Chevrolet Camaro Concept: First Look

Motoring Channel Staff - 19/Jan/2006

Dodge had the Challenger, Lamborghini had the Miura, and General Motors wasn't about to be left out of the Detroit Motor Show retro concept car clan - and what better car to re-create than the hallowed Camaro.

As Chevy explains, the Camaro was the archetypal American muscle car for more than 30 years, combining dramatic design and exciting performance.

The American icon was also one of the most popular sport coupes of all time, with Chevrolet selling more than 699,000 Camaros in the first three years following its 1966 launch. Using the 2006 Detroit Motor Show as a litmus test for the reborn muscle car, Chevrolet presented Camaro Concept.

"Millions of people of all ages fell in love with the Camaro for all of the right reasons," said Ed Welburn, GM Vice President, Global Design. "Camaros were beautiful to look at and offered performance that could rival expensive European GTs. Yet they were practical enough to drive every day and priced within the reach of many new car buyers."

Chevrolet says that while it's only a show car at this point, the Camaro Concept is intended to explore customer reaction to design and engineering elements that might lead to an all-new version of the Camaro.

The long hood, short deck and wide stance of the Camaro Concept leave no doubt that it is a serious performance car. Those looks are backed up by a 298kW/400hp aluminium small-block V8, a 6-speed manual transmission, and a sophisticated chassis with four-wheel independent suspension. The 6.0-litre LS2 engine features the GM system called Active Fuel Management, which shuts off 4-cylinders to save fuel when the engine is lightly loaded.

"The overall proportions, long hood and powerful fender forms say, ‘This is a front-engine, rear-wheel drive performance vehicle,’" said Tom Peters, the design director for the Chevrolet's rear-wheel drive performance cars.

Chevrolet points out the prominent front grille and hood power bulge hint at the power of the Corvette-derived V8 engine, where large 21 and 22-inch wheels and tyres, exposed high-performance brakes and prominent wheel arches signal that the Camaro Concept has the handling and braking to go with the powertrain.

The cockpit of the Camaro nestles between the sharply defined leading edge of the hood, a design element inspired by fighter planes and the new Corvette. And like any high-performance vehicle, the clean, purposeful design is integral to the cars overall image.

Chevrolet Camaro Concept Specifications: