CHEVROLET CAMARO CONCEPT:
CAPTURING THE TIMELESS SPIRIT OF CAMARO
from CamaroHomePage.com
DETROIT – Combining dramatic design and exciting
performance, the Chevrolet Camaro Concept recaptures
the spirit of one of the most popular sport coupes
of all time and redefines the Camaro for new
generations of fans.
The
Camaro Concept embodies the performance and passion
that have made first-generation Camaros some of the
most sought-after collector cars, updating the
formula with a fuel-efficient powertrain,
sophisticated chassis and contemporary design
execution. The goal is to make the sport coupe
relevant to younger enthusiasts while retaining its
appeal to its current fans.
“Millions of people of all ages fell in love with
the Camaro for all of the right reasons,” said Ed
Welburn, GM vice president, global design. “Camaros
were beautiful to look at and offered performance
that could rival expensive European GTs. Yet they
were practical enough to drive every day and priced
within the reach of many new car buyers.”
Though
only a show car at this point, the Camaro Concept is
intended to explore customer reaction to design and
engineering elements that might lead to an all-new
version of the Camaro.
The long
hood, short deck and wide stance of the Camaro
Concept leave no doubt that it is a serious
performance car. Those looks are backed up by a
400-horsepower aluminum small-bock V-8, a six-speed
manual transmission, and a sophisticated chassis
with four-wheel independent suspension.
Like its
forebears, the Camaro Concept would be practical
enough for everyday use. It features fuel-saving
features like Active Fuel Management™ cylinder
deactivation technology, yielding highway fuel
economy of 30 mpg or better. Its overall size is a
comfortable fit for city streets and suburban
parking lots, and its back seat provides occasional
seating for two adults.
Lean,
muscular design
Because
of Camaro’s powerful heritage, the GM Design team
chose a theme that pays homage to the original
Camaro, while being instantly recognizable as an
all-new car.
Said Bob
Boniface, director of the Warren Advanced Design
Studio, “The fact that the Camaro has been out of
production for a number of years made it
particularly important that the Camaro Concept
honors the Camaro heritage in the right way.”
The 1969
Camaro, considered by many to be the best
first-generation design, was a significant
inspiration. But as GM design teams in Warren,
Mich., worked on alternatives for the Camaro
Concept, they also turned to the latest Corvette and
to aircraft like the YF-22, seeking a design that
encompasses the spirit that made the 1969 Camaro
great, but interprets that spirit in a fresh,
exciting way.
“The
overall proportions, long hood and powerful fender
forms say, ‘This is a front-engine, rear-wheel drive
performance vehicle,’ ” said Tom Peters, design
director, rear-wheel drive performance cars. The
prominent front grille and hood bulge hint at the
power of the Corvette-inspired V-8 engine. Large
wheels and tires, exposed high-performance brakes
and prominent fender shapes signal that the Camaro
Concept has the handling and braking to go with the
powertrain.
The
cockpit of the Camaro nestles between sharply
defined fender forms, a design element inspired by
fighter planes and the new Corvette. And like any
high-performance vehicle, the clean, purposeful
design is integral to the aesthetic. “The Camaro
Concept isn’t just a styled shape,” said Peters.
“The design incorporates what the vehicle needs to
perform to its optimum level.”
The same
purposeful design is reflected in the interior of
the Camaro Concept. The gauges and splash of orange
trim hint at classic first-generation Camaros, but
the overall design and execution reflect the
no-nonsense functionality that drivers expect from a
high-performance Chevrolet sports car.
Performance for the real world
The
Camaro Concept features the latest generation of
GM’s legendary small-block V-8. The 6.0-liter LS2
engine features an aluminum block and heads for
light weight, and Active Fuel Management™, which
shuts off four cylinders to save fuel when the
engine is lightly loaded. This concept version of
the LS2 is rated at 400 horsepower, yet it could
also deliver more than 30 mpg at highway speeds.
The
Camaro Concept’s six-speed manual transmission
provides a wide spread of ratios for aggressive
acceleration off the line, confident passing and
merging and efficient highway cruising.
Modern
sports cars are about more than just straight-line
speed, so the Camaro Concept features a
sophisticated rear-wheel drive chassis. Its
independent front and rear suspension features
progressive-rate springs and gas-pressurized
dampers. Four-wheel vented disc brakes with 14-inch
rotors provide confident stopping under all
conditions.
Enhancing both the performance and appearance of the
Camaro Concept are unique five-spoke cast alloy
wheels, 21 inches in the front and 22 inches in the
rear.
An
American icon
Designed
in the mid-1960s, the first-generation Camaro
captured the optimism of an era. The Baby Boomers
were in their teens, rock-and-roll and Motown ruled
the airwaves, and American culture was sweeping the
globe.
Like the
Impala, Chevelle and Sting Ray, the new Camaro
showcased Chevy’s strength of bringing stylish,
high-quality cars to a mainstream audience. Its
dramatic proportions and graceful lines recalled
both the Corvette and the Italian Gran Turismo cars
of the era. And its powertrain lineup, which soon
included both the potent Z-28 small block and big
block 396s and 427s, gave the Camaro the performance
to go with its looks.
But what
really made the Camaro an American icon was that it
was accessible to millions. Chevy sold more than
699,000 Camaros in its first three years. So for
every Z-28 taking the checkered flag at the track,
there were thousands of less exotic Camaros cruising
the drive-ins, picking up the groceries, or taking
the family on vacation.
“The
Camaro Concept is designed to have that same broad
appeal, with unmistakable style, spirit and
performance,” said Welburn.
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