Chevrolet Camaro

The thoroughly modern interpretation of the classic sports coupe recaptures the spirit of an American motoring legend.
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 hp aluminum small-block 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 de-activation 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.
Because of Camaro's powerful heritage, the GM Design team chose a theme that pays homage to the original Camaro, while being instantly recognisable as an all new car.

"The fact that the Camaro has been out of production for a number of years made it particularly important that the Camaro Concept honours the Camaro heritage in the right way," said Bob Boniface, director of the Warren Advanced Design Studio.
The 1969 Camaro, considered by many to be the best first-generation design, was a significant inspiration. But as GM design teams in Warren, Michigan, worked on alternatives for the Camaro Concept, they also turned to the latest Corvette and even looked 'outside the square' to military aircraft like the YF-22 Raptor jet fighter, 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 tyres, 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 Camaro Concept features the latest generation of GM's legendary small-block V-8. The 6.0-litre 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 plus 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-pressurised 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.

At the recent Geneva Motor Show GM's head of global product development, Bob Lutz said that the next Monaro could be built on the same production line as the Camaro concept, and badged as the Pontiac GTO. The Monaro and Camaro would share many similar parts, and depending on currency exchange rates, the Monaro could be built either in Australia or the US.
Lutz also indicated that the next generation Monaro was back in full development mode and is expected in 2008.