applause. With over 250 local Camaro club members in the crowd, the heightened amount of enthusiasm wasn't surprising.

But they had good reason to be excited. The new concept is more than just a modern version of the 1969 Camaro. It has very different proportions than the original. Although both are the same length, the concept car sits on a 2-inch-longer wheelbase and measures over 5 inches wider than the original. It's also slightly taller than a '69, despite its low roofline. No doubt some of that extra height comes from the 21-inch front wheels and tires and 22-inch rear meats.

Many of the shapes in the interior would be familiar to owners of classic Camaros. From the two big gauges behind the steering wheel to the auxiliary dials mounted down low on the console, there's plenty of heritage packed into its cabin.

GM's designers claim to have had more in mind than just the '69 Camaro when they drew the concept. They looked to the current Corvette for some inspiration as well as the angular YF-22 fighter jet. Their goal was to make the Camaro appeal to current fans while giving it a shape that would attract younger enthusiasts just the same.

Part of that appeal comes from a drivetrain that's more than just a big engine hooked to a four-speed. The Camaro's all-aluminum 6.0-liter V8, which is backed by a six-speed manual, not only makes 400 horsepower, its Active Fuel Management system can shut down cylinders for better mileage on the highway. And unlike every other Camaro before it, this concept features an independent rear suspension for superior handling dynamics.

 

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