The Next Gen Chevy Camaro: All Style, More Substance
The 2016 Chevrolet Camaro is here.
Two inches shorter and one inch wider than its predecessor, Chevy has trimmed much of the fat from its hyper-popular previous version. In fact, it’s a whopping 200 pounds lighter and here at Apple Chevy, your Chicagoland Chevy dealer, we couldn’t be more excited. The roof, seamlessly laser-brazed to shed mass, is reinforced by a reverse mohawk design. The fastback profile widens the rear fender flares, making the car look ready to strike. Still, the styling is consistent with its instantly recognizable predecessors, but if it ain’t broke, why fix it?
But it’s what’s inside that counts, and this is where we see the Camaro’s evolution. In place of the retro-inspired center console gauges are air conditioning vents that integrate all the HVAC controls within them. This leaves the dashboard clean, shining a spotlight on the eight-inch infotainment screen. And the analog gauges are now housed inside a large cluster, making room for another 8-inch color display. The result is an ergonomic, driver-oriented interior. The only carryovers from the fifth-gen model are the Chevy bowtie emblem and the SS badge. The added bonus: 4G LTE Wifi.
Under the hood, the 2016 Camaro boasts a new 3.6-liter, six-cylinder engine, which produces 335 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. This is a jump from the old V6’s 323 hp and 278 pound-feet. Sport, Tour, and Ice/Snow drive modes (and Track on the SS) alter traction control, ride stiffness, shift feel, throttle, exhaust, and steering to offer distinct experiences. Available on the Camaro SS, Magnetic Ride Control reads the road a thousand times per second to adjust dampers for a smooth feel no matter the road conditions.
Combined with the 200-lb weight loss, it makes for a very powerful machine. The 200-lb drop is thanks mostly to Chevrolet taking industry cues to trade steel for lightweight aluminum. All wheel options are aluminum, with aluminum suspension components reducing unsprung mass for improved handling. Drivers will feel advantages like nimble, balanced handling and precise steering.
A new 8-speed paddle-shift automatic transmission is available on all the new Camaro models. Active Rev Match on the Camaro SS 6-speed manual anticipates downshifts with throttle blips for smooth, precise shifting — a technique pro drivers master only with years of dedication.
All the improvements — the gearbox, the updated gauge cluster, and shedding 200 pounds — add up to a very powerful, high-performance vehicle.
But with all that power, won’t it heat up? No worries — the SS is track-ready with auxiliary radiators, engine cooler, and transmission cooler.
If you’re down for sky-high technology and fine-tune harmony in a Camaro with all the style and improved handling over previous versions — look no more. The next generation Camaro is here.
