The Camaro is dead, which means so too are any dreams of an affordable sports car within the Chevy lineup (for now). But in the early 2010s, the Camaro nearly spawned a more affordable little brother. The Tru 140S concept debuted at the Detroit Auto Show in 2012 and previewed a sporty two-door positioned beneath the Camaro. It would have cost $20,000, well undercutting its big brother, and at the time, joined the likes of the Mazda Miata, the Volkswagen GTI, and the then-new Scion FR-S/Subaru BRZ.
### Design and Features
The Tru 140S concept was more than just a clay shell. It had a working turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine that made somewhere in the neighborhood of 150 horsepower and up to 40 miles per gallon on the highway. Although, Chevy certainly would have been able to extract more power; the punchiest production version of that engine had 175 hp. The car had a front-engine layout, front-wheel drive, and a six-speed automatic transmission—although a manual option likely would have happened—sharing its bones with the Chevrolet Cruze. Regardless, it certainly looked pretty. The front end featured the familiar Chevy split grille and the same dual-headlight treatment found on other Chevy models. But the svelte profile was unique, and the 21-inch wheels gave it an aggressive stance.
### Passion Portfolio
At the time, the Tru 140S was considered an “affordable exotic” and part of Chevrolet’s “passion portfolio.” The passion for the Tru 140S never made it to production, even though it did have shades of the Cruze in its DNA. While the 130R did inspire some of the now-defunct Camaro’s exterior elements, the Tru 140S never inspired any production model within the Chevrolet portfolio. Despite the lack of production, the Tru 140S was beloved, with a fake website created by a fan named Matt Teske in hopes of convincing Chevy to put the car into production.
### Legacy and Impact
The Tru 140S concept is likely tucked away in GM’s headquarters somewhere, forgotten by most. However, for a short time, the concept was displayed in Disney’s Epcot theme park in Orlando, Florida, alongside other Chevy concepts. The failure of the Tru 140S concept to reach production means that enthusiasts who want an affordable GM sports car now have zero options, especially with the Camaro no longer in production.
In conclusion, the Tru 140S concept was a promising glimpse into Chevrolet’s potential for an affordable sports car, but unfortunately, the car never made it beyond the concept stage. With its unique design, turbocharged engine, and positioning below the Camaro, the Tru 140S could have filled a gap in the market for budget-friendly sports cars. However, for now, enthusiasts will have to look elsewhere for their affordable sports car fix.