Chevrolet pulls the wraps off of the new Camaro

[69 Post Sedan]

Chevrolet has unveiled the 2010 Camaro sports car, resuming a 35-year production history that ran from 1967-2002. GM strove to strike a balance between performance and efficiency, and is offering the Camaro with a 3.6-liter V-6 direct injection engine delivering an estimated 26 mpg highway, and two V-8s, one of which offers Active Fuel Management (AFM, cylinder deactivation), for 23 mpg US. All engine options are matched with six-speed transmissions.

The 3.6L direct-injected V-6 in the LS and LT models employs variable valve timing to optimize performance and fuel economy across the rpm range. It is rated at an estimated 300 hp (224 kW) and 273 lb.-ft. of torque (370 Nm). A six-speed manual transmission is standard with the 3.6L engine; a Hydra-Matic 6L50 electronically controlled six-speed automatic, with TAPshift control, is available.

(For a historical—40 model years—comparison, the 1970 model year Camaro offered a base six-cylinder engine of 250 CID displacement (4.1 liters) that developed 155 hp. The new Camaro uses a smaller engine with almost twice the power output.)

The high-performance Camaro SS is equipped with a 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, estimated at 422 horsepower (315 kW) and 408 lb.-ft. of torque (553 Nm). The LS3 debuted on the 2008 Corvette and uses high-flow cylinder heads based on the Corvette Z06’s LS7 engine to enable high low-end torque and high-rpm power. It is paired with a TR6060 six-speed transmission.

A new, L99 V-8 engine is used on automatic transmission-equipped SS models. It 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, enabling the engine to run on only four cylinders during light-load driving conditions, such as highway cruising, to improve fuel economy.

The V-8 is estimated at 400 horsepower (299 kW) and 395 lb.-ft. of torque (535 Nm); and it is matched with a Hydra-Matic 6L80 six-speed transmission. This combination delivers an estimated 23 mpg on the highway.

http://www.camaro5.com/forums/images/camarospecs.pdf

As far as prices, I haven't seen any that are confirmed, only speculations.

Kurt

[king_midas]

Here's the problem that nobody ever seems to address in these threads regarding the new Camaro-- Who's going to buy it?

At the pricing point / performance point of the base model, there are at least 10 other cars out there that already have (arguably) better performance, more utility, better MPG, and most importantly, an established market position. Most notably, the GTI, the Honda Civic Si, Mazda 3, etc... I could keep going. Cars marketed to younger people for fun, but also everyday transportation. RWD, 300 hp? Okay, not the best combo for a young driver, and THEN this young driver must be insured. And, if you look at the Camaro in the showroom and don't make the buy, what are you left to look at, the Cobalt? The Malibu? Yikes and yikes. O-boy, here we go... Overall point-- Sure you'll maybe sell it to a few secretaries, but unless there are huge fleet sales, a la the Mustang, I see very little chance of success, because the product is positioned too narrowly in a segment with broad needs.

Regarding the higher-end options, I see a similar cunundrum-- When is horsepower too much, who's going to buy this car before a Mustang, an Infiniti G37, BMW 3-series, etc...? This is also a crowded segment, and it seems Chevy completely skipped a middle-of-the-road offering and went for 400 hp. What are there, 100 gearheads on this board, maybe another 1000 actively talking about this car on various other forums... Let's hope they manage to sell more than 1500 units.

So, let's see here: No 4-door offering to net those in that want the car but need more (*other than the Mustang and Challenger, every other performance car at this pricing point has a 4-door variant), it's not exactly cheap to insure 300, 400, and 422 hp, and we haven't even discussed MPG... Those MPG figures will plummet when your foot is into 422 hp, and I doubt in the real-world, the quoted MPG will ever be seen.

GM already has an albatross around their neck with Hummer and the trucks-- Do you want to be promoting thirsty performance to the world with your next big offering? Seems to me like they should be trying to figure out a 422 hp electric car that can carry five, and some bags in the trunk.

Hey, don't get me wrong-- If you've ever seen Trans Am racing, it's the best series ever put together. And if the mfgr's building these cars would spark a series, that would be great. However, the Big 3 have bigger problems than funding racing programs.

I hope for Chevy that they meet success, but the cards were stacked against them from the start, and in my opinion, even though they may have created a winner for some, they didn't do the best job of creating a sales success, which is the most important thing.

My overall prediction is that the Camaro may be exciting, but will be a black-eye style sales failure.

[69 Post Sedan]

I think 300hp and 27mpg is pretty darn good for a V6.

GM could have come out with more engine options although how cost effective can that be. Maybe down the road they will. I also think anyone buying a 400 or 422 hp motor, they are not really worried about fuel mileage or insurance rates.

If a 4-door is needed the Pontiac G8 is an awesome alternative with a V6 or a V8, which is 361hp. These cars with the V8 stay with the 425hp Charger! With a price tag of around $30,000.

The Chevrolet Volt is on its way in 2010 if you want an electric car.


Kurt

[Dave Rifkin]

In my opinion the ball in is Chevy's court; sure they dragged bringing this car to market out way too long but, as long as they keep the price of this car in line with the Mustang GT, I think they'll sell plenty of them. If Chevy, or the dealers, jack the price up too high then we'll see sales struggle.
I would love to buy a brand new SS with a stick shift and if the price isn't outrageous I just might.

[lwkitt427]

WELL I WAS REALLY DISAPOINTED AT FIRST WHEN I SAW PIC'S OF THE NEW CAMARO. BUT AS I LOOK AT MORE AND MORE OF THE NEW PIC'S I AM CHANGING MY MIND. I WOULD LIKE MINE IN BLACK WITH WHITE STRIPES. THE HORSE POWER CUOLD BE BETTER AND I HOPE THE GENRAL GETS THE MESSAGE, AND INCREASES THE HP FOR THE SECOND YEAR. IT IS JUST PLAIN GOOD TO HAVE THE CAMARO BACK.