The New Camaro - an email from Scott Settlemire

[Joe]

From Scott Settlemire via email:
-----------------------------------------

Good morning, Camaro Comrades and Firebird Friends.........

Sorry this has taken longer than usual to get this to you, but with the
Announcement on the 10th followed by the Woodward Dream cruise -- this is
the first opportunity to get this out.............

Some of my thoughts at the end of the day on August 10, 2006 -- shortly
after the 'official' announcement that the Camaro is indeed coming
back........



As I look over the past couple of years......

So much frustration......

So much I wanted to share.........

So much concern.......-- because I knew we’d lose a lot of people to
‘the dark side.’

So many ‘starts’ and ‘stops’

.................................

and so it goes............

Well -- the good news is that you now know I had a good reason to keep
saying “keep the faith” -- and to so very many of you, I say “Thank
you!” for believing.

To a few of you --- I hope you’ll trust me in the future. (so...what
WOULD you like served with the words I promised I’d make you
eat?????????)

(I’m only kidding.... I know you have a real passion for Camaro -- you
were upset by the hiatus, and this was your way, perhaps, of dealing
with it.....)


August 10, 2006 has been a great day.

Just as was January 9, 2006.

In some ways, it heals August 27, 2002.

We now know that our beloved Camaro has, indeed, been reborn. We know
we have something to look forward to in terms of ‘that great American
Thrill ride!”

I can’t begin to describe to you how it felt to look in the rear view
mirror of a 2002 Camaro B4C today as I was part of an escort for the
Camaro Concept -- just before announcing that we will, indeed, be
building a new Camaro in the near future. I know most of you can -- and
I hope a few more will someday be able to understand that. It is
certainly a day I -- as many of you -- have prayed for.

I must say up front: If you like what you see -- I can’t take credit
for it.

There are so many talented people involved in this new car. My dear
friend Cheryl Pilcher is the Product Manager at Chevy that will see the
rebirth of this legend. Cheryl is an engineer -- she worked on chassis
development of the 4th gen. She was our product manager that saw the
birth of the LS1 based Camaro. She worked on the C5 -- and then worked
on the C6. She’s a great lady and I could not be happier that our
Camaro is in GREAT hands! Most importantly, she asks me a lot of
questions...and that’s how we get your input into what will be the next
generation Camaro. Chris Houlihan is our chief engineer.......a Camaro
guy! And of course, Gene Stefanyshyn is the Vehicle Line Executive. I’m
so impressed with Gene. He’s a guy that will listen to ALL points of
view -- and then have the guts to make those hard, tough decisions. He
and his team will bring you a Camaro you can truly be proud to own.

There are so many more. Tom Peters as the lead designer -- we couldn’t
be luckier. I almost hate to start naming people -- because sure as
heck I’ll leave someone out. Suffice it to say that GM has put its
finest on this most important vehicle.

So now we really know it will be built -- and that there are tens of
thousands who are looking to put their hard earned money on the desk to
bring one home and put it in their garage.

Some will say “but why so long?”

To them, I say “we need to do it right -- we’re starting with a clean
sheet of paper.” Unlike others, we’re NOT going to take a hallowed
nameplate and stick it on an existing architecture that does not
deserve to have such a nameplate. (and please -- I’m not saying bad
things about OUR other architectures -- I’m just saying that each
architecture serves a purpose.....and we don’t want to compromise the
Camaro in any way)

So....yes, it may be a longer wait than usual -- but who knows --
things could move up. Or they could stay the same......just be assured
that we have very high expectations for our Camaro -- as do you!

So.......it’s time to celebrate!

Go out with friends. Drive your Camaros and Firebirds and enjoy the
heck outta them. Take good care of them. Know that GM DOES care about
you and your car. Yes, we’re a very large organization -- but we have
many people who love cars and trucks -- (think about this -- how do you
suppose we brought you the new Corvette??? It takes a team of many
people who are passionate about great cars to bring you vehicles like
the Corvette Z06!! )

Keep attending Camaro and Firebird enthusiast events.........and
support them. There’s reason to!

Now -- I’m gonna ask you for a couple of favors.........

>one -- keep it friendly. There are a lot of great sites out there.
Some have a great atmosphere -- there are others that allow terrible
insults to be exchanged. I must admit that I’ve ‘lost it’ a few times.
But we must keep in mind that the name “Camaro” means ‘friend, pal, or
comrade.’ Let’s be kind to each other. Let’s ‘think before we log on!”

>two -- most of you wear safety belts. (you didn’t seriously think I’d
forget to work this into this thread, did you???) For those of you who
don’t -- please-- start using them -- and that includes each and every
person in the vehicle with you at ALL times. We want you around so that
we can watch you enjoy your new Camaro.

>three -- I hope you’ll forgive me for not saying more about the future
plans for Camaro in the past. But understand that I truly love what I
do. I could not talk freely -- and rightfully so. But I hope that when
I tell you to ‘have faith’ the next time, you’ll know you can take that
to the bank. (or write it in the family Bible!)

In closing -- I thank each and every one of you for your passion and
love for the Camaro and Firebird. I know it’s been a rough road. (if
you think it was bad for YOU...you have no idea...........) I hope
you’re as pumped as I am right now. I hope that today made some of the
pain go away. I hope that I’ll get to meet many more of you. (and I
want to see at LEAST 1,000 Camaros and Firebirds at the National
CorvetteMuseum on Sept 14 thru 16 -- more info. at
www.corvettemuseum.com