In its 49th model year and beginning its sixth generation, it wouldn’t be unusual for a car that has been around this long to see an entirely new makeover while keeping the same mechanical build. You know the routine. You’ve seen it before; botox and body augmentations. Chevrolet is optimistic that the 2016 Camaro could hit the dealerships as early as next month. Chevrolet dealerships, start your engines. You’re about to be very, very busy.
2016 Chevy Camaro
This time, the 2016 Chevy Camaro is changing from the inside out. While it still has the handsomely strong and aggressive appearance it’s always maintained, this Camaro has undergone major surgery under the hood that will have a dynamic effect on its capabilities and enhance its performance.
Real Change Comes From Within
However, this 6th generation Camaro has done the exact opposite. This 2016 Camaro knows that real change comes from within. That’s why engineers have kept its handsome and structural good looks but changed almost everything else. They have reduced vehicle mass and improved structural stiffness contributing to the Camaro’s overall performance.
The Camaro SS is more powerful than it’s ever been. The Camaro Turbo is a challenge to every great iconic muscle car in American history.
The changes that the 2016 Chevy Camaro has gone through have made it more responsive, more powerful, more fast and definitely more fun to drive. When looking for a Camaro, what more could you possibly want?
Turbo Coupe
“Every Camaro model offers exceptional chassis strength and rigidity, but the modular design made the architecture more adaptable and mass-efficient, because we didn’t have to compensate for the unique demands of, say, the SS convertible when building a 2.0L Turbo coupe” said Oppenheiser. “The result was an elegant engineering solution: 12 chassis components that could be combined to meet the structural requirements of each specific model, without adding unnecessary mass to other models.”
From Alpha to Zeta
Rather than being built on the Zeta platform, like its predecessors, the 2016 Camaro is built on GM’s Alpha platform. If that sounds familiar, it’s because it was first used on Cadillac’s ATS and CTS models.
The Alpha platform is light, stiff and modern which all work toward producing better performance. Now that it is completely changed, all of the underbody pieces are completely different and are not interchangeable.
First Four in 30
The entry-level LT model comes with a four cylinder engine. This may sound typical for a base model, except when you consider that this is the first one to be put in a Camaro in 30 years.
So why, when updating every part of this new Camaro would there suddenly be a 4 cylinder engine powering this beast? Well, because it’s a 2.0L turbocharged four-cylinder, that’s why!
Borrowed from the Cadillac ATS, this turbocharged four delivers 270 horsepower and 290 lb/ft of torque.
Wider Track
Because the Alpha platform structure was already developed for the Cadillac ATS and CTS, and because the Camaro has a wider track (1.6 inches greater up front and 1.2 inches wider in back), painstaking attention was going to have to be paid to the suspension to ensure the proper fit while preserving the Alpha structure. Engineers found a solution by using longer suspension pieces on the same pickup points.
“Don’t Forget Your Motley Crue T-Shirt”
Remember the early 1980’s and the 2.5L “Iron Duke” four that went screaming into every neighborhood and became the inspiration for the Dead Milkmen’s homage to the Jersey Shore in their song “Bi*chin’ Camaro”? This engine nearly triples that amount of power. Who’s going to be writing the theme song for this engine in another ten years?
Laser Welded Roof
When they say ‘the devil is in the details’ they mean it. Details are what matter when claiming good American quality and craftsmanship. Details are what make the difference between choosing this car or that one.
When cars have unsightly finishes, plastic strips or plain unfinished work showing, that is a definite deterrent. The 2016 Camaro was not designed with this to every happen. When the roof of the Camaro was welded to the sides, the seam was laser-welded. A laser weld produces a neat seam that requires no handwork and looks arguably better than other seam work.
Customizable Gauge Cluster
If the upper-trim versions are where you like to play (who doesn’t?) then you should be prepared for the fun, driver-centric accessories that will spoil you. An 8-inch LCD screen sits between the analog speedometer and tachometer.
On this screen, you can display three different instrument figurations; at least four different screens on the bottom and three on the top. These screens are independent of what is the 8-inch LCD screen is displaying on the interface.
Catering to the driver and their specific needs, so as to not be distracting but clear, are what makes this Camaro the clear choice for any driver who likes to be in control.
V8 Engine Has Three Radiators
Having three radiators is a bit, shall we say, out of the the norm. So, in a way to be unconventionally conventional, the main radiator is located in the conventional position while the two smaller radiators are stationed on either side, flanking the first, mounted at right angles.
The SS Model: Ready for the Track
Not that it has anything to prove for its upcoming 50th year, but, hey, why not show off anyway? The 2016 Camaro SS is 100% rated track capable.
This means that without cooking it’s engine, transmission, differentials or brakes, it can run for an entire tank of fuel at maximum speed around GM’s Mildford Road Course without. Reason why it has so many radiators.
A Little Weight Conscious
In order to perform the way they envisioned it to, the 2016 Camaro was going to have to lose weight. Engineers had to get creative with how they were going to shed those LB’s. This 6th generation Camaro is now more than 300 lbs lighter than its predecessors. How did it do this?
Like stated earlier, engineers became creative. Swapping materials out, switching metals for hard plastics, doing whatever they could to get the weight down without compromising performance or safety.
All V6 models have a front anti-roll bar drop links that are now molded from high-strength plastic. The front suspension is made from specified aluminum with steel links that have extensive lightening holes to keep weight down.
The suspension alone lost about 26 pounds from last year’s model. Altogether, the 2016 Camaro weighs 368 lbs less in its 6th generation than its previous generations.
Multipurpose HVAC Vents
While driving a performance vehicle like the 2016 Camaro, you don’t want to be bothered with messy gauge clusters or too many buttons. In an attempt to clean up the gauge cluster and minimize the number of buttons, the engineers designed for an easier way to adjust the temperature.
Each outer ring on the central air outlets rotate to set the system temperature. Once set, the temperature is shown on the central LCD display.
Clever devices like this are what make the 2016 Camaro stand out for its innovation and supreme engineering.
Functional Hood Vents
First off, the Camaro SS is meant for two things: 1) to go fast and 2) to be a muscle car. Combine that with its tremendous weight loss, and you’ll know that this Camaro was designed so that every piece of material on it serves a function.
Therefore, the vents on the aluminum hood the Camaro SS serve a purpose. Their function is to relieve excess air from the engine compartment. This helps cooling flow and reduces lift. The position of the vents was chosen so that low-pressure air flowing over of the hood would help extract the underhood air.
