GM Considers Badging a Camaro-Like Mach-E Rival, While Ford Talks About Charger-Like Mustang
Ford continues to shake up the muscle car segment. Internal discussions at Ford entail the possibility of a four-door Mustang pony car, similar to what Dodge has done with the Charger. Meanwhile, there’s speculation from cross-town rival General Motors that a Camaro-badged electric crossover is in the offing. Motor Trend speculated this possibility this week with renderings of what such a vehicle might look like.
This all started with the Mustang Mach-E when Ford shocked everyone by dropping the Mustang badge on their four-door, all-wheel drive small all-electric crossover. Rather than call it inspired by Mustang as they originally planned, they went all-in and called it the Mustang Mach-E with the pony badge right on the grille. A lot has been written about this, and I continue to be one of the biggest voices of dissent regarding this idea, but the dye is cast it appears on this, despite protests, petitions and anger from the Mustang community.
So, now will General Motors follow the same path and create such an electric crossover and call it the Camaro?
Sale of the Camaro have been waning over the last several years and Camaro now trails both segment-leading Mustang and Challenger within this niche segment. GM hasn’t discussed extending the Camaro beyond the 2023 model year. Unlike at Ford, where executives have committed to the Mustang in the future as a pony car. In fact, the Mustang, will be the last true car in Ford’s stable.
Meanwhile, the writing appears to be on the wall at GM and that the Camaro will cease to exist (as we know it). So, the question remains, will GM keep the name alive by dropping the name on an electrified crossover.
What would a Camaro SUV look like?
GM already has the Chevy Blazer which has similarities to the Camaro anyway. Some have disliked the look of the Blazer and felt it strayed too far from the history of that nameplate. Personally, I think the Blazer is one of the best-looking small crossovers on the road.
A muscley coupe-like roofline would be easy to do, as the Blazer already has a similar look. So it’s not unbelievable to think that GM would try to create a Mach-E rival and capitalize on the name of the Camaro. Since Ford kicked down that door, stirred up controversy and laid the path for this, it would make sense for GM to follow down that same path. Motor Trend speculates the name might be the Camaro E/28, capitalizing the Z-28 name.
This would surely send many into fits, but might actually work, and would certainly keep the Camaro name alive.
Will Ford create a four-door Mustang?
I’ve heard from people inside the Blue Oval and with inside knowledge that there’s talk about a four-door Mustang. Not the Mach-E, but a Dodge Charger-like four-door Mustang. This is nothing more than speculative at this point, but it’s being discussed under the guise of “Dodge did it successfully with the Challenger.”
It would seem anything and everything is in play when it comes to Mustang nowadays. The badge already sits on a four-door electric crossover, so why not create an entire family of Mustangs? I don’t think this idea is that unrealistic. I don’t want this to happen myself and feel that it will be throwing more salt into the wounds of the Mustang loyalists. But at this point, it could happen. I wonder if it’d be called the Mustang or maybe get some name like the Stallion?
Ford Mustang enthusiasts can at least take peace in knowing that Mustang (in some capacity) is part of the company’s future plans. The same thing can’t be said across town for the Camaro (barring the creation of a Camaro crossover).
See you in my latest story discussing the 2003 Ford Mustang Cobra as perhaps the greatest Mustang ever. Do you agree?
Jimmy Dinsmore has been an automotive journalist for more than a decade and been a writer since the high school. His Driver’s Side column features new car reviews and runs in several newspapers throughout the country. In addition to being a nationally syndicated automotive columnist, Jimmy has been published in a compilation book about children growing up with disabilities, where he shared his own very personal experience. He is also co-author of the book “Mustang by Design” and “Ford Trucks: A Unique Look at the Technical History of America’s Most Popular Truck”. Also, Jimmy works in the social media marketing world for a Canadian automotive training aid manufacturing company. Follow Jimmy on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. Find most of Jimmy's stories at Torque News Ford and Torque News Ford Mustang. Search Torque News Ford daily Mustang, F-150 and other Ford news stories from our expert automotive reporters.
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