Chevrolet Camaro
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
The Chevrolet Camaro has a long-running love affair with musclecar fans, nearly as long as that of its rival ponycar.
Introduced in 1967 as a response to the stunning success of the Ford Mustang, the Camaro has had its ups and downs in more than 40 years on the car scene. Paired until recently with a companion Pontiac Firebird, the Camaro has been offered in five different generations as a two-door sports coupe, with V-6 or V-8 power and rear-wheel drive. Special editions have included the Camaro RS, Camaro SS and Camaro IROC-Z, and convertible and T-top body styles. Until 2002, GM had built the Camaro in each model year for 35 consecutive years, but GM decided to kill the musclecar in 2002, ending production of the composite-bodied Camaro in Canada.
The Ford Mustang and Chevy Camaro have a rivalry that goes back decades, and with the all-new Camaro introduced last year, it's resulted in a new arms race. For 2011, the base direct-injected V-6 engine has been re-rated to 312 hp (GM says they were conservative before, but it lets them one-up the 2011 Mustang's 305-hp V-6). The 3.6-liter direct-injected V-6 used in base LS and LT versions of the 2011 Chevrolet Camaro LS and LT actually moves the Camaro quite quickly—fast enough for most tastes, if the Camaro's looks are your main motivator for buying.
But if it's the throbbing V-8 sound and heaps of low-RPM torque that you crave, either V-8 model will deliver—with 0-60 times in the four-second range and plenty of tire-smoking potential, on a closed course, of course. The V-8-powered Camaro SS is offered with two distinct engines that correspond to the driver's transmission choice. Both are 6.2-liter V-8s sourced from the Corvette. The L99 V-8 goes with the six-speed automatic, and it benefits from variable valve timing and active fuel management (that enables the engine to run in V-8 and V-4 modes). Horsepower and torque are 400/410, respectively. The LS3 6.2-liter V-8 is matched to the manually shifted six-speed Tremec TR6060. The LS3 puts out 426 horsepower and 420 pound-feet of torque.
Unlike the muscle cars of the past, the 2011 Camaro handles quite well, with immediate response, communicative steering, and very little roll. It's exceptionally agile and a bit less twitchy than the Mustang's live-axle setup on rough surfaces, even if Ford does manage to work wonders with it.
Drivers of the 2011 Chevrolet Camaro might be a little more reckless—or, shall we say, exuberant—than your typical sedan driver, so it's good to see that GM hasn't skimped on the safety features. Six airbags are standard (four in front with side-curtain airbags that extend to the second row), as are anti-lock brakes, traction control, and dynamic stability control.
There are limited crash-test results available for the Camaro; the insurance-funded IIHS hasn't yet tested it, but the federal government has, giving it a modest four out of five stars in frontal protection but a commendable five stars in side protection. Because it's such a low, wide vehicle, it earns the federal five-star rollover rating.
Visibility, however, is a severe issue in the Camaro for all sizes of drivers. The arching roofline will get in the way of tall drivers, while shorter drivers will find it hard to see their way out at some angles due to the high beltline, which rises even higher near the back.
Conclusion: There are plenty of measures in the 2011 Chevrolet Camaro to help protect drivers from the unexpected, as well as to keep occupants out of trouble in the first place.
Other Features
StabiliTrak, stability control system with traction control
Daytime Running Lamps
Air bags, dual-stage frontal, thorax side-impact for driver and...
StabiliTrak, stability control system with traction control
Daytime Running Lamps
Air bags, dual-stage frontal, thorax side-impact for driver and...
Safety belts, 3-point, all seating positions
OnStar, 6 months of Directions and Connections plan includes...
Automatic Crash Response
Trunk emergency release handle
StabiliTrak, stability control system with traction control
Daytime Running Lamps
Air bags, dual-stage frontal, thorax side-impact for driver and...
Trunk emergency release handle
OnStar, 6 months of Directions and Connections plan includes...
Automatic Crash Response
StabiliTrak, stability control system with traction control
Daytime Running Lamps
Air bags, dual-stage frontal, and thorax and head side-impact,...
Trunk emergency release handle
Tire Pressure Monitoring System
OnStar, 6 months of Directions and Connections plan includes...
Automatic Crash Response
Safety belts, 3-point, all seating positions
Safety belt pretensioners driver and front passenger
LATCH system (Lower Anchors and Top tethers for CHildren) for...
Trunk emergency release handle
Tire Pressure Monitoring System
Stolen Vehicle Assistance
OnStar Turn-by-Turn Navigation
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