Even today, decades after discontinuation, the El Camino has an impressive following among car enthusiasts and that’s for a reason. That model was a muscle car in a pickup body, a real joy to drive but also very practical. So, it’s not a surprise that Chevy allegedly plans to re-active the iconic moniker. Yes, we are already getting reports about the 2024 Chevy El Camino and from what we can see, things look quite interesting.
The old moniker will return, but the overall design will be slightly different. We don’t expect to see a classic coupe ute design or huge V8 engines. Instead, the new El Camino will compete in the fast-growing segment of small pickups, with models like Ford Maverick, Hyundai Santa Cruz, etc. We expect to see it already in the next year, though the officials are still quiet about the exact release date.
2024 Chevy El Camino Design
So, what we expect to see from the 2024 Chevy El Camino is a little bit different design approach. First of all, this won’t be a muscle-car-based pickup. This time, it won’t have many things in common with the Camaro. Instead, it will feature an economy-oriented layout, based on some of the more common platforms these days. That could be the familiar E2 architecture, the same one that underpins Chevy Equinox, which could be one of the closest relatives.
The other possibility is to see a modern platform, the VSS-F platform, which would support more modern technologies. In any case, the overall layout would be the same. Just like other models in the class, the 2024 Chevy El Camino would feature an FF layout, with a transversally-mounted engine and front-wheel drive. Of course, all-wheel drive would be available as an option.
Exterior Design
As for the exterior design, things will also be a little bit different compared to the original. Instead of a classic coupe ute layout, we would see a little bit more practical design, to match future rivals. In other words, we expect to see a typical pickup body style, and the crew cab layout should be the only one on offer.
As for the aesthetics, we expect to see the same design approach in other modern vehicles with the Chevy badge. Some of the models that could serve as inspiration are Equinox and Blazer, especially at the front. The rest of the body would come in a typical pickup manner and we expect to see similar proportions to other models in the class. That would mean a wheelbase around 120 inches, and about 200 inches in total length.
Interior Design
The same thing is expected on the inside. So, the dashboard should draw inspiration from the aforementioned models, though we could see a little bit less impressive selection of materials, for the sake of production cost savings. On the other hand, we don’t expect to see any compromises when it comes to tech features. Large infotainment systems, wireless smartphone integration, digital instrument cluster, and a good portion of advanced driver-assistance features are just some of the things we expect to see.
As for the passenger space, the crew cab configuration should ensure plenty of room for five persons. Both rows should be spacious enough to accommodate adults easily, while we also expect to see a practical cabin, with a lot of storage compartments. When it comes to the cargo bed, we presume it will be similarly sized to Maverick’s, which is about 4.5 feet long.
2024 Chevy El Camino Engines
The muscle era is over and the new 2024 Chevy El Camino will have to use something way smaller and less powerful. The focus is on affordability and fuel efficiency, so Equinox’s 1.5-liter turbo-four could easily be the base engine. Still, we would rather expect to see the bigger 2.0-liter turbo-four with around 230 horsepower. Finally, we won’t exclude the possibility of seeing the large 3.6-liter V6 under the hood, with a max output of 310 horsepower.
No matter the engine, the new 2024 Chevy El Camino would probably use a 9-speed automatic transmission. As mentioned, the front-wheel drive would be standard, but we also count on the available AWD setup. Moreover, some kind of off-road package is also possible, with further upgrades in terms of suspension, tires, locking differential, and many more. Of course, such a version would also come with a good portion of visual enhancements, to accentuate its off-road potential.
2024 Chevy El Camino Release Date and Price
Despite the numerous reports about the 2024 Chevy El Camino, the officials are still quiet about this comeback. On the other hand, our insiders suggest it could come back already in the next year. We presume that the starting price would be 25 or lower, as that would make this pickup comparable with Maverick. Other sources suggest that Chevy would rather offer a heavily modified Montana, which is currently the brand’s part of the offer in South America.
Once more, if Chevrolet decides to reintroduce the El Camino, we hope they preserve its original character as a unique blend of a truck and a family car, without turning it into a hybrid muscle car.
