New Gen 6 Camaro lighter, leaner, faster, more efficient; base 2.0L, 4-cylinder entry-level engine

Fifty years after the introduction of the first Chevrolet Camaro, GM unveiled the new sixth-generation. The Gen Six Camaro provides a faster, more nimble driving experience, enabled by an all-new, lighter architecture and a broader powertrain range. Six all-new powertrain combinations are offered, including the entry-level 275 hp (205 kW) 4-cylinder 2.0L Turbo. Each engine is available with a six-speed manual or eight-speed automatic transmission.

As an historical footnote, the entry-level engine in the original model year 1967 Camaro was a 3.8-liter straight-6 engine rated at 140 hp (104 kW) (pre-EPA emission requirements); in other words, over 50 years, the entry-level engine has shrunk by 48% displacement and gained 96% in power, while cutting NO_xemissions, as an example of criteria pollutant reduction, by likely more than 97% (from above 3.1 g/mi to 0.07 g/mi (EPA Tier 2).

Only two parts carry over from the fifth-generation Camaro to the new Gen Six: the rear bowtie emblem and the SS badge.

The Camaro LT’s standard engine is a new 2.0L Turbo, rated at an SAE-certified 275 horsepower (205 kW) and 295 lb-ft of torque (N·m). For power on demand, it offers a wide torque band with 90% of peak torque available from 2,100 rpm to 3,000 rpm, and maximum torque from 3,000 to 4,500 rpm. The 2.0L turbo will deliver 0-60 mph acceleration in less than six seconds and offer more than 30 mpg (7.8 l/100 km) on the highway (GM-estimated), making it the most fuel-efficient Camaro yet.

An all-new 3.6L V-6 is available in the Camaro LT, producing and SAE-certified 335 horsepower (250 kW) and 284 lb-ft of torque (385 Nm), for the highest specific output of any naturally aspirated V-6 in the segment. The engine incorporates a trio of technologies for uncompromised efficiency and performance, including direct injection, variable valve timing and, for the first time, Active Fuel Management (cylinder deactivation), which disables two cylinders under light throttle applications to enhance efficiency.

The 2.0L turbo and 3.6L V-6 engines are offered with a six-speed manual transmission or the all-new Hydra-Matic 8L45 paddle-shift eight-speed automatic transmission. It’s based on the Hydra-Matic 8L90 eight-speed, but scaled for the performance envelope of the smaller engines and offering an estimated 5% efficiency improvement over a comparable six-speed automatic.

Camaro SS is powered by the 6.2L LT1 V-8 engine introduced on the Corvette Stingray. About 20% of the components are specific for the Camaro’s architecture, including new, tubular “tri-Y”-type exhaust manifolds. It also offers advanced technologies such as variable valve timing, direct injection and Active Fuel Management (on automatic-equipped models) to help balance efficiency and performance. Output is SAE-certified at 455 horsepower (339 kW) and 455 lb-ft of torque (617 Nm), making it the most-powerful Camaro SS ever.

Lightweight architecture and chassis systems. Approximately 70 percent of the architectural components are unique to Camaro. Through extensive computer-aided engineering, structural rigidity was increased by 28%, while the body-in-white mass was reduced by 133 pounds (60.5 kg).

Significant weight savings came from using an aluminum instrument panel frame instead of steel, which saved 9.2 pounds (4.2 kg). The use of lightweight components, including aluminum front suspension links and steel rear suspension links with lightening holes, in the new five-link rear suspension system contributed to a 26-pound (12 kg) reduction in the overall suspension weight. With the lighter, stiffer architecture and more powerful engines, the Gen Six Camaro SS delivers better lap times than the fifth-generation’s track-focused Camaro 1LE package.