Chevy reassessing trim, build options on Camaro

DETROIT -- General Motors is re-assessing some trim and build options for the Chevrolet Camaro in an attempt to increase sales and better compete against the Ford Mustang and Dodge Challenger, according to product chief Mark Reuss.

The company, according to Reuss, sees opportunities to better position the muscle car's price points at the base and V-8 levels.

"I think we've got opportunities at the very low end of the Camaro range and some remix of some of the V-8 options on it so we don't force people to buy all the options with a V-8, just to get a V-8," Reuss told reporters following a media at the company's world headquarters here to unveil a new Camaro ZL1 race car for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series.

Reuss, executive vice president of global product development, purchasing and supply chain, declined to comment on specifics or timing of the potential changes. A Chevrolet spokesman confirmed the brand is "exploring a bunch of opportunities" to expand the vehicle's range, but also declined to comment on specifics.

"The Mustang and some of the cars in the segment will have a lower base price and that's an opportunity for us probably," Reuss said.

The 2017 and 2018 Camaro start at $26,900 with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbocharged engine. Opting for a 3.6-liter V-6 bumps up the price $1,495 to $28,395. That compares to the 2017 Mustang starting at $26,085 with a 3.7-liter V-6 engine and the 2017 Challenger with a base price of $28,090 for a 3.6-liter V-6. All prices include shipping.

A Camaro equipped with a V-8 engine starts at about $38,000 at the SS trim level, while the Mustang GT and Challenger R/T V-8 models start at about $34,100.

Camaro sales in the U.S. were down 2.5 percent through July to 41,280, according to the Automotive News Data Center. That compares to a 30 percent drop to 50,814 vehicles for the Mustang and 2.6 percent increase for the Challenger to 41,243.

The Camaro racer for NASCAR is expected to begin racing next year. It replaces the Chevrolet SS, which the company has announced will be discontinued as it ends vehicle manufacturing in Australia.