The Chevrolet Camaro is slated to return to the market after only a short departure, but it’s coming as the Camaro EV SUV, which isn’t what fans want.
Chevrolet just announced they’re bringing back the Camaro name, but not how you’d expect. The new Camaro will be an electric SUV with performance versions like the SS and ZL1. This change could be met with serious displeasure by many who want the Camaro to remain a muscle car and not be another SUV.
Don’t we have enough SUVs?
Almost every automaker has leaned so hard into SUVs that it’s hard to find cars to drive unless you turn to the used car market. The lineup of vehicles from many brands now spans from subcompact to full-size SUVs with everything in between. Some brands offer performance-based models while others have leaned heavily into family hauling and off-roading. Regardless, the market is saturated with SUVs. That’s fine for the most part, but it seems that keeping a few cars around makes a lot of sense and could be much better for some brands than turning everything into a lifted, bulbous, utility vehicle.
Ford did it; why not Chevy?
Ford has been successful with the electric SUV that wears the Mustang name. The Mustang Mach-E is an admirable electric SUV that brings performance and fun to an otherwise mundane market. With several variants that offer impressive power levels, the Mach-E has become a proven winner in the market. There’s no reason Chevy can’t do the same with the Camaro name, except for the fact that GM killed the Camaro at the end of 2024. The Ford Mustang rumbles on and has several interesting variants like the Dark Horse, which means that drivers have options and can still enjoy a V8-powered pony car.
Chevrolet did the Camaro dirty
The upcoming Camaro EV SUV isn’t the only issue with reviving the name this way. Of course, it would be wonderful to see a Camaro with a strong V8 under the hood to challenge the Mustang, but that doesn’t seem to be in the works. When Chevy announced the end of the Camaro, there wasn’t any fanfare or special models, just an end. Dodge finished off the gas-powered Charger and Challenger with Last Call models and then brought back the Charger in an EV with strong muscle car styling and impressive new badging that makes it desirable as a performance EV. What did Chevy do for the Camaro? Absolutely nothing.
What will the new Camaro EV SUV look like?
This new electric Chevy SUV should slot below the Blazer EV in the lineup, offering a smaller and sportier build while wearing a sporty front end that resembles the Blazer. That makes sense since the latest version of the Blazer wears a front fascia inspired by the Camaro.
There should be several recognizable trims, such as LT and RS, and there might be higher trims like SS and ZL1 as the SUV progresses. Upon initial release, this new SUV is expected to have a single-motor RWD setup for the LT and RS models, which will produce between 241 and 365 horsepower, or an optional dual-motor AWD configuration, which should have 300 horsepower and 355 Ib-ft of torque.
Insane output could change some minds
The new Camaro EV SUV could also have an SS trim that mirrors the Blazer EV with 615 horsepower and 650 Ib-ft of torque, while the ZL1 might reach as high as 1,000 horsepower, using the tri-motor setup from the GMC Hummer EV. These high-performance variants aren’t expected to appear until later in 2027, while the lower trims could appear as early as 2026.
Is the public to blame for this debacle
Over the past few years, the demand for two-door cars has diminished to be nearly nonexistent. The Camaro didn’t go out to a world of praise and fanfare because it was being deleted due to poor sales over the past few years. The Ford Mustang, which is the only remaining two-door American muscle car, has seen its worst sales in the car’s history recently. Despite the poor sales of the gas-powered muscle car, the Mustang Mach-E has achieved sales success. It’s not difficult to understand why Chevy would want to mirror Ford’s transition, but it might be a little late for such a change.
Should Chevy offer gas and electric Camaros?
Any fan of the Camaro will say that Chevy should do the same as Ford and offer both vehicle types wearing the name, but the bean counters don’t support it. Still, a new Camaro could utilize the new V8 engine technology that’s been used in the C8 Corvette, but it would be in the front of the car for the Camaro, allowing drivers to have the choice between a mid-engine and front-engine Chevy sports car.
Will this change work?
As with anything, the proof will be in the sales. Will the new Chevy Camaro EV SUV challenge the Ford Mustang Mach-E in a market in which Ford has already gained a strong foothold? Why has GM seemed so far behind Ford in the EV market? The new Camaro is an electric SUV, and that makes many fans hate it before it ever hits the market; Chevy better find a way to win them back, or it will be a quick death for this electric performance SUV.
