GM's Camaro muscle car is go!

The Camaro concept, which designers touted as a modern take on the 1969 version of the sports car, won positive reviews from auto critics and inspired loyalists to start petition drives to encourage GM to rush the model into production.

Skeptics, however, have questioned whether Detroit-based carmakers are sending the wrong message by reviving high-powered performance cars at a time when American consumers are increasingly opting for smaller and more fuel-efficient vehicles in the face of high gasoline prices.

The Camaro has become the latest in a string of modern muscle cars, in homage to high-powered Detroit designs from the 1960s and 1970s, but built on up-to-date platforms.

Chrysler said in July it would resume production of the Dodge Challenger in 2008 after more than three decades.

Ford also said this week that it would build a 245kW version of the Ford Shelby GT, a high-performance version of its Mustang.

GM executives had indicated earlier that they were moving ahead with production planning for the Camaro.

Chief Executive Rick Wagoner confirmed that plans had won final approval in a speech Thursday at an industry conference in Traverse City, Michigan.

The new rear-wheel-drive Camaro will be available with either V6 or V8 engine and with the choice of manual or automatic transmission, GM said.

"We intend to make the all-new Camaro relevant to younger buyers while retaining its appeal to current fans," Chevrolet General Manager Ed Peper said in a statement.

GM built nearly 4.8 million Camaros between 1967 and 2002, when the car was scrapped.