[siko]

Pics and press release @ WCF here...

[Deutsch]

WIN WIN, freak'n WIN! I love every ounce of this all American performance car. The V6 sounds like a car I might actually want to buy as well.

[Monster]

The car looks good, especially in silver, and the interior design is faithful to the concept, which is a surprise. It is miles better than the interior of the Challenger.

The mechanical package looks up to date and it should be a decent drive.

[Merc1]

GM must really be hurting for cash, I've never seen a more "cozy" debut before. Looks like they shot it in a local Detroit garage.

M

[Deutsch]

Originally Posted by Merc1

GM must really be hurting for cash, I've never seen a more "cozy" debut before. Looks like they shot it in a local Detroit garage.

M

Wow, I've never read something more skewed than that. FYI that's GM's technical center, personally I couldn't think of a better location to debut the first all new Camaro in 10 years. A car who's legacy is at the heart of many Americans across the country, in their garage.

[Merc1]

Backing Up Style With Substance


Behold: The 2010 Chevrolet Camaro in all its full-on production glory.

What? Well yes, it looks like that Camaro Concept we saw more than two and a half years ago at the 2006 Detroit Auto Show. And it looks exactly as you knew it would from two years of spy shots of the car under development. And it will look exactly like this when it goes on sale next year. You expected what? That it would look like a Corsica or a Mark VIII?

Enthusiasts would no more forgive Chevrolet for watering down the stunning 2006 Camaro concept than they would forgive General Motors if it decided a year from now to cancel the Volt program. The concept, with its steely, all-business color, dark-tinted glass, pavement-skimming raked stance and fang-shaped side mirrors, looked like a 1969 Camaro designed by the Lockheed Skunk Works.

Of course, the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro production-specification cars pictured here — V6 models with 20-inch wheels that come as part of the RS trim package — don't get the slammed stance, chopped roof and black windows of the concept. Nor do they have the 22-inch rear and 21-inch front wheels of the concept.

The V8 model of the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro — called the SS — won't have that showcar ornamentation either. Chevy is holding back on revealing the SS for reasons that make sense only within the confines of GM's headquarters at the Renaissance Center in downtown Detroit, even though it looks very nearly identical to the V6 model with the RS package. (In case you were wondering, the SS will have the concept car's little mail-slot opening on the top of the front fascia. This particular aperture has no historical precedent in the world of Camaro and owes more to the Corvette Z06 or the Mini Cooper S.)

But we're still happy.

Power to the People (Who Can Afford the Gas)

Anyway, did we mention yet that the production vehicle will actually make more horsepower than the concept vehicle was claimed to make? We should have, because at an estimated 420 hp, the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro will arrive with a stonking amount of power. This comes courtesy of the 6.2-liter LS3 V8 that will power SS models — those that are equipped with a manual transmission, anyway.

If GM's recent practice of slightly underestimating the output of its engines before certification holds, the 6.2-liter small-block should make about 425 hp. That would be, not coincidentally, a little less power than the motor is capable of in the base Corvette but is essentially identical to the output of Dodge's meanest Challenger, the SRT8. Oh, and it will mercilessly stomp the relatively small V8 that sits in the Mustang GT.

Further, Chevy estimates that the Camaro-specification LS3 should also crank out about 408 pound-feet of torque and gulp premium fuel at a rate of a gallon for every 15 miles in the city and one for every 23 miles on the highway. These figures are essentially identical to those returned by the Challenger R/T's 375-hp 5.7-liter Hemi V8.

Staggering

The LS3's Tremec TR6060 six-speed manual is the same basic unit fitted to just about all rear-drive American performance cars including the Corvette, Viper and Challenger. GM has equipped it with the 1-4 skip-shift programming, familiar from various Camaro, Corvette and GTO applications over the years. Under certain light-throttle acceleration situations, the system locks out access to 2nd gear and forces a shift into 4th.

It's a silly little thing that basically games the EPA test and actually encourages drivers to accelerate harder. But it helps keep the Camaro SS from being branded (and taxed) as a gas-guzzler. That's not something that can be said of the bigger, heavier Challenger SRT8. Skip shift is also easily defeated with an inexpensive aftermarket piece. (Al Oppenheiser, chief engineer for rear-wheel-drive vehicles at GM, acknowledges this and notes that the standard stability control can be turned off completely, too. We think we might like the guy.)

Power is routed back to a limited-slip differential (standard on all SS models and on V6 cars equipped with manual transmissions) and sent left and right through asymmetrical or staggered half-shafts. Say what? This is the same trick employed by GM on the Corvette ZR1 and Cadillac CTS-V. One half-shaft is significantly larger in diameter than the other. This, says GM, quells axle hop on hard launches. It's a neat trick that we're eager to test. The manual SS carries a 3.45:1 final-drive ratio.

Every Camaro comes with the staggered half-shafts, even for those of you who might choose to have your SS equipped with an automatic. In this case, the automatic is a six-speed unit (6L80 in GM Powertrain parlance) that features shift paddles on the steering wheel. Each downshift will be accompanied by a rev-matching throttle blip.

The Camaro SS automatic is somewhat less powerful, as the 6.2-liter small-block V8 is designated the L99 and should make right around 400 hp (based on Chevy's estimate of 395 hp) and 395 lb-ft of torque. The L99 incorporates an active fuel management system that shuts down four cylinders in light throttle load conditions to improve economy. The combination of the L99 and a taller 3.27:1 final-drive ratio should mean noticeably less intense acceleration. Still, we reckon it'll be right around 5.0 seconds to 60 mph.

The Joy of Six?

You might reasonably have expected that Chevy would be able to crank out the muscle side of the muscle-car picture — it makes a mean V8, after all.

And yet although Chevy expects the Camaro SS V8 will comprise the bulk of sales at first, some 60-65 percent of the model mix will be the RS V6. "We know that the performance car enthusiast will always be there," says Camaro Product Manager Cheryl Pilcher. "But the buyer to attract is the one that isn't as overt an enthusiast. In years past, Mustang was perhaps a more livable car for non-hard-core buyers."

It's not too far a stretch to believe that this non-hard-core buyer will be even more mindful of fuel costs than a habitually wasteful muscle-car maven. Oppenheiser estimates that the V6 Camaro will be able to return 18 mpg city/27 mpg highway. If these numbers hold up in EPA testing, they'll beat the Challenger SE's 18 mpg city/25 mpg highway even though the Chevy V8 makes 50 hp more than the Mopar motor.

The Camaro's V6 should get better economy than the Mustang's V6's 17 mpg city/26 mpg highway, even though the Mustang 4.0-liter V6 generates only a pitiful 210 horsepower, some 90 hp less than Chevy's.

If the 3.6-liter direct-injection V6 that serves as the Camaro's base motor seems familiar, it's because this is essentially the same engine as the optional Cadillac CTS V6. The direct-injection permits a high 11.3:1 compression ratio. Expect the V6 to make about 305 hp (based on Chevy's 300 hp estimate) and 270 lb-ft of torque on regular gas. Not to flog a dead horse, but that's more horsepower than is offered by the Mustang GT's V8.

The V6 cars will be available in two basic trim levels: the base LS steel-wheel car and the relatively well-equipped LT. The engine can be bolted to either an Aisin six-speed manual transmission or a Hydra-matic 6L50 six-speed automatic. Both carry 3.27:1 rear gears. Dodge offers only a four-speed automatic with its V6.

No Matter-Antimatter Engine Planned

The V6 and V8 are the only engines that Chevrolet is willing to talk about at the moment. Company blabbermouth Bob Lutz has hinted at the possibility of an optional turbocharged inline-4 for the car, although it's unclear to us that such an engine would be all that much more efficient than the V6. What is clear is that work is ongoing on such a piece.

The rumored 500-hp supercharged V8 planned for a future Z28 model remains a possibility. It would feature the same supercharged hardware featured by the Cadillac CTS-V and Corvette ZR1. It's hard to imagine how such a thing could avoid being branded with the politically noxious gas-guzzler label.

Also on the table is a version of the Camaro with the Corvette's self-adjusting dampers with Magnetic Ride Control.

It's Not a G8, OK?

For now the Camaro's suspension uses conventional twin-tube dampers. You'll recognize the basic configuration with front struts and a rear independent multilink setup from the Pontiac G8 sedan. But Oppenheiser cautions against calling it a G8 platform, noting that the Camaro is based on an updated version of the G8's so-called Zeta One structure with new front and rear cradles.

The SS models come with a stiffer FE3 setup that features front and rear antiroll bars that are almost an inch larger in diameter than those of the V6 base car. And the FE3 also comes with stiffer springs and more aggressive damping settings to not only deliver performance but also cope with the hefty V8 engine and the added grip of the 20-inch tires.

The V6 LS comes with 18-inch steel wheels as standard equipment. Various trim levels and options will get you 18-inch or 19-inch alloy wheels. Add the RS package and the V6 model is fitted with the 20-inch tires that come standard on the SS. Unlike the RS package of the first-generation Camaro, there will be no headlight covers. But the RS trim level (available for both V6 and SS cars) does include HID headlamps with a sassy and BMW-inspired halo of LED lights around the main element, plus dark taillight lenses and 20-inch tires and a little rear spoiler.

The SS carries sizable 14-inch brake rotors front and rear as well as Brembo four-piston aluminum calipers. The V6 cars carry 12.6-inch vented front rotors and 12.4-inch vented rear rotors with single-piston calipers. Since the Camaro's curb weight begins at an estimated 3,737 pounds for V6 models and then climbs to just 3,900 pounds for the SS, Oppenheiser is predicting class-leading braking performance. Every Camaro comes with ABS, traction control and stability control as standard equipment.

Suitable for People and Things

Naturally, GM's directive has been to engineer the new car to fit the visual profile set by the Camaro concept car, which was based on a modified Cadillac STS platform. As a result, the wheelbase of the Australian-engineered Zeta One platform has been shortened to 112.3 inches, about 2.5 less than that of the Pontiac G8. Nevertheless, this represents an increase of more than 2 inches compared to the wheelbase of the Camaro Concept, most of which was added between the front wheelwells and the base of the windshield.

The height of the roof had to be increased by almost an inch for production as well, although at 53.7 inches in overall height, the Camaro is still lower than competitors (by a whopping 4 inches compared to the massive Challenger).

Interior space is tight, especially in the rear, where Chevy has fitted two bucket seats in place of the Challenger's three-across bench. "This is a 2+2," says Oppenheiser. "Anyone that had to be chauffeured around in the back of a first-generation Camaro will be familiar with the concept."

We didn't even attempt to get into the back of the prototype we were looking at. We can say that the optional sunroof doesn't leave much room for the heads of 6-footers. Also, if you get the sunroof, you lose what designer Tom Peters calls the "reverse Mohawk" roof (the longitudinal channel that's stamped into the panel).

Yet anyway you cut it, this version of the Camaro appears to be easier to live with than the last Camaro with its subterranean seating position and hump over the catalytic converter right in the passenger footwell. One glaring concession to style is the small trunk with a capacity of 11.3 cubic feet with an exceptionally high liftover height. At least the rear seats fold down.

Unlike Dodge's resurrected pony car, the Camaro's interior has some retro style. The main gauges are circular units housed in rectangles, as anticipated by the concept. The four auxiliary gauges lie within four small rectangles mounted ahead of the stubby shift lever. That's supposed to echo an option from the first-gen car and generally looks pretty cool.

The dash and door panels will be available with backlighting to jazz up the inside a bit. And the trim will even be available in the orange color as seen on the concept. And the HVAC and audio controls manage to look like nothing else on the market, which we appreciate. So far, we like.

Just a Stop Along Camaro Lane

The wait is not yet over, though. We won't drive a 2010 Chevrolet Camaro for many months and you won't be able to buy one until next year. Figure another year after that for the inevitable convertible version.

The mechanical package has us believing that the Camaro won't suffer the same fate of other showcars-turned-reality, such as the Chevy SSR, Ford Thunderbird and Plymouth Prowler. But there's still time yet for something bad to happen.

Let us hope that by the time the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro finally goes on sale (for a price competitive with Mustang, says Chevy), it still feels fresh.



Link and Video:

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M

[Merc1]

Q&A: Cheryl Pilcher, Chevrolet Camaro product manager

A muscle car fan that developed the fourth-generation F-body, Chevrolet product manager Cheryl Pilcher has been working for General Motors (and with Camaros) since 1986. Now, Chevy's baby 'Vette is about to be reborn with Pilcher's help. We asked assistant editor David Yochum , an F-body owner himself, to get the full skinny on Camaro design details, options, and future Camaro plans.

Cheryl, I've got to know. Have you driven the Camaro yourself and, if so, what was it like?

CP: "Yes. Oh my gosh, it is awe-inspiring! Thrilling. Because of my work on the past generation car, I was so sad to see that we didn't continue it right away after 2002. It was such a neat moment when I was driving a Camaro again. It just makes your heart and soul feel good."

What has been the focus groups' reaction to the Camaro?

CP: "We've had some events with core enthusiasts and had them out driving the cars at relatively low speeds. When we first showed them the car, it was so emotional. There were tears in their eyes - literally men and women."

Who then is the target Camaro buyer?

CP: "We are trying to target a buyer that maybe doesn't know Camaro from the past. We'd hope to attract them with the great looks of the car, a new high-technology direct-injection six-cylinder engine, good fuel economy, all the standard equipment, and higher technology features."


Obviously the Camaro is no longer a hatchback and it doesn't look like the last generation F-body. Explain the new design direction.

CP: "I think what Tom Peters, our exterior design director, and Jeff Perkins, the interior design director, have done is balance the right amount of a few heritage cues. But they did not make things so overt and retro that it might offend or might not be attractive to somebody unfamiliar with the Camaro's past."

What are the visual differences between the V-6 and V-8 models?

CP: "On the V-8 SS model there is a front fascia that looks similar to the concept car. There is a small lip above the upper grille, it has a larger lower grille opening than the V-6, and the SS has 20-inch wheels, whereas the six-cylinder has 18-inch and 19-inch wheels. The SS also has a subtle spoiler, standard Brembo brakes, and a blackout rear diffuser around the exhaust tips. All models will have dual exhaust - the V-6 has three-inch tips and the SS tips measure three and three-quarters of an inch. The SS interior will have 'SS' embroidery on the headrest, steering wheel, and instrument cluster. Both base models have halogen headlamps, and there are HID headlights available with the RS package."

Will there be a Z28 model?

CP: "There will be no Z28 model. Through the four generations of Camaro, there have been cases where Chevrolet chose to make the Z28 the top dog or the SS the top dog. As you're aware, Chevrolet is encouraging the SS strategy with cars such as the HHR SS and Cobalt SS. Consistent with this strategy, we have a Camaro SS."

What is the full model lineup and how are the models differentiated?


CP: "The base model is an LS. It comes with 18-inch heritage-style steel wheels, and relatively few options. It has the direct-injection V-6, standard roof rail airbags, side impact airbags, OnStar, XM radio, standard stabilitrack with traction control, and ABS brakes. Then we have the LT model, which is a six-cylinder with two levels - an entry-level LT and a loaded LT. With the loaded LT, you get 18-inch, five-spoke aluminum wheels, a power driver's seat and fog lamps. Then we've got a base level and loaded SS. The base V-8 entry is for buyers who want ultimate performance, but not necessarily things like leather seats (it's more bare bones). The loaded SS comes with leather, a Boston Acoustics audio system, electro-chromatic mirrors, steering wheel controls, Bluetooth capability, remote-start on the automatic transmission, and a USB port and wireless interface. If you have your iPod or a device plugged into the center console, you can use steering-wheel controls to scroll through song selections. The loaded V-6 and V-8 Camaro also have auxiliary gauges - the four gauges just forward of the shifter.


Larry Sully, GM accessories design manager, revealed his team is working on larger wheels and a body kit for the Camaro. Will these accessories be part of the RS package?

CP: "The RS package is available on all models except the LS. Like I said, it has HID lighting, a darker tailamp treatment, and on a V-6 RS you get the spoiler found on the SS. The wheels are expected to have a unique paint treatment - not black, but not a typical bright silver finish. And then the V-6 RS option also includes 20-inch wheels."

In spring 2007, you told the guys at CamaroHompage.com that you "don't believe a Camaro is the right place for a hybrid powertrain." Do you still feel this way? Could we see the first hybrid muscle car?

CP: "You know, it's interesting how quickly things change, right? All of a sudden gas is four dollars per gallon and creeping up. I think that our team, along with the rest of GM, is looking at all different fuel solutions for Camaro and everything else out there. Things do change and we will change with the times. The V-8 we have does use active fuel management."

Have engineers had a chance to test Camaros with a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine?

CP: "We are definitely keeping our options open for the future. To keep on making Camaro, we will have to follow along with all the strict fuel economy standards required by law. Interestingly, the die-hard enthusiasts we talked to were very open to hybrid, four-cylinder, and alternative-powered Camaros. There are definitely some opportunities there. Performance is an important part too, but that doesn't necessarily mean V-8 performance. There's other ways to get great horsepower and good torque besides a small-block V-8."

Could the new Camaro be fitted with all-wheel-drive technology?

CP: "All-wheel-drive is not something that we've investigated and we are not planning on doing that. I've not heard our enthusiast group bring that up as something they are interested in. The enthusiast buyer wants the launch feel. For someone who is concerned about traction in the wintertime, we do have standard stabilitrack and our V-6 tires are all-season tires."

Will T-tops or a glass roof similar to what will be available on the Mustang be a Camaro option?

CP: "A sunroof will be available at the start of production and a convertible will be released within a year of the coupe."

Will the Camaro have any goodies that we haven't seen and wouldn't expect?

CP: "One of the really cool things on the interior is, when you start the car, the sequence of lighting and the instrument cluster gauges are all illuminated in a cool kind of a way. There is a light ring that goes around the actual tachometer and speedometer. Additionally, on cars with a leather interior, there is what we call a two-inch ambient lighting LED pipe that goes across the instrument panel and then also goes into the door trim on each side. It's very similar to what was in the concept car. It will have ice blue lighting, and we have a special inferno orange accent package with orange seat inserts and orange-red ambient light. Through GM accessories dealers, you will also be able to get different colored accessory pieces. Also, GM accessories will offer 21-inch wheels in two different looks. They should fit both the V-6 and the V-8 car. More Camaro accessories will be announced during the 2008 SEMA show."

How many Camaros is GM trying to sell? Is a reasonable goal about 100,000 units in North America and 5000 in Europe?

CP: "I think that's a good ballpark target. But look at the Mustang, the big dog right now. Its volume went down by 30 percent last year. Just like overall new car sales have gone down, so has regular sports car sales. But with the new Camaro and what we feel is pent-up demand for it, I can see we are going to have some pretty good first-year sales."

Has any pricing information been finalized?

CP: "Final pricing will be released toward the end of the year, 30-60 days before the start of production. We expect it to be very competitive with the Mustang. "

What is the Camaro's anticipated showroom date? Still February 2009?

CP: "We've been saying first quarter of next year, probably a March time frame. And it will be labeled a 2010 model."

Lastly, I read your first car was a 1986 Trans Am. Is there any scenario that would make it feasible, at this point or any point in the next three years, for GM to revive the Camaro's sister car, the Pontiac Firebird?

CP: "There is not work currently going on at Pontiac on a new Firebird. The G8 is kind of their car for that."


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M

[Monster]

2009 Chevrolet Camaro - Melbourne Reveal

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In a surprise move, simultaneously hosted in Melbourne, Australia, and the United States, General Motors has revealed the production ready version of the iconic Chevrolet Camaro sports car.

CarAdvice was at the Australian reveal, which took place at GM Holden’s Melbourne headquarters before a crowd of several hundred excited employees, many of who had worked on the project to develop the rear-wheel drive sports car for the US market.

The Australian-based designers and engineers involved in the new heritage-inspired coupe, led by Gene Stefanyshyn, GM’s Global Vehicle Line Executive, were on hand in Melbourne for the reveal.

The sinister black Camaro was parked on the forecourt of GM Holden HQ with a collection of earlier Camaro’s including the 1969 Camaro SS of reigning V8 Supercar Champion Garth Tander.

Tander, a Camaro enthusiast, told CarAdvice he would be “very happy” to add a new Camaro to his collection, should GM decide to build the car in right-hand drive.

GM Holden says the new Camaro exemplifies GM’s global development process with the design concept originating in the United States; engineering directed by GM’s global rear-wheel-drive team in Australia; validation conducted on roads around the world; and assembly to take place in Canada.

With GM’s global rear-wheel drive team based in Australia, much of the design and engineering work for the new Camaro, which uses a modified version of the Zeta platform originally developed for the VE Commodore, was undertaken in Victoria, giving this vehicle an important place in Australia’s automotive history.

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Australian, Peter Hughes, Camaro Exterior Design Manager, said they made sure there were many elements and cues that remained distinctly Camaro to make the new model instantly recognisable.

“We’re incredibly proud of how faithful the production version is to the original concept. This is a 21st century sports car that acknowledges its iconic heritage, while at the same time is smoothly integrated into a very contemporary exterior,” Mr Hughes said.

Details such as frameless door windows contribute to the overall feeling of quality, substance and technical prowess.

Mr Hughes said a well-executed balance of heritage, modern design and attention to detail also characterises the Camaro’s interior. A pair of deeply recessed instrument binnacles that feature round gauges in square housings gives a nod to classic Camaros.

Large, chrome-trimmed controls, low-gloss surfaces and premium fabric or acrylic appliqués convey a richness that is unprecedented in previous Camaro models – and challenge its contemporary competitors.

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Advanced power train technologies, including engines with direct injection and Active Fuel Management, give the vehicle a balance of exhilarating performance and good fuel economy.

Gene Stefanyshyn, GM’s Global Vehicle Line Executive, who led the Australian-based engineering team on this project, said they had four key objectives when creating the new Chevrolet Camaro.

“The first was to create a bold and beautifully styled vehicle – inside and out. The second was to ensure it had the ride, handling and performance dynamics of a true sports car. The third was to create a vehicle, which boasts pristine quality.

Finally, we wanted to back all this with outstanding value,” Stefanyshyn said.

“This vehicle exhibits the depth and capability of our Design and Engineering teams here in
Australia and I am incredibly proud of what they have achieved to help make this vehicle a reality.”

Under the bonnet of the new Camaro is an advanced, efficient 3.6L direct-injected V-6 with variable valve timing, which is standard on LS and LT models. Direct injection technology helps the engine deliver more power through increased efficiency, while maintaining fuel economy and lowering hydrocarbon emissions.

The high-performance Camaro SS is equipped with a powerful 6.2L V-8, with a choice of a six- speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission.

Standard, manual transmission-equipped models receive the LS3 engine, which uses high-flow cylinder heads based on the Corvette Z06’s LS7 engine enabling great low-end torque and high- rpm power.

A new, L99 V-8 engine is used on automatic transmission-equipped SS models. This is based on the LS3 and carries all of its high-performance design features, but also includes GM’s fuel-saving Active Fuel Management feature. This enables the engine to run on only four cylinders during light-load driving conditions, such as highway cruising, to improve fuel economy.

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[GTA8.5]

I think it awesome!
A friend told me there would be a Bumble-Bee version (from Transformers)
with a 500hp V8 manual. I havn`t kept up with the Camaro and was hoping for it, lOl.

[modena_360stradale]

First High-Res Images of Chevy Camaro SS Surface