Auto Trends

“Ooo laa laa,” and she was looking fine!

Yesterday was a big day for the Chevrolet Camaro fan. She pulled into the Detroit Michigan design center in front of hundreds of thousand watchful eyes, and all rumors were finally laid to rest. No… those Mustang owners won’t get a 4-cylinder model in the line-up to beat up on, and there is no supercharged Z28 to beat up on the Mustang owner. But the Camaro SS will receive a hood scoop like the concept and does have a powerful LS3 6.2 liter V-8 featuring the estimated 422 horsepower and 408 ft-lbs of torque.

Of course the big sellers are going to be the entrance models, which are no slouches themselves by any means. The 3.6 liter V-6 used for both the LS and LT model will have variable valve timing, which will help the midsized V-6 achieve numbers close to the Mustang GT range, or other words about 300 horsepower/273 ft-lbs torque.

This kind of output matched to a six speed transmission, pretty much guarantee a fun ride in even the very lowly base model, which we suspect will not be treated on the streets as lowly at all. But even variable valve timing on a mid-size V-6 without some kind of forced induction (supercharger, turbo) you are not going to be able to see the torque numbers that really makes an enthusiast grin. This will be where the SS trim level will come in.

The high-performance Chevrolet Camaro SS will not only be equipped with a powerful 6.2L V-8, with a choice of a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission, but it will share a little go fast hardware from the 2008 Corvette just as expected.

The LS3 engine which debuted on the 2008 Corvette will be fitted on the manual Camaro’s and boast the same high-flow cylinder heads that are on the infamous Z06’s LS7 engine. For the automatic breed Camaro’s, they will see the new L99 engine, which is based on the LS3.

The V-8 automatics (with TAPshift control) will also include GM’s Active Fuel Management, which allows the engine to run on just 4 cylinders during highway cruising speeds. So, in a sense there is a 4-cylinder Camaro, just not one with a full-time job!

The Active Fuel Management gets the big 6.2 liter V-8, 23 mpg on the highway, which is only 3 less than the 3.6 liter V-6, which is capable of 26 mpg. GM has certainly kept up with its promise to help ease the consumer’s mind during the oil crunch.

Here are a few of the New Camaro’s highlights:

• 10 available exterior colors
• Four-wheel independent suspension
• Variable-rate rack and pinion power steering
• Four-wheel disc brake system, Brembo calipers on SS models
• StabiliTrak stability control system and traction control standard
• Competitive/Sport modes for the stability system offered on SS models, including launch control on SS models equipped with the six-speed manual transmission
• Choice of 18”, 19” and 20” wheels
• Frameless door windows with automatic indexing glass
• Detailed interior with heritage-inspired design, excellent attention to detail and available ambient lighting via LED light pipe technology (ah, we don’t know about this, but to each their own)
• Robust uni-body construction
• Six standard air bags, including head curtain side-impact air bags and front seat-mounted thorax side air bags
• RS appearance package available on LT and SS, will be available with HID headlamps (with integrated halo rings), spoiler, and 20-inch wheels
• Bluetooth capability
• Boston Acoustics audio system
• USB connectivity
• Ultrasonic rear parking assist (late introduction)
• Remote vehicle starting system
• OnStar (of course)
• XM Satellite Radio