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The wait is over. After a seven-year hiatus, the new Chevrolet Camaro is
now back in dealer showrooms.
Combining great looks, performance and advanced technology, the 2010
Camaro honors its heritage while delivering on customer expectations of
a sports coupe for the 21st century.
"The new Camaro delivers a modern, advanced package of performance,
comfort and technology," said Ed Peper, Chevrolet general manager and
General Motors vice president. "It's a personal car for a generation of
enthusiasts, both young and old, that honors the Chevrolet Camaro's
heritage with a thoroughly contemporary design.
Built on the new global rear-wheel-drive passenger car platform,
Chevrolet Camaro embodies GM's global vehicle development and design
process. The original design concept was conceived in the United States,
with engineering shared by both Australia and U.S. teams. Validation was
conducted on roads throughout the world and assembly is handled by GM's
award-winning plant in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada.
Design features
With a design that is very close to the original concept, the 2010
Chevrolet Camaro acknowledges its heritage from the first-generation
Camaro, produced from 1967 through 1969. The two-door sports coupe
features classic proportions over a 112.3-inch (2,852 mm) wheelbase. The
overall length of the Chevrolet Camaro is 190.4 inches (4,836 mm); width
and height are 75.5 inches (1,918 mm) and 54.2 inches (1,376 mm),
respectively.
The long hood and short deck are pushed to the far corners of the
muscular fender forms and a fast, 67-degree rake windshield contributes
to aerodynamic performance that includes a 0.37 coefficient of drag (Cd)
on V-6 models and a slightly sleeker 0.35 Cd on the V-8-powered SS
model.
Wheel arch openings received special attention through the design
process. Whether the Chevrolet Camaro is equipped with the standard
18-inch, or optional 19-inch or 20-inch wheels, the relationship of the
top of the tire and bottom of the fender is consistent on all models.
All models also feature the classic "V" design motif in the nose, along
with a 2.5-inch (63.5 mm) power dome in the aluminum hood, reminiscent
of high-performance Chevrolet Camaro models. On SS models, a simulated
air intake is located in the upper front fascia and the lower air intake
is larger.
On the top, designers took a cue from Corvette and sculpted twin
cockpits across the roof, giving the vehicle a distinctive Chevrolet
presence. From the outside, the B-pillar is invisible to the eye,
lending the true appearance of a hardtop coupe. The B-pillar is designed
to provide increased structural rigidity to the car. And to ensure
quality in the manufacturing process, a one-piece body stamping provides
a cleaner overall side appearance that is free of seams, gaps or plastic
appliqués. "Gills" located in the front of the rear quarter panel also
are familiar Chevrolet Camaro styling cues.
Ten exterior colors are available and include Black, Victory Red, Rally
Yellow and Silver Ice Metallic. Red Jewel Tintcoat is also available as
an option. The color palette also includes Cyber Gray Metallic, Aqua
Blue Metallic, Inferno Orange Metallic, White and Imperial Blue
Metallic.
An RS appearance package is available on LT and SS. It includes HID
headlamps with integrated halo rings, a rear spoiler on LT, specific
taillamps and 20-inch wheels with a Midnight Silver finish.
Interior details
Inside the four-passenger cabin, a well-executed balance of heritage,
modern design and attention to detail conveys simplicity and refinement
with contemporary details in the cluster, switches, dials and lighting.
An available ambient light package, for example, offers advanced LED
light pipe technology, giving the cabin a distinctive glow.
Deep, recessed gauges, located in square housings outlined in chrome,
give a nod to the classic Camaro interior. The instrument panel gauges
include both speedometer and engine rpm, with a driver information
center located between the large gauges - its readouts and features
controlled via a stalk on the steering column. An optional,
console-mounted gauge package includes oil pressure, oil temperature,
volts and transmission fluid temperature. The gauge package is included
on 2LT and 2SS models.
Cloth upholstery is standard and leather-appointed seats are included on
2LT and 2SS models. Four-way manual adjustment including fore/aft and
up/down on the driver seat and two-way adjustment on the passenger seat
is standard. Heated, leather-trimmed seats with driver six-way power
adjustment are optional.
Both LT and SS standard cloth and available leather interior colors are
black, gray and beige. The front seat travel is a generous 8.5 inches
(216 mm) from front to back. On SS models, the seats feature a
distinctive SS logo on the headrest with contrasting stitching. An
Inferno Orange interior trim package also will be available with leather
interiors.
All models include a three-spoke steering wheel with manual
tilt/telescope adjustment. Cruise control and rear defog also are
standard, while a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob;
redundant steering wheel controls; Bluetooth and USB port are part of
the available Driver Convenience and Connectivity package. Also included
in the package is remote start on automatic transmission-equipped
vehicles, as well as a personal device interface module for iPods.
Soon after production begins, customers will be able to order a
short-throw Hurst shifter that provides quick, concise shifting.
Chevrolet Camaro's entertainment systems include a single-CD radio with
six speakers that is standard on LS, LT and SS models. A premium,
245-watt Boston Acoustics nine-speaker audio system can be ordered on
1LT and SS models. XM Satellite Radio is standard on all models.
All models also include power door locks and express up and down driver
and passenger window. Cargo capacity can be increased with the standard
fold-down rear seat. The capacity of the trunk is 11.3 cubic feet (320
liters).
Safety
The Chevrolet Camaro offers a comprehensive system of safety features -
starting with a robust body structure and integral safety cage around
the passenger compartment. High-strength steel and ultra high-strength
steels are used in key areas throughout the structure. Safety
technologies also include:
Driver and front passenger dual-stage air bags
Driver and front passenger seat-mounted thorax side-impact air bags
Head curtain side-impact air bags for front- and rear-seat occupants
Front-seat safety belt load limiters and pretensioners
A front passenger detection system that senses children and
small-stature adults, and suppresses air bag deployment when
appropriate.
In both doors, an interlock pin is utilized to prevent intrusion into
the passenger compartment and adds stiffness to the door structure by
engaging with a clevis bracket set into the rocker panel.
Powertrains
When it comes to performance, the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro delivers in
unexpected ways. An advanced 3.6L direct-injected V-6 with variable
valve timing is standard on LS and LT models. It offers power and
efficiency, with 304 horsepower (227 kW) and EPA-rated 29 mpg in highway
driving.
The performance-oriented Chevrolet Camaro SS offers a pair of 6.2L V-8s,
including one with Active Fuel Management that helps improve fuel
economy by shutting down four cylinders during certain light-load
driving conditions. That model delivers 25 mpg in EPA-rated highway fuel
economy.
Indeed, the surprising fuel economy of the new Chevrolet Camaro enhances
the driving experience. LS and LT models are EPA-rated at 18 mpg in the
city and 29 on the highway with an automatic transmission; and 17 city
and 29 highway with the manual transmission. Chevrolet Camaro SS with an
automatic is rated at 16 city and 25 highway; and 16 city/24 highway
with the manual transmission. Notably, none of Chevrolet Camaro's models
is subject to federal gas guzzler taxes.
For comparison, the more expensive 2009 Dodge Challenger SRT8 offers
comparable horsepower to the Chevrolet Camaro SS with the manual
transmission - 425 (317 kW) vs. 426 (318 kW) - and is EPA-rated at 14
city and 22 highway. When automatic-equipped models are compared, the
Chevrolet Camaro wins again, with the Challenger SRT8 rated at 13 city
and 19 highway.
All of Chevrolet Camaro's engines channel their power to a responsive
chassis that features independent front and rear suspensions, large,
four-wheel-disc brake systems with standard ABS and GM's StabiliTrak
electronic stability control system.
3.6L direct injection V-6
Chevrolet Camaro's 3.6L direct injection (DI) V-6 delivers more power
through increased efficiency, while maintaining fuel economy and
lowering emissions - including a 25-percent drop in cold-start
hydrocarbon emissions. Direct injection optimizes fuel delivery to the
combustion chamber by introducing fuel closer to the combustion chamber.
The fuel injectors are located beneath the intake ports and fuel is
injected directly into the cylinder. The result is better efficiency in
the combustion process leading to increased fuel efficiency at part and
full throttle.
The 3.6L DI engine produces 304 horsepower (227 kW) at 5,900 rpm and 273
lb.-ft. of torque (370 Nm) at 5,200 rpm. Its 60-degree cylinder block
and cylinder heads are cast aluminum to help reduce mass. A forged steel
crankshaft provides optimal strength in the bottom end. The cylinder
heads include four valves per cylinder, with a dual overhead camshaft
design incorporating infinitely variable cam phasing.
A full dual exhaust system, with dual catalytic converters, helps reduce
back pressure for optimum power. It also helps the engine reach
operating temperature quicker to help burn off cold-start emissions. And
despite a compression ratio of 11.3:1, the 3.6L DI engine is designed to
run on regular gas.
Chevrolet Camaro SS's 6.2L powertrains
Two 6.2L V-8 engines are offered in the Chevrolet Camaro SS, including
the new L99 on automatic-equipped vehicles and the LS3 on
manual-equipped models. Both engines are derived from the LS3 that
debuted on the 2008 Chevrolet Corvette.
The 90-degree V-8 includes an aluminum block (with cast iron cylinder
liners) and aluminum cylinder heads. The bottom end of the engine
includes a new structural cast aluminum oil pan, with an oil capacity of
8.9 quarts (8.5 liters), while the two-valve cylinder head design is
based on race-proven airflow dynamics. The intake valves measure 2.16
inches (55 mm) and exhaust valves are 1.60 inches (40.5 mm) in diameter.
The 6.2L engines also use a roller lifter-style camshaft with 5-percent
greater intake-side valve lift than the Corvette's LS3. It manages
airflow that is channeled through an acoustically tuned intake manifold
with a composite design that reduces runner-to-runner variation. The
throttle bore diameter is 90 mm.
Horsepower for the L99 is 400 (298 kW) at 5,900 rpm and torque is 410
lb.-ft. (556 Nm) at 4,300 rpm. The LS3 develops 426 horsepower (318 kW)
at 5,900 rpm and 420 lb.-ft. (569 Nm) at 4,600 rpm (all numbers are SAE
certified). Output on the L99 is lower than the LS3 because of a
slighter lower compression ratio (10.4:1 vs. 10.7:1) and design features
of the Active Fuel Management System. The L99 is paired exclusively with
an automatic transmission.
As with the 3.6L models, the SS models employ a full dual exhaust
system, with two catalytic converters to reduce back pressure.
Transmissions
All Chevrolet Camaro models can be equipped with either a six-speed
manual or six-speed automatic transmission. The availability of a
six-speed automatic transmission is a first for Chevrolet Camaro.
Standard with the 3.6L engine is the Aisin AY6 six-speed manual. It
features lower shift effort and shorter throws for easier shifting and
"fun-to-drive" characteristics. A hydraulic clutch and self-adjusting
mechanism eliminates the need for adjustments throughout the lifespan of
the transmission.
The Hydra-Matic 6L50 six-speed automatic is optional with 3.6L-equipped
models. It has an aggressive 4.07:1 first gear ratio that delivers
strong launches, but also provides tall overdrive ratios that decrease
engine rpm and provide better fuel efficiency. The 6L50 also includes
driver shift control, with the driver taking control via paddle shifts
located on the steering wheel after selecting the "M" mode on the
console-mounted shifter.
Performance Algorithm Shifting (PAS) is included with the 6L50. It lets
the electronic transmission controller override the automatic gear
selection during high lateral acceleration maneuvers.
On SS models, the new Tremec TR 6060 six-speed manual is paired with the
LS3. It is designed to handle the high torque characteristics of the
engine, while providing shorter throws, smoother gear synchronization
and greater overall shift feel with little or no vibration. Its specs
include a solid 290 mm flywheel and single-plate clutch. The final drive
ratio for LS3 vehicles is 3.45:1.
The highest-capacity automatic ever in a GM passenger car, the Hydra-Matic
6L80 six-speed automatic, is matched with the L99 engine. Like the 6L50
transmission, it features driver shift control and PAS. The final drive
ratio on all automatic-equipped Chevrolet Camaro models is 3.27:1.
Ride & Handling
Fully independent front and rear suspensions are the underpinnings of
the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro. The standard independent rear suspension is a
first for Chevrolet Camaro and is designed to compete with the best in
the world. It's a 4.5-link system that includes a unique, L-shaped upper
control arm that attaches to the knuckle at one end and incorporates a
ride bushing in the rear.
Based on GM's global rear-drive passenger car architecture, the
Chevrolet Camaro sits on a 112.3-inch (2,852 mm) wheelbase, with an
overall length of 190.4 inches (4,836 mm). The front track is a wide
63.7 inches (1,618 mm) for all models, while the rear track on LS and LT
models is 64.1 inches (1,628 mm) and 63.7 inches (1,618 mm) on SS
models.
Two suspension packages are offered: FE2 sport on V-6 models and FE3
performance with the V-8. The front suspension has a dual ball strut
system, with a direct-acting stabilizer bar that measures 22.2 x 4 mm on
FE2 and 23 x 4.2 mm on FE3. Hollow bars are used for mass savings. The
front spring rates for FE2 models are 25 Nm, with wheel travel at 96 mm.
FE3 models include a stiffer, 27 Nm spring rate, with wheel travel
reduced at 84 mm.
Rear suspension features include high lateral stiffness for handling via
three lateral ball joints per side. A sub-frame at the rear is
double-isolated to minimize vehicle body motions and dampen road
imperfections. The FE2 with a manual transmission includes a spring rate
of 53 Nm, with wheel travel at 115 mm, and employs a limited-slip
differential. The FE3 rear axle uses a limited slip differential on both
manual- and automatic-equipped models; and the rear spring rate is
increased to 66 Nm and wheel travel is reduced to 100 mm. Coil-over
shock absorbers are used in the rear with a decoupled, hollow stabilizer
bar. FE2 includes a 21.7 x 3 mm rear bar, while the FE3's large bar
measures 23 x 3 mm.
The axle halfshafts on all V-8 models and manual transmission-equipped
V-6 models are 30 mm in diameter on the left side and 40 mm on the right
side. This design feature helps reduce the oscillation of torque from
side to side and reduces axle hop.
Brakes
Front brakes for LS and LT models include single-piston calipers with
321 mm x 30 mm rotors. For long life, performance and consistent feel,
organic, non-asbestos compounds are used with FE2 brakes. At the rear
are vented rear discs measuring 315 mm x 30 mm, with a single-piston
aluminum caliper.
The SS front brake package includes Brembo 355 mm x 32 mm vented rotors
with four-piston aluminum calipers. Semi-metallic brake linings are used
at all four corners on FE3 models for superior fade resistance and pedal
feel. The rear brakes are vented Brembos measuring 365 mm x 28 mm, with
aluminum four-piston calipers.
Steering
The 2010 Camaro's precise rack-and-pinion steering gives great driver
feedback and cornering confidence. The design includes the rack mounted
forward of the front axle centerline that enhances handling and provides
a stiffer system, while maintaining a degree of lateral force that helps
vehicle stability during turn-in. It also benefits noise and vibration
characteristics. The steering ratio is 16.1:1 on all models, with 2.5
turns lock-to-lock. The turning circle diameter for all wheel-and-tire
combinations is 37.7 feet (11.5 meters).
Chassis control systems
All Chevrolet Camaro models include a four-channel StabiliTrak
electronic stability control system that incorporates anti-lock braking,
traction control and an active braking system to control wheel slip,
optimize traction and enhance stability in wet, snow-covered or icy
roads.
All SS models have a competitive/sport mode that optimizes the
electronic stability control system for competitive driving and track
conditions. It provides a less governed level of stability control for
expert driving on race tracks. The stability control system engages only
in severe oversteer or extreme acceleration in this mode.
New for Chevrolet Camaro SS models with a manual transmission is
Performance Launch Control that is enabled in the competitive mode. It
is designed to control wheel slip to an optimal level, allowing hard
accelerations at launch to achieve maximum grip and vehicle
acceleration.
Hydraulic brake assist also is standard on all models. The system
activates during emergency braking by detecting the speed and force the
driver applies to the brakes. Under certain conditions, the hydraulic
brake assist may activate the ABS more quickly and easily than vehicles
without the feature.
Wheels and tires
Standard on LS models are P245/55R18 all season BFGoodrich touring tires
mounted on 18 x 7.5-inch steel wheels. Optional wheels include 18 x
7.5-inch and 19 x 8-inch aluminum alloy wheels. On the optional 19-inch
wheel, P245/50R19 Pirelli Pzero Nero M+S may be ordered.
For SS models, 20-inch wheels are standard, with tire sizes of 245/45R20
up front and 275/40R20 at the rear. SS models are equipped with Pirelli
Pzero summer-only, Z-rated tires. Twenty-one-inch wheels and tires are
available as accessories through Chevrolet dealerships.
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