Motortrend - First Drive: 2010 Chevrolet Camaro V-6

[AMcA]

I'm fascinated by the car they're showing. Is it missing trim on the front end?

I totally calls to mind the '67 Eldorado.

[AMcA]

It's interesting to note the little electronic items that are missing: power seatback adjusters, and nav. One would think that those items might be relatively easy to add?

I think this points out just how complex automotive electronics are these days. You don't just go slapping new devices on a car. It's not as simple as just plugging some new item in.

[johnstarnes]

I look forward to seeing my first Camaro of any model, SS or otherwise. To me it looks a little pudgy in pics but I suspect I will like it in real life, especially in a darker color.

[Eric77TA]

Originally Posted by AMcA

I'm fascinated by the car they're showing. Is it missing trim on the front end?

I totally calls to mind the '67 Eldorado.

The car pictured in the article doesn't have the production headlights, grille, or bowtie. It's the mule front end.

[87deathtruck]

That car is pure sex. Ive been saving up for a new car since my senior year and Ill think Ill be getting this one after I go to Field Training.

Though Ill need to RS package...and I love the small headlights on the prototype testmule here. Black with red interior. yeaya

[Uzzy]

Originally Posted by johnstarnes

I look forward to seeing my first Camaro of any model, SS or otherwise. To me it looks a little pudgy in pics but I suspect I will like it in real life, especially in a darker color.

Here are the pics I took at the Detroit Grand Prix...hopefully it helps...I want one BAD now!!

[SV6]

They can put a stick behind the six on the Camaro but not the G8(lame)

[Eric77TA]

Originally Posted by SV6

They can put a stick behind the six on the Camaro but not the G8(lame)

Because at least 1 out of 5 Camaro V6s will likely be a stick vs. the 1 in 1,000 G8 V6s they'd sell with a stick. The enthusiasts on boards like this always want them, but in reality they don't sell that well on sedans.

[ksr]

October's Road and Track has a short article on the V-6 Camaro.

It makes it sound like a really good alternative to the V-8. Price in the mid-$20s. Highway fuel economy in the high 20s, city 18-20.

Sounds great.

[red_rider]

Originally Posted by ksr

October's Road and Track has a short article on the V-6 Camaro.

It makes it sound like a really good alternative to the V-8. Price in the mid-$20s. Highway fuel economy in the high 20s, city 18-20.

Sounds great.

I thought the V6 was going to be rated at 16/26, essentially the same as an LS4?

[charts.1]

Originally Posted by Stéphane Dumas

Some will probably replied then the Impala with the 409 was the 1st muscle-car and I didn't mentionned the genesis of the muscle-car with the Chrysler C-300 1955, 1950 Olds 88 and these Hudson Hornet Super-Six

And some countries developed their own adaptation of the muscle-car like Down Under in Australia with the Charger Hemi-6-pack, Ford Falcon GHTI backed with the 351 Cleveland and the Holden Monaro/Torana

Off topic: The muscle car era for chevrolet started with the 1955 belair with chevys first V8 engine the 265 cubic inches (also first for the corvette in 55)

Factory racing popularity in the 1950s, continued & really took off from 1960 - end of 1963. Ford, GM, & Chrysler were knee deep in factory drag racing & NASCAR racing competition at that time.

Long before the Camaro, full sized cars were carrying the banners for their companies. Chevy had the belairs/Impalas with 348s & 409s, Pontiac with their super duty Catalina 421, Ford Galaxie 390s & 406s' and Mopar with their 413s. In late 1962 competition among the big three became so intense they developed cars that had some aluminum body components, hoods, front fenders, bumpers, battery trays, alternator housings etc. to make their cars lighter. Pontiac right from the factory drilled over 100, large holes in the chassis of their super duties to lighten the load. They were known as swiss cheese cars. Again these cars were ordered as (RPO) cars. Drag racing circuits around the USA were all the rage. Street racing from stop light to stop light was also extremely popular. This was the era that the phrase "race on sunday sell on Monday" originated.

Zora Duntov who developed the corvette (the father of chevrolet racing back then) developed a full sized 1963 chevy Impala Z11 409/427 (lightweight) regualr production order (RPO) car from chevrolet could run the quarter mile (then) as fast as the new 2009 Corvette ZR1 can today. With minor tuning the fastest Z11 registered 11.20 second quarter mile times at 127 mph was about the maximum for these cars from that era. 1963 impala price was $2,774. Add the Z11 RPO package $1,240 and you were on your way to owning a un-guided missle! These cars were street legal as long as you snapped the windshield wipers back on, and put on the street tires. Not bad performance technology from 45 years ago. February 23 1963 general motors stopped factory support racing. Racers were now on their own but could still order high performance parts through the back door of chevy. End of an era! The beach boys in 62 had a hit called "409" the only top 40 song devoted entirely to an engine.

1964 saw an end of the full sized cars in drag racing (as we knew it) and came the smaller Malibus/GTOs and Fords and Chryslers.

1967 came the pony market racing wars. Drag racing, grand am racing etc. was all the rage. Mustang against Camaro/Firebird/Challenger/ and american motors Javelin. Great times.

2009 here we go! Everything old is new again. Mustang/Camaro/Challenger. How will this play out.

[nota]

Originally Posted by Stéphane Dumas

And some countries developed their own adaptation of the muscle-car like Down Under in Australia with the Charger Hemi-6-pack, Ford Falcon GHTI [edit GT-HO] backed with the 351 Cleveland and the Holden Monaro/Torana

Thanks for the mention

And what about those crazy South Africans with their potent Ford Perana V8 and the even wilder - and little known - Chevrolet Can Am, an absolute missile of a vehicle that was based on the relatively tiny and very lightweight UK Vauxhall Firenza (4cyl coupe variant of sub-compact Viva)

To share, here's a neat article on the incredible little Chev Can Am

It was one of the most outrageous production cars ever built – anywhere!

[FStephenMasek]

I read the Car & Driver review of a V6 model yesterday. It does seem that GM is wise to sell it as a sports or sporty car, not a muscle car.

While the V6 has good power output, it sounds like a V6, and that sound is not nearly as nice as that made by a 90 degree V8. I would prefer that GM bring back a small displacement V8 as the base engine, and equip it with cylinder shut-off technology and direct injection. Since many current buyers have never owned a vehicle with a V8 engine, the better sound might be a very pleasant surprise during test drives.

[ksr]

Originally Posted by red_rider

I thought the V6 was going to be rated at 16/26, essentially the same as an LS4?

I might have remembered it wrong. R&T just came in and I only had time to glance at it.

I think it said high 20s on the highway.

It seems like a very good, lower-cost option.

[ksr]

Originally Posted by Uzzy

Here are the pics I took at the Detroit Grand Prix...hopefully it helps...I want one BAD now!!

Great pics. Thanks!