2011 Chevrolet Camaro Review and Prices

Styling: The 2011 Chevrolet Camaro will carry on styling that’s faithful to the spirit but not the letter of its 1960s ancestors. That’s distinct from its two natural rivals, the Challenger and the Mustang, whose look is a literal translation of past designs. Today’s Camaro was the last of these retro-rockets to hit the market. The original 1965 Mustang gave the pony-car category its name and Ford used the 1969 and 1970 models as inspiration for the redesigned 2005 Mustang and its 2010 revamp. Dodge basically dusted off blueprints of the 1970-1974 Challenger for the model-year 2008 return of its pony car. Chevy showed less allegiance to the past when it rebooted the Camaro for 2010 after a seven-year hiatus. Echoes of the 1969 model appear in the rear-fender flanks and in their shark-gill embossing. The broad, horizontal grille, the dashboard’s dual-pod main instrumentation, and a rectangular cluster of auxiliary gauges recall the past, as well. But Camaro successfully marries those heritage cues with an unapologetically antagonistic 21st century stance, a modern roofline low enough to lend the cockpit an air of mystery, and heavily lidded headlamps more menacing than the eyes of a carnivorous lizard. In wheelbase and exterior dimensions, the 2011 Camaro will again fall between the longer, wider Challenger and the shorter, narrower Mustang. But its roofline is notably lower than that of either rival, and if the penaltiy is a slightly claustrophobic cabin, that’s the price you pay for those hoodlum looks. The 2011 Camaro should return in base LS, better-equipped LT, and higher-performance SS models with only subtle visual distinctions between them.

Mechanical: The 2011 Chevrolet Camaro may look a little yesteryear but it’s certainly not yestertech. True, it’s built on a rear-wheel-drive chassis and most modern cars have a front-wheel-drive design. Front-drive groups the powertrain components over the tires that also propel the car. Front-drive is space-efficient and aids wet-pavement grip but isn’t ideal for handling because it tends to make a car nose heavy and demands that the front tires steer and provide traction. The latter requirement can cause powerful front-drive cars to squirm and wriggle in fast takeoffs, a nuisance called torque steer. Rear-drive distributes the mass of the powertrain along the axis of the car for better handling balance. It doesn’t place as much traction-enhancing weight over the wheels that propel the car but does liberate the front tires to concentrate on steering. For its part, Camaro uses a thoroughly modern rear-drive design adapted from one engineered by General Motors’ Holden division in Australia. It’s employed on sporty GM cars there and in Europe and also underpinned the critically praised but short-lived Pontiac G8 sedan, which was discontinued after just two model years when Pontiac shut down in 2009. This is a rigid and well-balanced chassis with all-independent suspension that provides sharp handling and a ride that’s firmly controlled if a bit too stiff on severely broken pavement. Mustang and Challenger are rear-drive, too, with Challenger riding a shrunken version of the chassis designed for the Dodge Charger and Chrysler 300 sedans. Mustang’s platform is built exclusively for it, but unlike Camaro and Challenger, it employs a solid-rear-axle suspension that’s less sophisticated than an independent design. The 2011 Camaro LS and LT models will continue with a V-6 engine and the SS models will return with a V-8. Both again will be available with a six-speed manual transmission or a six-speed automatic. The V-6 is a 3.6-liter shared with the Cadillac CTS and should return with 304 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque. (Think of torque as the force you feel when you press the accelerator and horsepower as the energy that sustains your momentum.) The SS will again use a 6.2-liter V-8 that’s cousin to a Corvette engine. It should repeat at 426 horsepower and 420 pound-feet of torque when linked with the manual transmission and 400/410 when hooked to the automatic. Traction and antiskid stability systems to aid grip on take-offs and in corners will again be standard, as will antilock brakes for added control in emergency stops. In the SS models, the StabiliTrak antiskid system provides the driver with an adjustable Competitive/Sport mode to accommodate racetrack-type maneuvers.

Features: The 2011 Chevrolet Camaro probably will again subdivide LT models into 1LT and fancier 2LT trim levels, and SS models into 1SS and 2SS tiers. The 2LT and 2SS are essentially equipped similarly except for their engines. Every 2011 Camaro will come with air conditioning, power locks and mirrors, and power windows with express up and down for driver and front passenger. Cruise control, remote keyless entry, and a three-spoke steering wheel with manual tilt/telescope adjustment also are standard. The automatic transmission includes steering-wheel-mounted paddles for manual-type gear changes while manual-transmission Camaros are available with a short-throw Hurst shifter for quicker shifts. A leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, steering wheel audio controls, Bluetooth cell phone link, and USB iPod interface are part of the available Driver Convenience and Connectivity package. This option also includes remote start on automatic transmission-equipped Camaros. A single-CD radio with six speakers should repeat as standard on the 2011 LS, LT, and SS models. A premium, 245-watt Boston Acoustics nine-speaker audio system will again be available on 1LT and SS models. XM satellite radio (subscription required after a trial period) is standard. So is GM’s OnStar assistance system through which OnStar staff can remotely reduce engine power in a vehicle confirmed as stolen. Cloth upholstery will again be standard on LS, 1LT, and 1SS models with leather included on 2LT and 2SS Camaros. The 2LT and 2SS also get heated power front seats; the other models have manual front-seat adjusters. An available ambient light package uses LED “light pipe” technology to give the cabin a nighttime glow. The optional console-mounted gauge package includes oil pressure, oil temperature, volts, and transmission-fluid temperature. The gauge package should again be standard on 2011 Camaro 2LT and 2SS models and available as an accessory through Chevrolet dealers. Stiffer optional suspension packages should return for 2011, labeled FE2 sport on V-6 models and FE3 performance on SS models. All Camaros have four-wheel disc brakes; SS versions get high-performance Brembo-brand four-piston calipers. LS and LT models should repeat with standard 18-inch wheels or optional 19s. The 2011 SS Camaros will return with standard 19-inch wheels or optional 20s; 21-inch wheels have been available through Chevy dealers.