General Motors Co. plans to build the next-generation Chevrolet Camaro on its new rear-drive Alpha platform that also will carry Cadillac’s next CTS and upcoming ATS models, Motor Trend says. The current Camaro uses GM’s Zeta architecture, and the CTS is underpinned by a variant of the Sigma platform.
Other media reports suggest that merging the Sigma/Zeta cars onto the Alpha platform will result in a flexible wheelbase structure for the latter. The ATS and Camaro are expected to use a shorter wheelbase compared to the CTS.
The new cars, all due in the next three to four years, are expected to be slightly smaller and lighter than the current Camaro and CTS. Leftlane News says the next Camaro’s overall length may be as much as a foot shorter than that of the 2010 pony car. The current V-8 likely will be downsized too, shifting to a boosted direct-injection V-6.
The Alpha-based CTS may be limited to a sedan body style. But the ATS, which will go head-to-head against the BMW 3 Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class, will pick up the slack with sedan, coupe, wagon and convertible variants planned.