The best strip teases don't last two-and-a-half years. But General Motors has been tantalizing us with concepts, slowly revealing a sexy, angular body, and keeping headlights and underhood goods a mystery - until now.
This is the first official look at the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro. Having trouble getting excited? The following delicious details should help increase blood flow.
As you probably know, the new Camaro was designed and engineered collectively by GM North America and GM Australia using the rear-wheel-drive Zeta platform. The car's dimensions differ slightly from the Camaro concept displayed at the 2006 Detroit auto show. The wheelbase has grown by nearly two inches, and the body is more than three inches longer, about an inch taller, and almost four inches slimmer at the waist.
Despite the new measurements, the production car's styling remains virtually identical to that of the concept. B-pillars have been added for safety and structural integrity. Twenty-inch aluminum wheels wrapped in Pirelli rubber replace the concept's twenty-one- and twenty-two-inch wheels. And concept-car design elements such as a larger grille and fascia, upper grille lip, and blackout rear diffuser are exclusive to the V-8-powered Camaro SS models. (Chevrolet is not using the traditional Z28 designation.) The V-6 Camaro is available in LS and LT trim. An available RS package adds HID headlights, darker taillight lenses, and bigger, painted wheels.
The cabin is also remarkably faithful to the show car, with rectangular instrument binnacles, a three-spoke steering wheel, optional embroidered seats, and center-mounted auxiliary gauges. Side curtain air bags are standard. LED lighting and colored dashboard accents are available, as well as Bluetooth, a Boston Acoustics sound system, a USB port with an iPod interface, and a sunroof. (True sun worshippers will have to wait until spring 2010 for the convertible.)
Peek under the bulging hood, and the story gets even better. The production car is available with a Corvette-derived 6.2-liter V-8 engine. Although the output figures haven't been certified, GM estimates that the most potent SS model will produce 420 hp and 408 lb-ft of torque from its LS3 V-8, with the L99 V-8-powered car good for 395 hp. The 304-hp, direct-injected, 3.6-liter V-6 (first seen in the 2008 Cadillac CTS) will power LS and LT models. Engines will be linked to either six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmissions. Other standard mechanical goodies include stability control, traction control, ABS, and an independent rear suspension. Camaro SS models get exclusive four-piston Brembo brakes. ...next page >>