A Future Chevrolet Camaro? There’s a lot of rumors about the 2023 Chevrolet Camaro being the last one… but maybe not.
Nathan and The Fast Lane Car team are here to answer your (reasonable) questions. Interesting and/or entertaining emails will be posted to this column. If it’s relevant in the automotive universe, there’s a chance we may know something about it. The author’s email address and full name will be omitted – leaving your first name, initials or nickname, your preference.
In this week’s Ask Nathan:
- Will there be a next generation Chevrolet Camaro?
- More information on the Ford Adventure
- Greasy engine issues
(Photo: General Motors)
Q: Via Twitter (NathanAdlen@Twitter) Thanks for answering my last question! Nathan what’s gonna happen after 2023 with the Camaro?
No replacement eh?
Percival 10:55
A: Crazy to think that the Chevrolet Camaro is going away.
Or is it?
Remember, General Motors has yet to officially confirm that there will be no replacement for the Chevrolet Camaro after 2023. The Camaro has taken a hiatus before, and this could be something similar. Most people agree that it would be foolish for GM to kill the name altogether.
There are two popular rumors out there regarding a future Chevrolet Camaro:
- It goes away forever. The Ford Mustang and, to a lesser extent, the Dodge Challenger will go on without a competitor. We will lose out on a spectacular performer that was damn good to drive in nearly every configuration. Unfortunately, it was saddled with foolish design and product planning. Depressing.
- It comes back as a 7th generation on an all-new platform with a mix of electric powertrains. GM is moving to all-electric platforms. We know this. A platform, currently known by some as BEV3 may be GM’s near-future electric platform that could have provisions for a sports car-like rear drive architecture. Cheaper, manly Tesla fight – perhaps?
- A near-future next generation Chevrolet Camaro with a proper gas engine from the new Corvette. Yep, some say the 6.2-liter LT2 V8 will get its chance to have a manual transmission companion in the next generation 2024 Chevrolet ZL1… which is truly wishful thinking, but a GM insider was overheard saying the new LT2 has been setup for a conventional layout – if needed. Hope springs eternal.
Many will regret it if the Camaro disappears altogether. Right now, GM needs to keep the fans happy. Even if it’s not a big seller, having the everyman pony/muscle car that burns rubber affordably is good for PR.
We’ll keep an eye on this story – promise.
N
The next question/statement comes from a confused fan who wants more information about the smaller, crossover-based Ford Adventure – or whatever Ford is going to name it.
Q: Nathan, Nathan, Nathan ADLEN!
What is this Ford Baby Bronco or Ford Adventure or Ford Scout? Why are there so many names and what’s the big deal?
Isn’t it just a gussied up Ford Escape? I don’t understand why you and the rest of the journalists out there are so enthusiastic about it.
Tell me Nathan, why should I be interested in something like this? Is there anything you know that I don’t? Why is it as almost popular as the Ford Bronco?
Beaker of Delaware
A: Ah! The mysterious Ford off-road crossover.
First of all, it’s exciting for me as I like crossovers that can handle a bit of off-road adventure. To me, it’s ideal for many consumers who can’t stomach the idea of beating up their daily driver doing hardcore off-road trials on the weekend. They want something that can handle daily driving while having that spark of truly being able to get away when needed.
Sure, a Wrangler can do that – but it’s not ideal for everyone, it’s not that efficient and it’s too truck-like for many consumers. The upcoming Ford Bronco will be somewhat like that too. That’s why I feel many consumers will be interested in this other offering from Ford.
Here’s what we know and what is probably going to be part of this vehicle:
It is based on an augmented version of the 2020 Ford Escape. That is to say, it will have similar hardpoints, components and capacities. It will have many different dimensions, components and capabilities.
Engines:
We expect to see the 1.5-liter EcoBoost inline-three that makes 180 horsepower and 177 lbs-feet of torque. The 250 hp EcoBoost 2.0-liter that makes 275 lb-ft of torque looks likely too. There’s a possibility that a regular and hybrid version (like the upcoming 2020 Ford Escape) could be part of the package too. An 8-speed transmission for the EcoBoost engines seems likely. A CVT for the hybrid versions looks logical too.
Suspension:
This is one of the areas we expect forward well seriously augment this new crossover. We suspect a ride height increase to rival some of the competitors. Compared to the jeep compass, which we suspect it will compete with, it should have around 8-10 inches of ground clearance. There should be underbody cladding, protecting components as well. The most off-road capable version may have aggressive off-road-ready shocks and springs.
Capability:
Judging by the off-road trails we have witnessed Ford throughout this vehicle, it’s a pretty good assumption that it will be comparable to the Subaru Forester, Jeep Compass Trailhawk and, perhaps the Range Rover Evoke.
Real information is slow in coming. Fortunately, we’re not too far away from several auto shows. We suspect there will be a few major debuts coming soon.
Stay tuned!
N
The last question comes from a fan who wants a cleaner engine bay.
Q: (Via Twitter@Nathanadlen)
Hi. How do I clean my nasty engine area?
Never done it before. Do I just get a bunch of cans of engine cleaner? Sprain and let it drip off? Is there a better way?
Thank you Nathan!
Do I just get a bunch of cans of engine cleaner? Sprain and let it drip off? Is there a better way?
Ry8thi
A: Hi!
It’s a fairly simple process, and it can be a good idea for people who want to see if there are any faults or leaks under the hood. Some of the store-bought degreasers are quite good. Read the directions and recommendations first – it will help.
I highly recommend that you carefully mask off all electrical connections. Disconnect your negative terminal from your battery and make sure that it is protected.
Here are the basics:
- Make sure you are in a dry environment where water can evaporate quickly. Doing this on a cold or rainy day could be problematic .
- Let a degreaser, (you can use one from a car wash or a store-bought one), sit for a few minutes after it’s been applied. Use a scrubber on the figure nasty or areas.
- If it’s really bad, repeat the process.
- Hose the area off, carefully avoiding any openings and intakes.
- Once everything is dry, you can reconnect your battery (make absolutely sure the terminals are dry first) and you should be good.
Cheers!
N
I had the most amazing time driving this car!
From day one, The Fast Lane Car has made it our policy to answer as many questions and comments as we can. We get thousands of emails and comments and feel that, as part of a tight-knit automotive community, having an open dialogue with you keeps things fresh and exciting.Got a question for Nathan? Drop him a line at: asknathan@tflcar.com.
