It should come as no surprise that with all of the new regulations being put into place, a lot of automakers are going to be forced to adopt electric or hybrid platforms for almost every popular nameplate on the market, performance cars included. This has raised a lot of speculation about the future of production pony cars, sports cars, muscle cars, and everything else in between. So where exactly does that leave a popular marque like the Chevy Camaro? Well, speculation has already run wild that it could be the new EV sedan that Chevy is working on, but when you’ll see it at your local Chevy EV dealer is anyone’s guess.
However, what we do know is that with so many top names in the industry switching from internal combustion engines to all-electric motors, it raises a very obvious question for performance enthusiasts who are fans of the Chevy brand: how interested are you in an all-electric Camaro? More importantly, would you buy one over the current ICE offerings? Nothing is set in stone just yet, but it’s always a fascinating discussion to look at the potential and possibilities when it comes to how well automakers will be reading the market when their new EV line-ups of popular marques are unveiled.
Chevy’s Next Generation of EVs
Here at CarLifeNation, we’ve already talked about how a new Camaro EV is likely just around the corner. GM has practically all but confirmed it by committing to moving all their popular vehicles over to the electric platform within the next 15 years. How well that will work out is completely up in the air, and whether ICE options will still be part of that initiative as an affordable alternative is also anyone’s guess. But we’re not really here to talk about the entire infrastructural overhaul to accommodate EVs. We’re here to talk about the Chevy Camaro.
With the future of ICE platforms seemingly going the way of the dodo, this would mean that, if the reports are true, the Chevy Camaro will be built onto the Ultium EV platform. This is the same platform shared by other GM electric vehicles, including the Silverado EV, the Bolt EV, and the Bolt EUV. It’s basically the modular infrastructure for the upcoming EVs coming out of the various GM brands.
The reason most reports indicate that the Chevy Camaro could be going electric as soon as the 2024 model year is because one of the vehicles used to promote the Ultium EV platform was a sedan. Now clearly, this would lead to most people retorting, “But the Camaro has always been a coupe/roadster, not a sedan!” and that’s true. If the new four-door EV is a sedan and not a crossover or an SUV, then it could just as well end up being an all-new nameplate or an EV Malibu, but most people don’t think this is the case.
Most suspect that given the profile is almost identical to a Camaro, just in sedan format, that it could be a revamped Camaro in a family-oriented role, not unlike what Ford did with the Mustang Mach-E. Regardless of what people think of Ford’s decision, the Mach-E still fulfills the role of being a sports-oriented family vehicle. Chevy could be gunning for the exact same segment, just with a design that’s closer to the Camaro’s roots by keeping it a sedan rather than turning it into a full-fledged SUV. Besides, the Bolt EUV already fulfills the role of being a subcompact SUV and it makes no sense to turn the Camaro into one as well.
Could You Live With a Four-Door Camaro?
If the reports about the sedan being a Camaro EV are true, how comfortable are you with Chevy’s popular pony car being turned into a four-door sedan? It’s not an uncommon thing for muscle cars to get the family treatment. Let’s not forget that Dodge converted the formidable powerhouse that is the Charger into a four-door muscle car. It has still managed to sell well and looks the part of a beefy modern-day classic. The Charger also still fits the role of being both visually intimidating and structurally accommodating for multiple passengers.
Having a Chevy Camaro EV slap on two extra doors in the rear, fill out the second row of seats with some extra legroom, and give passengers additional cargo capacity via both an eTrunk and a traditional trunk could make for a very formidable addition in that rare cross-section of passenger-oriented performance sedans. It seems like it could end up being quite the catch, too, given that, once again, vehicles like the Charger, BMW 350i, and WRX have captured quite the following over the years for their performance-oriented design combined with four-door cabin comfort. Could the Camaro achieve the same?
It might be a tall order, but being able to convert the traditional coupe or convertible into a four-door sedan could work out in the long run. So long as it still maintains the curves and the sleek profile of the current generation Camaro but with the comfort and interior cabin volume of a family sedan, it would be that perfect mix of bold sportiness that meets economic sensibilities.
Would a Camaro With No V8 Appeal to You?
Could you live with a Camaro that didn’t have a V8 option? Right now, you can get the Camaro in four different powertrains, ranging from the entry-level 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder all the way up to a supercharged 6.2-liter LT4 V8. In between, you have a 3.6-liter V6 and a 6.2-liter LT1 V8. These options have served the Camaro well over the years, but if it does get the EV treatment, it means all the growl and grumble of the V8 and its ICE companions go away…or do they?
Some manufacturers have been opting to substitute the lack of noise from EVs with emulated engine sounds through speakers. It might seem cheesy, but it does help give some kind of audible feedback on how the vehicle is accelerating and attempt to give drivers some audible cues on how they should expect the vehicle to handle based on the rate of velocity. Some people are completely fine with this; others hate it.
There’s also the very important aspect of performance. As much as gearheads, speed junkies, and tuner enthusiasts hate to admit it, stock ICE power plants just can’t compete with many EVs in terms of raw off-the-line performance. Tesla continues to dominate many quarter-mile drag races against some of the beefiest muscle cars in the tuner scene. This isn’t to say that a Camaro EV sedan could end up in the same league, but EVs have shown that due to not having to put in the same workload as an ICE to generate torque, they’re much more efficient at instantly-accessible power with frighteningly fast acceleration. The question is, would you be okay with losing the traditionalism of a supercharged V8 to embrace the power of a battery-powered electric motor?
Would You Consider a Chevy Camaro EV?
The main question to start asking now is if Chevy does come out with a Camaro EV, would you be willing to buy one? What would be the instant compelling feature or selling point to get you to a Chevy EV dealer to grab a Camaro EV off the lot? Likewise, what’s the biggest deterrent that would prevent you from stepping onto the hype train for a Camaro EV? Would it be price or features? Handling or performance? Maintenance or lack of tuning?
The debate over ICE versus EVs is a never-ending one, but many automakers are going forward with converting some of their most popular and beloved brands into all-electric outings. Some of them have sparked tons of interest, while others have kind of fallen out of the spotlight. When it comes to the sports-sedan, like the rumored Camaro EV, where do you find yourself?
