Autoblog

At a GM event we attended at the end of last summer, one of the presentations shown to the assembled media was an interior animation depicting the new Chevy Camaro's cockpit lighting and how it changs depending on the position of the key in the ignition. We'd been asking General Motors for a copy ever since, and were politely told, "no" every time. With the car's official unveiling yesterday, GM finally made the video available on the Camaro's official website. We've grabbed a copy and put it in the player above for your enjoyment, along with both of our live vids shot at yesterday's reveal. The interior video shows some really cool stuff, further proof that GM Design is paying close attention to cabin illumination in its new vehicles. Take a ride in a new CTS at night, and you'll see exactly what we mean. From the looks of things, GM's going to give the Camaro the same kind of love, and we're looking forward to experiencing it firsthand.


[Source: GM]

Click above for new high-res gallery of the 2010 Chevy Camaro

You've waited long enough, so let's dispense with the pleasantries and get right down to the hard facts.

• Three models - LS, LT, SS
• LS and LT come with 3.6L direct-inject V6 (300 hp/273 lb-ft)
• SS six-speed manual comes with 6.2L LS3 V8 (422 hp/408 lb-ft)
• SS six-speed automatic comes with new 6.2L L99 V8 (400 hp/395 ft-lb) and Active Fuel Management
• 3.6L DI V6 gets 26 mpg highway
• 6.2L V8 with automatic gets 23 mpg highway
• RS appearance package available on LT and SS (includes HID headlamps with integrated halo rings, spoiler, specific taillamps and 20-inch wheels)
• Front and rear independent suspension
• FE2 suspension for LS and LT, sportier FE3 for SS
• Four-wheel disc ABS standard, SS gets four-piston Brembo calipers
• SS model gets adjustable Competitive/Sport mode for stability control and Launch Control on manual models
• Available 18-,19- and 20-inch wheels

You can read Chevy's full press release after the jump and browse the official, full-size image collection in the gallery below. Stay tuned for our post of live coverage from our team on the ground.

The all-new Camaro we've been waiting on for two years is just a few days from showing its production face, and we've already got some bad news. The General has dumped plans for the Z28. The highly anticipated Camaro variant was rumored to feature the same supercharged 6.2L engine that powers the brawny Cadillac CTS-V with well over 500 ponies. Without the Z28 in the picture, the still powerful SS edition will be the range-topper for now, and we're expecting power to be just under that of the base Corvette's 436 hp.

While this is certainly bad news for Camaro enthusiasts, it does make sense in the face of $4.25 per gallon gas to cancel a supercharged monster that's likely to be eligible for a hefty gas guzzler tax. What doesn't make sense is canceling the Z28 moniker when it means much more to Camaro fans than SS ever will. There goes the aftermarket for louvers and mullet wigs. Thanks for the tip, Doug!

[Source: Left Lane News, Photo: CamarosAndClassics.com]

So a couple of weeks ago we asked you to help us identify a mystery car on the set of Transformers 2. Quite a few of you guessed it was some sort of Corvette concept, or the C7 Corvette due in 2010. For those of you who guessed Corvette concept, you were right. The picture above is that concept, and according to speculation it is getting some paint work done in the house of Chip Foose. We don't know if these pics were taken before or after the car's closeup, but we hope it was afterward and that GM is getting ready to actually show us the car. Jalopnik's also got pics of Bumblebee getting paint work done in the same shop. It's a much yellower Bumblebee than the orange one seen on the TF2 set, and word is it could be a Z/28... or it could be a package you'd order from... Saleen? Click the link for the photos and gossip.

[Source: Jalopnik]

Ladies and gentlemen, you are looking at your 2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS. It wasn't found on the set of Transformers2, but on location for a Christian Slater television show that'll debut this Fall on NBC. It's a very tastefully done brawn job. The SS badge takes its place in the lower right corner of the grille, with another small badge on the rear bumper. The front spoiler that a number of commenters took issue with on the Bumblebee mod looks to be, if anything, an aftermarket piece. But there's still a nice lip at the bottom -- though we did like the black version -- and another body-colored spoiler out back. There is also an LED-looking third brake light, which we hope makes it to production. Click the link to see the rest of the photos, and anyone want to start guessing what the Z/28 is going to look like? Thanks to all who tipped in!

[Source: Camaro5]

click the picture above to see the video

The Ponycar Industrial Complex has been in full reconaissance mode and scanning the universe for Camaros, and agents have located a Camaro SS on a winding mountain road. It's deliciously ironic that the spotters were rolling a Mustang when they were strafed by a bestriped mule in white. It looks good out in the wild, intimidating, even – quite appropriate for a small, vicious animal that eats Mustangs. Check the video after the jump. Thanks for the tip, Max!

[Source: Camaro5]

Click above for a gallery of the GM Accessories Camaro model

Once again, Camaro5.com sends in these photos that appear to show the full-scale Camaro model being used by the GM Accessories design studio to test all the factory knick-knacks and bolt-ons that they have in the works. Forget the tease we all got via the upskirt video GM allowed to be filmed -- this shows the full monty.

Here's the quick-and-dirty rundown.

• 7-spoke wheels
• RS stripe package (left side of the car)
• SS stripe package (right side of the car)
• Grille insert
• Rear fascia blackout
• Platform-style rear wing
• Fuel filler cap
• 2 possible ground effects kits (see close-up of the rear -- at that point, the clay modeling is "halved")
• Ducktail spoiler (again, see detail shot -- it's on the right half of the car)
• Slotted brake discs w/ red calipers

Whatever the final assortment of accessories turns out to be, it would seem that there'll be a very wide selection from which to choose. As for the 5-spoke wheels shown in two of the photos, they look 'shopped on. Whether those are GM photoshops or fan mods is anyone's guess. We're definitely feeling that RS package, though -- with those black 7-spokes, please. Keep that wing, though.


[Source: Camaro5]

Dodge is launching the SRT-8 model of the Challenger first. There's a head-spinning amount of variations on the Mustang GT theme. GM's not going to be left in the dust by the real-life rehashing of the late 1960s. An eagle-eyed member of the Camaro5 forums spotted an unusually dressed Zeta Camaro prototype near the Mesa, AZ proving grounds and managed to snap a cellphone shot of the car. The white mule wearing distinctive matte-black striping reportedly emitted a demonic whistle at idle, perhaps indicating the presence of the LS9 or LSA. A sinister-sounding bestriped Camaro – could it be the SS? We hope. Thanks to everyone who tipped!

[Source: Camaro5]

Sure, it's just one designer's idea of how a Camaro SS might look in 2008 or beyond, but Lutz and Co. should take note of some of the design elements in this rendering by Atomicshark. The deep-set headlights with bumper-mounted foglights surrounded by the white SS stripe bring back memories of the Camaro's past, but the swoopy rear fenders seem to miss the mark a bit. We also think the four round taillights are way too close to recent Impalas, but it's always nice to dream about what might be someday.

One more rendering after the jump.

[Source: Atomic Shark via TopSpeed]

Mopar faithful are speculating that Chrysler’s speed freaks are working on an SRT version of the upcoming Challenger. Since an official green light has not been given for the Challenger Concept that debuted earlier this year at the Detroit auto show, this may be a case of fans attempting to will their dream into reality, but a 510-hp, 6.4L Hemi V8 does sound better than sheep jumping a fence.

Word is that Chrysler’s SRT division was going to debut a Challenger SRT-8 at the New York Auto Show, an event that did not come to pass. SEMA is being pegged as the next most likely debut venue.

With the announcement by Ford that the Mustang Shelby GT500 will produce an SAE-certified 500 horsepower, many readers have questioned how both Dodge and Chevy will respond when their pony cars debut. Will the Challenger SRT-8 materialize as an answer, and will Chevy step up with a 500-hp Camaro SS? And how would that affect the Viper and Vette?

Though the Mustang Shelby GT500’s thunder was stolen by Dodge and Chevy at the Detroit show, it’s apparent the super Stang is raising some eyebrows around the industry.

[Source: SRTMopar]