chevrolet camaro 2008

General Motors started producing the Chevrolet Camaro in 1967 and it continued for the next thirty-five years, until 2002. After a hiatus for several years, General Motors will begin production of the fifth-generation Chevrolet Camaro[1] in February 2009. The Camaro will go on sale in spring of 2009 for the 2010 model year.[2][3]

2006 Camaro Concept

The return of the Camaro name has been anticipated by enthusiasts since fourth generation production ended in 2002. On 6 January 2006, the first official word regarding a fifth generation Camaro from General Motors came at the 2006 North American International Auto Show, where the 2006 Camaro Concept was released.[4] AutoWeek editors unanimously awarded the Camaro Concept "Best In Show." The concept is based on the new GM Zeta platform and was designed by South Korean-born Sangyup Lee.[5] Road & Track offered an exclusive first look at the car which had photos as well as a short video on the day the concept was released.[6]
2006 Camaro Concept

The concept car features the same formula the Camaro has also stuck with; 2-doors, 4-passenger, rear-wheel drive, coupe. The wheelbase is 110.5 in (281 cm), which is 9 in (23 cm) longer than the previous generation, but an overall length of just 186.2 in (473 cm), 7 in (18 cm) shorter. The Camaro Concept is powered by a 400 hp (298 kW) 6.0 L (366 cu in) LS2 V8 with Active Fuel Management and is equipped with the T-56 six-speed manual transmission. Other features include a four-wheel independent suspension system, four-wheel disc brakes with 14 in (36 cm) rotors and four-piston calipers, and 21 in (53 cm) front / 22 in (56 cm) rear wheels covered in huge 275/30R21 front / 305/30R22 rear tires.[4]

[edit] 2007 Camaro Convertible Concept
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2007 Camaro Convertible Concept

The 2007 Camaro Convertible Concept was announced 6 January 2007 at the 2007 North American International Auto Show. Early speculation by many automotive publications[7][8][9] proved to be true when early embargo was broken on 4 January, 2007.[10][11]
"...if this Camaro convertible doesn't make your heart beat faster, you should see either your optometrist or your cardiologist, because you have a problem."
—-Ed Peper, Chevrolet General Manager[12]

At a glance it would seem that the only difference between the coupe and convertible concepts would be the roof and Hugger Orange pearl tri-coat paint job with a pair of dark gray racing stripes, but this is not the case.[13] Besides the obvious convertible top, there are subtle changes to the exterior as well. Every surface was changed from the door-cut back. The rear fenderlines drop off from the horizontal surface to the vertical surface a couple of inches farther out than on the coupe to keep proportions good and the rear spoiler was reshaped. The 21 in (53 cm) front and 22 in (56 cm) rear wheels were also redesigned and a thin orange line was applied to the outer edge, a nod to redwalls available circa 1969.

There are many interior changes that were incorporated into the new concept. The retro houndstooth-pattern seats of the coupe were replaced with modern leather and orange stitching. The metal finishes, accent panel finishes, and seats are all different colors. The rear seats are 6 in (15 cm) closer together to make room for the tonneau cover. The clarity of the circular gauges in square frames were improved by making the faces white with black chrome numbers and a red anodized needle. The deep-dish three-spoke steering wheel and four-pack gauge cluster carryover over from the coupe concept. Chrome seat-belt buckles are designed to look like the iconic belts buckles in late 1960s GM cars. This reworked interior of the Camaro Convertible Concept is now a very close representation of what will be seen in the production version of the Camaro.

[edit] 2010
"As evidence that we're not completely brain-dead, GM will build the Chevy Camaro."
—-Rick Wagoner, General Motors CEO[14]

On 10 August 2006, GM Chairman and CEO Rick Wagoner announced that GM would build an all-new version of the Chevrolet Camaro muscle car based on the award-winning concept that debuted at the Detroit auto show in January 2006. The all-new Camaro was originally scheduled to begin production at the end of 2008 and to go on sale in the first quarter of 2009 for the 2009 model year,[1][15][16] but General Motors stated in March 2008 that production would be delayed until February 2009 with the Camaro going on sale in the spring of 2009 for the 2010 model year.[2][3]
"The overwhelmingly enthusiastic response to the Camaro Concept continues to remind me of the uniquely iconic place our products can have in customers’ hearts. Camaro is much more than a car; it symbolizes America's spirit and its love affair with the automobile."
—-Rick Wagoner, General Motors CEO[17]

Chevrolet General Manager Ed Peper said the new Camaro "will appeal to both men and women, and unite customers with fond memories of previous Camaros with those who first experienced a Camaro" when the concept was unveiled in January.[18] Bob Lutz's post on the GM FastLane Blog for 10 August 2006 thanked everyone in the blogosphere who commented and offered feedback on the Camaro.[19]

Following the development of the Zeta architecture and because of its position as the GM global center of RWD development, GM Holden led the final design, engineering, and development of the Camaro.[20] However, the new Camaro will be produced at the Oshawa Car Assembly manufacturing plant in Canada.[21] 2,750 jobs would have been lost at the Oshawa manufacturing plant which had been originally scheduled to be closed in 2008; some of these jobs were saved due to the new Camaro's production.[22] This new product program and conversion of the Oshawa plant to a state of the art flexible manufacturing facility represented a US$740,000,000 investment.[23]

On 21 July 2008, GM officially unveiled the production 2010 Camaro.[24] It will be available as a coupe only in LS, LT, and SS trim levels. The LS and LT trim levels will be powered by the 3.6 L (3,564 cc/217 cu in) GM LLT V6 producing 300 hp (220 kW) at 6400 rpm and 273 ft·lbf (370 N·m) at 5200 rpm. The SS with manual transmission is powered by the 6.2 L (6,162 cc/376 cu in) GM LS3 V8 producing 422 hp (315 kW) at 5000 rpm and 408 ft·lbf (553 N·m) at 4500 rpm while the SS with automatic transmission is powered by a new variant of the LS3 called the GM L99 which produces 400 hp (300 kW) at 5000 rpm and 395 ft·lbf (536 N·m) at 4500 rpm. This new L99 V8, not to be confused with the earlier LT-sries L99, uses Active Fuel Management which enables the engine to run on only four cylinders during light-load driving conditions, such as highway cruising, to improve fuel economy.

Other features include a fully independent four-wheel suspension system, variable-rate power steering, four-wheel disc brake systems standard on all models (four-piston Brembo calipers on SS models), a StabiliTrak electronic stability/traction control system, Competitive/Sport modes for the stability system offered on SS models, launch control on SS models equipped with the six-speed manual transmission, and 6 standard air bags that include head curtain side-impact air bags and front seat-mounted thorax side air bags. An RS appearance package is available on LT and SS trim levels which include HID headlamps with integrated halo rings, spoiler, and RS-specific taillamps and wheels.

Chevrolet started taking pre-orders for the 2010 Camaro on October 13, 2008. The LS will start at US$22,995 while the SS will start at US$30,995.[25] By the end of 2008, General Motors confirmed more than 10,000 advanced orders[26] and that all pre-orders would be completed by October 2009.[27]
[show]2010 Chevrolet Camaro Specifications
LS/LT SS
Overview
Driveline Four-passenger, front-engine, rear-drive coupe
Construction Unitized body frame, one- and two-sided galvanized steel
Chassis/Suspension
Front double-ball-joint, multi-link strut; direct-acting stabilizer bar; progressive-rate coil springs; fully adjustable camber, caster and toe
Rear 4.5-link independent; progressive-rate coil springs over shocks; stabilizer bar; fully adjustable camber and toe
Steering type variable-ratio rack-and-pinion
Steering ratio 16.1:1
Turning circle 37.7 ft (1,150 cm)
Brakes
Type four-wheel disc w/ABS; ventilated front and rear rotors; single-piston front calipers and single-piston alloy rear calipers four-wheel disc w/ABS; ventilated front and rear rotors; four-piston fixed Brembo aluminum front and rear calipers
Rotor diameter f: 12.64 in (321 mm)
r: 12.4 in (310 mm) f: 14 in (360 mm)
r: 14.4 in (370 mm)
Rotor thickness f: 1.18 in (30 mm)
r: 0.9 in (23 mm) f: 1.26 in (32 mm)
r: 1.1 in (28 mm)
Wheels/Tires
Wheel size and type 18x7.5-inch steel (19x8-inch aluminum optional on LT) 20x8-inch aluminum (front), 20x9-inch aluminum (rear)
Tires P245/55R18 all-season (P245/50R19 all-season option on LT) P245/45ZR20 summer (front), P275/40ZR20 summer (rear)
Rotor thickness f: 1.18 in (30 mm)
r: 0.9 in (23 mm) f: 1.26 in (32 mm)
r: 1.1 in (28 mm)
Engines
Type GM LLT V6 DI VVT GM LS3 V8
GM L99 V8
Displacement 3.6 L (3,564 cc/217 cu in) 6.2 L (6,162 cc/376 cu in)
Bore and stroke 3.7 in (94 mm) x 3.37 in (86 mm) 4.06 in (103 mm) x 3.62 in (92 mm)
Cylinder head material aluminum
Block material cast aluminum w/ cast-in-place iron bore liners
Valvetrain dual overhead camshafts, four valves per cylinder, continuously variable valve timing valve-in-head: two valves per cylinder; roller lifters; Active Fuel Management (L99)
Fuel delivery direct high-pressure fuel injection returnless, multi-port fuel injection
Compression 11.3:1 10.7:1
Horsepower 300 hp (220 kW) at 6400 rpm 422 hp (315 kW) at 5000 rpm (LS3)
400 hp (300 kW) at 5000 rpm (L99)
Torque 273 ft·lbf (370 N·m) at 5200 rpm 408 ft·lbf (553 N·m) at 4500 rpm (LS3)
395 ft·lbf (536 N·m) at 4500 rpm (L99)
Recommended fuel regular unleaded premium unleaded
Max engine speed 7000 rpm 6000 rpm (L99)
6600 rpm (LS3)
Fuel economy 26 mpg-US (11 km/l) hwy 23 mpg-US (9.8 km/l) hwy
Transmission
Automatic Hydra-Matic 6l50 6-speed automatic w/ TAPshift Hydra-Matic 6l80 6-speed automatic w/ TAPshift
Manual Aisin Warner AY6 6-speed manual TR6060 6-speed manual
Dimensions
Length 190.4 in (4,840 mm)
Width 75.5 in (1,920 mm)
Height 54.2 in (1,380 mm)
Front track 63.7 in (1,620 mm)
Rear track 64.1 in (1,630 mm) 63.7 in (1,620 mm)
Curb weight LS auto: 3,769 lb (1,710 kg)
LS man: 3,780 lb (1,710 kg)
LT auto: 3,750 lb (1,700 kg)
LT man: 3,741 lb (1,697 kg) SS auto: 3,913 lb (1,775 kg)
SS man: 3,860 lb (1,750 kg)
Weight balance 52% front, 48% rear
Seating capacity 2 front, 2 rear
Headroom f: 37.4 in (950 mm), r: 35.3 in (900 mm)
Legroom f: 42.4 in (1,080 mm), r: 29.9 in (760 mm)
Shoulder room f: 56.9 in (1,450 mm), r: 42.5 in (1,080 mm)
Cargo volume 11.3 cu ft (0.32 m3)
Fuel tank 19 US gal (72 L)
Engine oil 7.6 US qt (7.2 L) 8.9 US qt (8.4 L)

[edit] Awards and recognition

* Official vehicle of the 2008 SEMA show.[28]
* Vehicles that will redefine the auto industry in the next year, Detroit Free Press[29]

[edit] SEMA concept vehicles

General Motors showed several concept variants of the production Camaro on November 3, 2008 at the 2008 SEMA show.[30][31]

[edit] LS7 Concept

Inspired by the COPO Camaros of the late '60s, the Camaro LS7 Concept features a GM Performance Parts LS7 crate engine producing 550 bhp (410 kW). A Tremec six-speed manual transmission, Brembo brakes, Hurst shifter, 20-inch custom wheels, and a lowered ride height are a few of the additional modifications.

[edit] Dale Earnhardt Jr. Concept

The Camaro Dale Earnhardt Jr. Concept was produced with input from NASCAR racer Dale Earnhardt Jr.. The Camaro started in SS trim and was tuned to run on higher-octane E85. It features a gray and white paint scheme with orange trim. Additional features include 21-inch five-spoke wheels, a dovetail spoiler, alternate grille, and other official GM accessory modifications.

[edit] GS Racecar Concept

The Camaro GS Racecar Concept design is inspired by Mark Donahue's blue-and-yellow Trans Am Series Camaro. It features a carbon fiber hood, trunk lid, doors, and fenders to keep weight down and is powered by an LS3 V8 mated to a Tremec 6060 six-speed manual transmission. Additional racing modifications include a 3-inch exhaust with Coast Fab mufflers, C&R racing aluminum radiator, and coolers for the engine oil, transmission and differential.

[edit] Black Concept

The Camaro Black Concept features a matte black hood, tinted glass, HID headlamps with red "halo rings", a darker grille, dark-tinted taillight lenses, and 21-inch wheels with a darker finish. The interior has been blacked out. It is powered by the 300 hp (220 kW) 3.6 L (220 cu in) V6.

[edit] TV and film
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Bumblebee depicted as a 1976 and 5th-gen Camaro.

In the 2007 live-action Transformers movie, the character Bumblebee is portrayed as a yellow 1976 Camaro[32] that, midway through the film, becomes a fifth-generation Camaro.[33][34] The movie prop cars were built by Saleen using molds of the actual concept car provided by General Motors. The movie prop cars are heavily modified Pontiac GTOs with the Camaro Concept's exterior and interior.[35] A modified fifth-generation Camaro will reprise the role of Bumblebee in the upcoming sequel, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen.

A 2009 Camaro was shown while the main character was driving in the NBC series My Own Worst Enemy, which premiered on October 13, 2008, as part of a marketing arrangement between GM and NBC.[36]