The 2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS is undoubtedly one fine piece of machinery, especially considering it delivers 426 ponies for under $35,000. But it does have its flaws--weight being a primary one. Things may change for the next-gen car, though, as a report out today has GM putting the Camaro along with the Cadillac ATS and next-gen CTS on the smaller Alpha platform.
The Camaro currently rides on the Zeta platform, while the CTS is built on a variant of the Sigma platform. Due in 2013 and 2014, however, those cars, plus the upcoming ATS, Cadillac's 3-Series/C-Class fighter, will move to the Alpha platform. The expectation is that the resulting cars will be perhaps lighter and a bit smaller, though with the Alpha extending and contracting to underpin the three very differently-sized cars, things may not change all that much from the outside.
Shifting to the Alpha platform is expected to mean the end of the line for the CTS Coupe and Sport Wagon, though they'll be effectively replaced by the ATS. The CTS will grow for its next-gen version, allowing the ATS to come in close to the current CTS's size, and it's already expected to get convertible, coupe, wagon and sedan variants.
The move from Sigma and Zeta to a merged Alpha platform will prep Cadillac for a bigger global push, while allocating production as demand requires, making the most out of manufacturing and design resources.
Other hints for the future of the Camaro include a move toward a smaller engine in the SS to complement the lighter next-gen car, possibly a supercharged or turbocharged version of the 3.6-liter V-6 engine found in the base model Camaro.
