Filed under: Spy Photos, Coupes, Chevrolet
Spy Shots: 2009 Chevrolet Camaro spied in Australia
by Damon Lavrinc on Dec 11th 2007 at 12:28PM 
Spy photogs finally caught two Camaro-bodied mules undergoing testing in the Land Down Under and it's obvious that development of Chevy's 2009 hotness is well underway.The camo unfortunately obscures the front clip and back end, but the B-pillar is present and accounted for and the rake of the roof plummeting down into the rear window remains true to the concept. The vinyl on the rear end is covering a rather subtle spoiler that extends a few inches over the taillights, while the front seems to have a slightly less pointed grilled compared to the concept shown in Detroit.
We're sure more shots are forthcoming and according to the crew that snapped the pics, the Camaros were hanging around with a couple of Mustangs. So if it wasn't obvious enough, we know what the Camaro is gunning for when it goes on sale in 2009.
[Source: Straightline]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
3000GT TwinTurbo 12:41PM (12/11/2007)
so many good cars in the works...
Reply
Russell 2:06PM (12/11/2007)
I don't see any B-pillar "clearly", just black tape on the window. And look at those wheel wells, they look promising for some serious rubber.
Taylor 12:57PM (12/12/2007)
I hate the look of the new Camaro. I think some of the artistic renderings looked more like the original. I can't stand the headlights. bleh!
It should have looked like the one at the top on this page: http://www.arkansascamaro.com/2007camaro.html
J M C 3 12:50PM (12/11/2007)
The camoflage flying buttresses on the rear window seem to be just that.Not a bad design feature though, if they did survive in this age of windtunnel honed designs.
Reply
Jeff 12:53PM (12/11/2007)
I will own one of these cars when the drop top comes out!
Reply
Jason 12:59PM (12/11/2007)
I don't get the camo on this car, or the Dodge Challenger for that matter... given that the production cars will look virtually identical to their concepts (we already know the Challenger does), what's the point in all the camo? We already know 99% of what it's going to look like. And if the production model doesn't look 99% just like the concept they've been showing for what, yearS now, people are going to be pissed.
Reply
J. D. Billiford 2:15PM (12/11/2007)
>>> Good point, Jason! Everyone has already had a peek behind the curtain, so we know what to expect.
Now it's just time to deliver the goods and let the consumers be the final judge and jury.
Frylock350 3:46PM (12/11/2007)
Probably because these are mules and would look cobbled together if it wasn't camo'ed.
nissanfreak87 1:09PM (12/11/2007)
very nice, I can't wait to see the production version
Reply
tankd0g 1:19PM (12/11/2007)
Since that appears to be LHD, does that mean Austraila isn't getting one?
nissanfreak87 1:26PM (12/11/2007)
I'd imagine they'll release it in the US first, it might see Australia, but they get enough toys, time we get one that they don't, haha
cowboy bob 1:27PM (12/11/2007)
Why is it that all this development work is being done in Aussieland? I see that this is only one of a string of such things. Does this mean the Detroit megalopix is either underproducing, or, is going extinct as have many of the production facilities?
Reply
nissanfreak87 1:40PM (12/11/2007)
it's based off of a Holden chassis I believe, so it's being tested by the Holden division
cowboy bob 1:44PM (12/11/2007)
I knew that Nissy. So was the new, now dead, GTO. I want to know why it seems to be the development Mecca though.
Joe 2:45PM (12/11/2007)
The reason Australia is used for a good portion of vehicle testing is because there are very extreme conditions there for hot weather testing, and much of the country is extremely back-country, so there aren't a lot of prying eyes like there are in Detroit.
cowboy bob 6:34PM (12/11/2007)
Gee Joe, that makes no sense. If this was a priority what is wrong with Nevada? Hot, cold, remote. Plus, it's not 12000 miles away!!
WillDaThrill 7:51PM (12/11/2007)
It's not hot in Nevada right now. Right now, in Las Vegas, it's dropping to 50 degrees and below.
Soon as word got out that they were testing here in Nevada, people would be all over it. Hell, they can't even keep Area 51 a secret because of the sci-fi geeks. It's hot in Australia, it's remote there too, more remote than here. GM and Holden work together, so there's a place to store it as well under the supervision of their own employees. Snowy roads isn't good for testing a sports car, not at first at least. They'll test it here, just give it time. What else do we have?
mike 1:38PM (12/11/2007)
I can't see anything
Reply
bill 1:44PM (12/11/2007)
GM already stated it will NOT be a hardtop like the concept car. Not strong enough so it will be a posted coupe.
So those wondering about the "tape" at the pillar....its not just tape, its a post.
Reply
Silver 1:49PM (12/11/2007)
Can Chevy somehow refrain from destroying this car when they take it to production like Ford did with the Mustang?
The production Mustang is a sad, cheap imitation of the concept I saw at the LA Auto Show and drooled over (and would have bought if it had materialized in production - it didn't). I'm hoping GM can do better (though GM's history on this is not confidence-inspiring).
Reply