Chevy Camaro Slideshow
General Motors took the wraps off of its latest high-powered muscle car this week, but analysts wonder if it might be the last of a dying breed.
The Chicago Tribune reports, "When the redesigned Chevy Camaro arrives for the 2010 model year, it will face competition not only from its long-time pony pals -- a redesigned Ford Mustang and the Dodge Challenger -- but also from climbing gas prices." After more than a year of speculation about what might power the Camaro when it hits showrooms, Chevy revealed that Camaro buyers " will have a choice of a 6- or 6.2-liter V8, or a 3.6-liter V-6, an engine that gets 286 horsepower in the larger Traverse crossover. Estimated mileage is 26 mpg for the V-6 and 23 for the V-8."
That does beat what the 2008 Challenger can do, but it only matches the 2008 Mustang -- which is itself due for a redesign and may get more efficient.
A choice of big V8s? In a year when MINIs have sold out nationwide and GM faces bankruptcy rumors because its lineup has not been particularly fuel-efficient in recent years?
Chevy General Manager Ed Peper told the Tribune, "It will be a third car for some and an everyday driver for others. It's going to be such a fashion statement, and there's a lot of pent-up demand for a car like this." Peper even speculated that "the Camaro could attract owners of mid-size coupes and smaller cars."
Peper told the Detroit Free Press "More than 600,000 consumers have indicated an interest in the vehicle to GM." He added, "A vehicle like this is a very emotional purchase."
He may be on to something. Kicking Tires notes that "all 6,400 copies of [the] Dodge Challenger that will be built and sold for the 2008 model year have been spoken for." The 2008 Challenger SRT8 was listed for $37,995, but days after they first reached showrooms a handful were sold on eBay for upwards of $60,000.
Still, we're a bit surprised that GM didn't offer the 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder that powers the Saturn Sky and Pontiac Solstice as an option for Camaro buyers. That engine puts out 260 horsepower in its other applications -- not far below the V6 Chevy did put in its big muscle car.
Chevy may be banking on the idea that Camaro buyers are simply not interested in fuel economy. After all, Wired comments, if you're going to buy a "badass American muscle car," you're probably "going to get 12 mpg, because you’re going to (justifiably) floor it at every stoplight."
And if your interest in the Camaro is nothing more than window shopping, then GM hopes the car will still lure you into the showroom during the 2010 model year -- where they can point you toward a 45 mpg Chevy Cruze or even a hybrid Chevy Volt.
To see the highly-anticipated Chevy Camaro for yourself, see our slideshow. To read more about what the auto press is saying, see the U.S. News preview of the 2010 Chevy Camaro.
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