Gen Six Camaro: Lighter, More Powerful, More Advanced Technology

The sixth-generation Chevy Camaro was revealed Saturday in Detroit at Belle Isle Park. Consumers can expect higher levels of performance and technology, according to General Motors.

General Motors stated in its press release that the Gen Six Camaro provides a faster, more nimble driving experience, enabled by an all-new lighter architecture and a broader powertrain range. The Gen Six Camaro offers six engines, ranging from a 455-horsepower 6.2-liter V-8 all the way down to a 2.0-liter turbocharged four. The fuel economy influenced the decision to use a four-cylinder engine.

While style, speed, and performance trump gas mileage for most Camaro buyers, it is of concern for General Motors, which must meet U.S. government regulations that require the new car fleet to average 54.5 miles per gallon by 2025. Each engine is available with a six-speed manual or eight-speed automatic transmission.

Camaro buyers can choose a more powerful V6 or V8 engine. No matter what the engine, the lighter Camaro will be more nimble, says Al Oppenheiser, chief engineer on the Camaro.

“It really wakes up the car,” he said. “You can easily feel the weight difference.”

In 2008, as General Motors Corp. was in a full-blown financial crisis and sliding toward bankruptcy, management thought about killing the Camaro before the automaker even brought the coupe back to life. The only thing that saved the Camaro was that it would have cost too much money to ditch it, Oppenheiser said in a January interview.

Mark Reuss, vice president of global product development at GM, has said he is “very confident” that the new Camaro will be faster, more agile, and more fuel efficient than the new 2015 Ford Mustang.

Performance

• Lighter weight with improved handling and performance, SAE certified 275 horsepower in the 2.0 liter turbo engine and 335 horsepower in the 3.6 liter V-6 model.
• Most efficient Camaro delivering more than 30 mpg on the highway (GM-estimated), and 0-60 mph acceleration well under 6 seconds

Technology

• All-new Drive Mode Selector, which tailors up to eight vehicle attributes for four modes: Snow/Ice, Tour, Sport and – on SS models – Track settings
• Segment-exclusive, Interior Spectrum Lighting that offers 24 different ambient lighting effects on the dash, door panels, and center console
• High-definition, configurable color displays – including available dual, 8-inch-diagonal screens.

Design

• Wider range of design choices that include 10 exterior colors, and five interior color combinations
• Aerodynamically optimized to reduce drag on LT models and improving downforce on SS
• All-new, interior with intuitive controls and higher quality materials throughout

[Images: The Verge]