Chevrolet Unveils the 2010 Camaro

Turbonius J. Monkey — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 12:23:53 +0000

One of These Things is Not Like the Others (click pic for larger image)

So Chevy unveiled the 2010 Camaro yesterday in it’s production form. Let’s not kid ourselves. It’s a modern classic, but to call Chevrolet’s newly unveiled Camaro retro is unfair. Sure the styling is inspired by the classic 67 shape and it’s a classic front engine rear wheel drive pony car but the comparison ends there.

More plus pics and all the specs from GM after the jump.

This is an all modern car. 300 HP 24 Valve V6 or hugely powerful V8, independent rear suspension, Stabilitrak control system, 6 speed manual transmission, Bluetooth and USB connectivity, ultrasonic rear parking assist… none of this other than a hugely powerful V8 came on a Chevy in 1967. This thing is about as retro as an F-22 Raptor. Comparisons to the Mustang are fair here, surely the same demographic is targeted, but Chevy has gone the extra mile.

I’m inclined to think this car may be something pretty special. It shares DNA with the Pontiac G8 that happens to be receiving rave reviews throughout the automotive press. The LS and LT models will be equipped with a strong 300 Horsepower V6 (that’s Mustang GT territory) and to sweeten the deal, they’re estimating similar highway fuel economy to that of a Mustang V6 at 26 MPG. The SS model goes a step further, with the same LS3 V8 found in current Corvettes – expect 422 horsepower and an estimated highway fuel economy of 23 MPG.

Here’s where it gets interesting. Chevy’s arsenal has some serious firepower and they held back on using the Z28 moniker. I don’t think the Z28 name will stay retired much longer. The LS7 engine from the Current Z06 is rated over 500 HP. With some serious attention to weight and handling, it’s not unreasonable to imagine an M3 beater. currently reported specs are showing the SS with nearly identical power to weight ratio to that of the current BMW M3. The two cars are only 134 pounds apart.

Now the part where I pull out my crystal ball. 2010 Camaro goes on sale in Q1 2009. I predict that a super light (compared to the standard Camaro) LS7 equipped Z28 gets announced in time to auction off #1 at the 2010 Barrett-Jackson auction in Scottsdale. If this happens expect development to involve a heck of a lot of track testing at the Nurburgring.

Click images for larger view, Official 2010 Camaro Specifications from GM are below.

2010 CHEVROLET CAMARO SPECIFICATIONS

Overview

Models:	Chevrolet Camaro LS, LT and SS
Body style / driveline:	four-passenger, front-engine, rear-drive coupe
Construction:	unitized body frame, one- and two-sided galvanized steel
EPA vehicle class:	coupe
Manufacturing location:	Oshawa, Ontario, Canada Oshawa Car Assembly Plant – The plant assembles the Chevrolet Camaro and Impala and Buick Allure. The Oshawa Car Assembly Plant has placed among the leaders in the J.D. Power Initial Quality Survey for the premium and mid-size segment for a number of years.
Key competitors:	Dodge Challenger, Ford Mustang, Nissan 350Z

Engines

	3.6L V-6 DI VVT (LLT)	6.2L V-8 (LS3, L99)
Application:	LS, LT	SS
Type:	3.6L V-6	6.2L V-8
Displacement (cu in / cc):	217 / 3564	376 / 6162
Bore & stroke (in / mm):	3.70 x 3.37 / 94 x 85.6	4.06 x 3.62 / 103.25 x 92
Block material:	cast aluminum w/ cast-in-place iron bore liners	cast aluminum w/ cast-in-place iron bore liners
Cylinder head material:	aluminum	aluminum
Valvetrain:	dual overhead camshafts, four valves per cylinder, continuously variable valve timing	valve-in-head; two valves per cylinder; roller lifters; Active Fuel Management (L99)
Ignition system:	electronic individual coil-on-plug; individual cylinder knock control and extended-life platinum-tipped spark plugs	high-energy distributorless ignition; solid state direct-fire ignition w/ coil near plug and integrated ignition
Fuel delivery:	direct high-pressure fuel injection	returnless, multi-port fuel injection
Compression ratio:	11.3:1	10.7:1
Horsepower (hp / kW @ rpm):	300 / 224 @ 6400 rpm*	422 / 315 @ 5000 (LS3)* 400 / 299 @ 5000 (L99)*
Torque (lb-ft / Nm @ rpm):	273 / 370 @ 5200 rpm*	408 / 553 @ 4500 (LS3)* 395 / 535 @ 4500 (L99)*
Recommended fuel:	regular unleaded	premium recommended
Maximum engine speed (rpm):	7000	6000 (L99) 6600 (LS3)
Emissions controls:	evaporative system, single close-coupled catalytic converter, equal-length exhaust, single underfloor catalytic converter, positive crankcase ventilation, intake and exhaust cam phasers, electronic throttle control	evaporative system, close-coupled catalytic converters, positive crankcase ventilation, electronic throttle control
Fuel economy (auto trans):	26 hwy (est)	23 hwy (est)

Transmissions

	Hydra-Matic 6L50 six-speed automatic (LS, LT) w/ TAPshift	Hydra-Matic 6L80 six-speed automatic (SS) w/ TAPshift	Aisin Warner AY6 six-speed manual (LS, LT)	TR6060 six-speed manual (SS)
Gear ratios (:1):
First:	4.07	4.03	4.48	3.01
Second:	2.37	2.36	2.58	2.07
Third:	1.55	1.53	1.63	1.43
Fourth:	1.16	1.15	1.19	1.00
Fifth:	0.85	0.85	1.00	0.84
Sixth:	0.67	0.67	0.75	0.57
Reverse:	3.06	3.06	3.67	3.28
Final drive ratio:	3.27	3.27	3.27	3.45

Chassis/Suspension

Front:	double-ball-joint, multi-link strut; direct-acting stabilizer bar; progressive-rate coil springs; fully adjustable camber, caster and toe
Rear:	4.5-link independent; progressive-rate coil springs over shocks; stabilizer bar; fully adjustable camber and toe
Steering type:	variable-ratio rack-and-pinion
Steering ratio:	16.1:1
Steering wheel turns, lock-to-lock:	2.5
Turning circle, curb-to-curb (ft / m):	37.7/11.5

Brakes

Type:	four-wheel disc w/ ABS; ventilated front and rear rotors; single-piston front calipers and single-piston alloy rear calipers (LS, LT); four-piston fixed Brembo aluminum front and rear calipers (SS)
Rotor diameter, front (in / mm):	LS, LT: 12.64 / 321 SS: 14 / 355
Rotor diameter, rear (in / mm):	LS, LT: 12.4 / 315 SS: 14.4 / 365
Rotor thickness, front (in / mm):	LS, LT: 1.18 / 30 SS: 1.26 / 32
Rotor thickness, rear (in / mm):	LS, LT: 0.9 / 23 SS: 1.1 / 28

Wheels/Tires

	LS	LT	SS
Wheel size and type:	18 x 7.5-inch steel	18 x 7.5-inch aluminum 19 x 8-inch aluminum	20 x 8-inch aluminum (front) 20 x 9-inch aluminum (rear)
Tires:	P245/55R18 all-season	P245/55R18 all-season P245/50R19 all-season	P245/45ZR20 summer (front) P275/40ZR20 summer (rear)

Dimensions
Exterior

Wheelbase (in / mm):	112.3 / 2852
Overall length (in / mm):	190.4 / 4836
Overall width (in / mm):	75.5 / 1918
Overall height (in / mm):	54.2 / 1377
Track, front (in / mm):	63.7 / 1618
Track, rear (in / mm):	64.1 / 1628 (LS, LT)63.7 / 1618 (SS)
Curb weight (lb / kg):	3750 / 1705 – LT w/ automatic 3741 / 1700 – LT w/ manual 3769 / 1713 – LS w/ automatic 3780 / 1718 – LS w/ manual 3913 / 1779 – SS w/ automatic 3860 / 1755 – SS w/ manual
Weight balance (% front / rear):	52 / 48

Interior

Seating capacity (front / rear):	2 / 2
Headroom (in / mm):	front: 37.4 / 950 rear: 35.3 / 897
Legroom (in / mm):	front: 42.4 / 1077 rear: 29.9 / 757
Shoulder room (in / mm):	front: 56.9 / 1444 rear: 42.5 / 1080

Capacities

Cargo volume (cu ft / L):	11.3 / 320
Fuel tank (gal / L):	19 / 71.9
Engine oil (qt / L):	3.6L: 7.6 / 7.2 6.2L: 8.9 / 8.5

*Pending SAE certification.
Note: Information shown is current at time of publication.

Mondo Motoring » Chevy

Chevrolet Unveils the 2010 Camaro

2010 CHEVROLET CAMARO SPECIFICATIONS