A Legend is Reborn: The New Chevrolet Camaro

With the recent restyling of the Ford Mustang and the reissue of the Dodge Challenger, it was inevitable that Chevy would jump back into the pony car race. Thus the Chevrolet Camaro is revived, bringing old school styling into the mix. This new model is poised to bring stiff competition to the muscle car market, both under the hood and in your pocketbook.

Chevrolet discontinued its F body line in 2002 after slow sales of the Camaro and it's sister model the Pontiac Firebird. Yet Camaro enthusiasts continued their admiration for this classic. The Camaro Superfest, a yearly event held near Ann Arbor, MI, carried on. The largest Camaro show in the US did not skip a beat, hosting nearly 450 cherished Camaros during their weekend long all Camaro events.

Fast forward to the 2006 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, MI. After months of publicity by Chevrolet, hundreds of thousands of Camaro fans tuned for the live webcast of the Camaro unveiling. The ceremony, which opened with a marching band, showed the styling of the original models. The parade of first generation Camaros concluded with the long awaited presentation of the concept fifth generation Camaro.

The sleek styling of the new model showed Chevrolet's dedication to past models, but was updated for a new generation of buyers. "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." said Bob Boniface, a director of design for General Motors. The long hood and flared fenders compliment the choice of 21" and 22" signature five star wheels, bringing a blast from the past back to life.

The same vintage styling was reproduced in the concept's interior. The big bold speedometer and tachometer gauges are centered in the dash, while the fuel, oil, battery and temperature levels are nestled on the floor near the center console, reminiscent of the early models. Yet the concept features updated technology with digital readouts showing the current gear being used and indicators for high beam lights.

The engine on the other hand is not inspired from past Camaros, rather from its cousin, the Corvette. The 6.0 liter 400 horsepower V8 LS-2 motor packs a punch. The lightweight aluminum small block also offers an Active Fuel Managementä system that provides extreme power while allowing the car to shut off four cylinders to provide for as much as 30 miles per gallon. The six speed manual transmission and the 14-inch vented disc brakes compliment the fierce power of engine.

While the fifth generation Camaro appears as a luxury sports car, it was important to Chevrolet that it be affordable to all buyers. At the 2006 unveiling, GM promised that if the car went to production that it would be a financial option for many with the pricing comparable to the current Ford Mustang.

Eight months later General Motors made the announcement that many had been patiently waiting for, the new Camaro has been officially slated for production. After extreme positive feedback, dozens of online petitions and even some customers sending certified checks as down payments, Chevrolet decided to revive this classic muscle car, with production to start in late 2008. "The overwhelmingly enthusiastic response to the Camaro Concept continues to remind me of the uniquely iconic place our products can have in customers' hearts," GM Chairman and CEO Rick Wagoner said in an August 2006 press release.

Chevrolet has since also introduced the Camaro concept convertible in 2007, which will follow the base model with production starting early 2009. Word has also spread of another engine option, offering a 6.2 liter supercharged LS-3 small block which would provide 600 horsepower, making it rise above even the 500 horsepower Shelby Mustang.