Chevrolet Camaro: American Muscle Car

Motoring Channel Staff - 18/March/2009

Detroit, America – As Chevrolet boldly states, the wait is over. 

After seven long years, one of America's most famous nameplates has returned: the Chevrolet Camaro.

The reborn muscle car has just been launched in North America and could be the salve to some of General Motors financial wounds if demand is high and sales remain strong.

Reports suggest that 14,000 orders for the new car have already been placed.

Based on the 2006 Camaro concept car, the body work was designed in America but the development of the chassis and most of the testing was done right here in Australia, by Holden's rear-wheel drive experts at its Lang Lang proving ground and various race tracks around the nation.

However the Camaro isn't scheduled for release in Australia. But if the economic outlook improves over the next year, plans could change.

Being a muscle car, two high performance engines are offered with the Camaro.

US drivers will have a choice between a 3.6-litre V6 engine, based on the same architecture as the Holden Commodore's bent six, and a 6.2-litre V8 that HSV fans will be familiar with.

The V6 engine uses direct petrol injection to output 227kW (304hp) and is expected to be implemented on the Holden Commodore for the VE Series II models.

Muscle car fans will want to get into the V8 models however.

The 6-speed manual SS Chevy Camaro will be powered by a 318kW (426hp) LS3 V8 engine displacing 6.2-litres, while the 6-speed automatic versions get the L99 V8 engine, worth 300kW (400hp).

As is to be expected with a reborn muscle car, the pushrod V8 models will be highly sought-after for their burnout capabilities.

"The new Camaro delivers a modern, advanced package of performance, comfort and technology," said Ed Peper, Chevrolet general manager and General Motors vice president. 

"It's a personal car for a generation of enthusiasts, both young and old, that honors the Camaro's heritage with a thoroughly contemporary design," added Mr Peper.

Built on the same global rear-wheel-drive passenger car platform as the Holden Commodore, the car is manufactured in Ontario, Canada.

With bold, modern design that still retains some of the Camaro's heritage, the car looks very impressive and the 2-door sports coupe measures 4.83 metres long and is ultra fat with a 1.91 metre width.

As Chevrolet explains, the long hood and short deck are pushed to the far corners to deliver a muscular form and the windscreen rake of 67° contributes to its aerodynamic performance that includes a 0.37 coefficient of drag (Cd) on V6 models and a slightly sleeker 0.35 Cd on the V8-powered SS model.

Standard issue wheels are 18-inch rims and optional 19-inch or 20-inch wheels are also offered but Chevrolet says the relationship of the top of the tyre and bottom of the fender is consistent on all models.

Chevrolet claims that to ensure quality in the manufacturing process, a one-piece body stamping provides a cleaner overall side appearance that is free of seams, gaps or plastic appliqués. 

The new model also gets stylised 'gills' in front of the rear wheel arches, a familiar Camaro styling cue.

Inside the Camaro, Chevrolet has decked its muscle car out with combination of traditional and modern designs, especially in relation to the switches, dials and lighting. 

The deep, recessed gauges, located in square housings outlined in chrome, give a nod to the classic Camaro interior says Chevrolet, and the cloth seats that are available in black, grey or beige can be upgraded to leather. 

Camaro's entertainment systems include a single-CD radio with 6-speakers and a premium, 245-watt Boston Acoustics 9-speaker audio system can be ordered on 1LT and SS models (XM Satellite Radio is standard on all models).

Three spoke steering wheels are standard while Bluetooth and USB ports can be added as part of the available Driver Convenience and Connectivity package, as can a remote start on automatic vehicles and iPod connectivity.

Chevrolet will also provide enthusiasts with a bit of fun, stating that a short-throw Hurst shifter will be offered not long after today's launch.

However if you're looking for practicality the 2-door Camaro is not class leading, with boot capacity of 320 litres (11.3 cubic feet).

Finally, the Camaro's safety equipment:

Driver and front passenger dual-stage air bags
Driver and front passenger seat-mounted thorax side-impact air bags
Head curtain side-impact air bags for front- and rear-seat occupants
Front-seat safety belt load limiters and pretensioners
A front passenger detection system that senses children and small-stature adults, suppressing air bag deployment when appropriate.

In both doors, an interlock pin is utilised to prevent intrusion into the passenger compartment and adds stiffness to the door structure by engaging with a clevis bracket set into the rocker panel.

Related Links:
- Chevrolet Camaro (Official Site)
- Chevrolet Volt (2011)
- Chevrolet Cruze (2009)
- Chevrolet Camaro (2010)
- Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 (2009)
- Chevrolet Corvette C6 (2008)
- Chevrolet Camaro Convertible (concept)
- Chevrolet WTCC Ultra (concept)
- Chevrolet Camaro (concept)
- Chevrolet Corvette Z06 (2006)