Carguide Magazine, Metroland Newspapers by Lorne Drury - These are trying times for the folks at General Motors. So it was nice to see some smiles on the faces of Chevrolet executives as they introduced the long-awaited 2010 Camaro to assembled members of the media here on the outskirts of the Motor City on an unusually warm and sunny day in mid-March.
Even as General Motors was teetering on the brink of bankruptcy and everyone was awaiting word on government bail-out packages for the firm on both sides of the border, this was a time for celebration, although a more subdued one than we might have seen a few years earlier.
On the very day media members had a first opportunity to drive the much-anticipated sports coupe, regular production of the new Camaro was beginning at the Oshawa assembly plant. Since it first debuted as a concept car three years ago at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, the return of the Camaro has been the talk of the Motor City and across North America for that matter.
Blog sites and forums have been filled with chat about the new Camaro. And before production had even begun, Chevy had pre-sold 14,000 units and had more than 15.5 million Camaro hits on its website. Finally some positive news for a firm that has seen its fortunes plummet dramatically since the Camaro was last produced in 2002.
And while the Camaro won’t be a saviour on its own, it provides a reason for customers to visit GM showrooms, something they desperately need. As Troy Clarke, president of GM North America says, this is a great time to launch a car like the Camaro because it takes something exciting to “jolt the market a little bit.”
The Camaro will be at Canadian dealerships later this spring, available with both V6 and V8 engines combined with either six-speed automatic or manual transmissions. And best of all, fuel economy is decent for a performance car, delivering an estimated 6.9L/100 km (41 mpg) highway with the peppy 304 hp 3.6-litre V6 engine.
True to its heritage, the Camaro is also offered in SS trim with a powerful 400 hp (426 hp with the manual transmission) 6.2-litre V8. Prices start at $26,995 for the V6 LS model and $36,995 for the SS. While the Camaro name dates back more than 40 years to 1967, Chevy executives insist this isn’t a retro car. In fact, the goal is to attract younger, well-educated buyers to Chevrolet with the Camaro and the marketing types at GM forecast only a third of all buyers will be performance enthusiasts, drawn to the car for nostalgic reasons. These are buyers who will go for the powerful V8.
The other two thirds of buyers are expected to opt for the V6, but they are also described as “passionate drivers who like to stand out in the crowd.” The common ground between the two groups of buyers is they are drawn to the car for its looks and styling. A total of 10 colours are offered, including bright red and yellow colours that really stand out. Just like in the old days, obvious competitors are the Ford Mustang and Dodge Challenger, but according to Ed Peper, the North American vice president of Chevrolet, “there is a wider playing field than you might expect.”
Translated, Chevy hopes to go after higher-end buyers who might be looking at the Nissan 370Z, Infiniti G37, Mazda RX-8 and even the 3-Series BMW. Built on GM’s new rear-wheel drive Zeta platform like the Pontiac G8, the Camaro draws its styling lines from the iconic ‘69 first-generation model while at the same time offering modern-day features such as independent rear suspension, six standard air bags and even a cylinder de-activation system in the V8 automatic that helps save on fuel.
Does the modern, sharper styling work with the Camaro?
Well the buying public will be the judge and during our half-day ride and drive just outside Detroit, the Camaro sure attracted attention. Heads turned, camera phones were pointed our way and even the local constabulary came out in one small town to take a close-up look along with a number of locals. The car is an attention-getter, no doubt.
Styling wise, I prefer the Dodge Challenger, but the Camaro gets the nod for its better road manners. I haven’t driven the 2010 Mustang yet, so I can’t pass comment. From a dollar for dollar standpoint, the Challenger starts at $24,995 for the SE version, while the Mustang V6 coupe is $24,799.
The Camaro is particularly striking from a rear view, with a muscular look thanks to the wide haunches. All versions get dual exhausts, adding to the muscle car appeal.
My co-driver and I spent most of our time in a V6 automatic, the car that will likely make up the bulk of Camaro sales.
I left with the feeling that a V6 would be plenty of car for me; it was quick, quiet and comfortable, even on the winter-scarred roads in the Detroit area.
The ride is firm as one would expect from a sports coupe, but not jarring as you often find with vehicles shod with big performance tires. Wheels are 18, 19 or 20 inchers depending on the model selected.
The LS and LT models get the 3.6-litre direct injected V6 engine with variable valve timing and a choice of six-speed manual or automatic transmissions. This engine is rated at 304 hp and 273 lb/ft of torque.
Two different suspensions are offered. The LS and LT get a sport suspension, while the SS receives a performance suspension with a lower ride height. The variable rate rack and pinion power steering system provided just enough driver feedback, even on less-than-perfect Michigan roads. The car tracked straight and true and handled corners with ease.
Standard are four-wheel discs with ABS. The LS and LT models have single piston calipers all round, while the SS gets larger rotors with four-piston Brembo calipers at all four corners. Also standard is GM’s electronic stability control with traction control.
On the SS is a competitive/sport mode that is adjustable for performance driving such as on a racetrack. It also has a Launch Control feature for manual transmission models for quicker, consistent takeoffs during performance driving. We didn’t get a chance to try that feature as we only had a short time in an SS manual and that was on the highway back to the airport. Hopefully there will be some seat time in an SS model later this year. Nevertheless, the V6 version was a pleasant surprise. You can spruce up the LT model with an RS package ($1,995) that includes a rear spoiler, high intensity discharge headlights and 20-inch aluminum wheels with summer high performance tires.
The combined city/highway fuel consumption rating for the V6 automatic is 9.4 L/100 km (30 mpg) and 9.9 L/100 km (29 mpg) for the manual. For the 6.2L V8, numbers are 10.9 L/100 km (26 mpg) for the automatic and 10.8 L/100 km for the manual.
All in all, an exciting new car is expected to draw increased traffic to GM showrooms.
