 2010 Chevrolet Camaro RS V6 . Click image to enlarge |
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2010 Chevrolet Camaro
Oshawa, Ontario – When it comes to General Motors’ portfolio, it’s common to hear critics complain that the company doesn’t have enough small, fuel-efficient cars or hybrids, and that it’s making a huge mistake by bringing a muscle car out in the current economic and environmental climate.
And yet, of all the GM cars I’ve ever driven – and I couldn’t easily estimate how many that is – I have never, not once, garnered as much attention in one as I did with the 2010 Camaro.
Never mind that my tester carried the V6 engine, rather than the fiery V8 that can reach 426 horsepower with a manual transmission, or that mine used a six-speed autobox rather than the stick. I took it to a cruise night, where I parked it alongside a new Dodge Challenger and Ford Mustang, and if you don’t think that’s the Holy Trinity sitting right there, then we have nothing to discuss. And a number of car enthusiasts who normally wouldn’t cross the street to spit on a car newer than 1948 came over to see.
%20with%20Shelby%20GT500%20and%20Challenger&src=http://www.canadiandriver.com/galleries/2010/images/chevrolet/2010_chevrolet_camaro/2010-chevrolet-camaro_jm_018-3594.jpg) 2010 Chevrolet Camaro RS V6 (right) with Mustang and Challenger. Click image to enlarge |
Will the Camaro single-handedly save GM? Of course it won’t, but that isn’t its reason for being. There are many consumers who simply want something that will take them from A to B, and they often don’t even know the name of their car’s model. But there are also buyers driven by passion, and while many will be forced by their pocketbooks to leave in something more practical, they need a reason to walk through the dealership door in the first place. That’s the Camaro’s job. It’s a halo car, a concept that many naysayers don’t understand, but it’s also a brilliant halo. The Corvette has traditionally held that position at GM, but it starts above $66,000. By contrast, you can get into a Camaro for as low as $26,995.
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at 12:08 pm
It’s definitely a well engineered vehicle but its cartoon-like exterior and horrid interior are major turn offs.
I’d go with the 2010 Mustang with its sleeker styling and high quality interior. The GT isn’t much different than the 2LT price wise and is similarily and you get a V8. Still, I hope they drop in the new EcoBoost engine in it soon.
at 1:24 pm
With the US economy in the dumps for the foreseeable future, thereby limiting acquisitions of flashy weekend toys, and gasoline heading to >$4/gallon, I cannot see much of a future for this car. McGuinty had no business funding this thing a few years back- better that GM had sourced the Cruze or similar in Oshawa.
at 1:48 pm
I agree with M about the interior – HIDEOUS! The outside is very nice though. Best looking of the three “retro” cars in my opinion. But that interior kills it for me. It’s 2009 for crying out loud, not 1982.
at 2:07 pm
Please don’t tell me the 2010 mustang exterior looks better than this camaro. The rear end of the new mustang is just wrong. I don’t know what was ford thinking. It looks like something from China.
And I don’t think the interior of the camaro that bad.
Just my 2 cent.
at 3:23 pm
Amazing that it gets only 0.8L/100km worse than the 4-cylinder Toyota Camry on the highway, and it’s basically the same as the V6 Camry (actually 0.1L/100km better!). All while envoking much more style, passion, and fun than the appliance from Toyota.
Made in Canada too!
at 7:10 pm
I think it meets it’s mission, but that just isn’t something I am interested in. Retro Muscle cars have no appeal for me.
First if I had to choose among the Detroit retro sports, I would choose the Mustang because it is less over the top. But since I am not a potential buyer of any of these car, my opinion is probably not relevant, but to me the Camaro is over the top. It looks like it could star in the next iteration of Pixar “Cars” without any additional modifications.
I have always thought GM did a half decent job on midsize cars/drivetrains. Wake me when they build a decent small car.
at 9:46 pm
I just don’t understand how the steering wheel can look “slick”. The interior is hideous (slightly better than the Challenger’s). Its instrument panel reminds me of the eyes of the WALL*E!!! However, I do like its exterior (especially on the SS trim).
I would still pick the Genesis coupe 3.8 GT over the Camaro RS or 1SS. The Camaro feels heavy and bulky for daily commuting, IMO.
at 9:52 pm
I’m not into the retro new designed cars. The interior looks old and low quality. How can they be aerodynamic with looks based on 40 year old cars. ALso it weights up to 3800lbs, that’s no sports car to me and it’s not as fast as 304 hp shoudld be
at 5:44 pm
I saw 4 new Camaro SS last week in Buffalo at a cruise night, and let me tell you, every other car was invisible around it, including the new Challenger parked across from one. It looks even better in person. And I was surprised to see that the interior in not bad, despite what I’ve read in Car and Driver or Motor Trend. The new Mustang looks much worse than last years, and that alone should make it 3rd choice behind a Dodge. And the sticker price for a SS is very close to a Mustang GT when optioned accordingly. Same goes for the V6s. The Camaros come better equipped which is why they start higher.
at 8:38 pm
I like the outside styling but I agree the inside is nasty. Pretty good 0-96 performance for an auto V6 but as you can see real workd driving will only net you about 13L/100km – not anywhere near a 4cly Camry like someone suggested earlier.
at 3:04 am
The interior can be anything – it’s a CAMARO! And I love it. Used to have a Z28 with a V8. Driving is a passion and no gas rationing car can provide that passion. The Camaro is for driving!!!
at 7:41 am
Why is it so damn huge?
at 5:31 pm
We’ll let’s summarize the new Camaro. A 1800 kg expressway sports car with no effective storage capacity and a rear seat suitable exclusively for midgets. In other words the sports car for those who have no idea what a sports car should be. However the list of buyers will be the most valuable document in North American marketing- that is next to the Hummer buyers list. These imbeciles will buy anything.