The first Chevrolet Camaro was introduced in 1967 and is considered to be among the oldest automobile brands that are still on sale. Currently on its sixth generation, the 2016 Chevrolet Camaro was unveiled by General Motors (GM) back in May 2015. It is expected to go on sale later this year but a report now claims that the model will be up for pre-order roughly a week from now.
Typically, carmakers release a next-generation model and keep most of the internals similar to those in the previous model. However, it looks like GM has decided to steer clear of that strategy with the 2016 Chevrolet Camaro.
The sixth-gen model now features a leaner and more athletic design than its outgoing predecessor. That is possible by keeping the car's chassis and body minimal. According to Motor Trend, the model's architecture was modified to cut weight without sacrificing quality. Parts such as the instrument panel frame were changed from steel to the more light-weight aluminum.
As a result, the new 2016 Chevrolet Camaro is now stiffer, more aerodynamic than the model it will replace. It is also 200 pounds lighter, the body is 28% stiffer, and the overall length went from 190.6 inches to 188.3. New technologies are also fitted inside including Driver Mode Selector, a customizable ambient lighting feature, and a configurable instrument cluster.
In GM's press release, executive vice president of Product Development Mark Reuss said that, "Redesigning the Camaro is thrilling and challenging all at once, but the secret is to offer something more. For Camaro enthusiasts, it retains iconic design cues and offers even more performance. For a new generation of buyers, the 2016 Camaro incorporates our most innovative engineering ideas with finely honed performance and leading design."
Three engines are available for the sixth-gen 2016 Chevrolet Camaro at launch. These are all mated to GM's six-speed manual transmission or the new eight-speed automatic. Check out the engine variants below.
- The base 2016 Camaro will be powered by GM's ubiquitous 2.0-liter LTG turbo-charged inline-four making 275 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. This is the smallest offering and General Motor's familiar turbo engine. It's expected to bring in over 30mpg on the highway.
- The optional mid-level motor on the 2016 Camaro is GM's all-new 3.6-liter LGX naturally-aspirated V6 making 335 horsepower and 284 pound-feet of torque. This engine is more powerful and lighter than its predecessors and can generate 335hp and 284lb.-ft. of torque.
- The 2016 Chevrolet Camaro SS engine is the 6.2-liter LT1 naturally-aspired V8 making 455 horsepower and 455 pound-feet of torque.
As mentioned, the sixth-generation Camaro will go on sale later this year. It will be produced at GM's Lansing Grand River plant in Michigan and will be offered in LT and SS models.
While we have no idea exactly when the carmaker will make this model available, a document obtained by a site called CamaroNews.com claims that pro-orders for the 2016 Chevrolet Camaro will begin on August 13. The site's source further claims that production will possibly start on August 22.
However, this information is not confirmed and there has been no official word coming from GM itself. As such, it is not clear whether all configurations or engine variants will actually go on sale next week so we should take this with a little dose of skepticism.
