Uh-oh.  We’ve got trouble, right here in the Motor City.  Trouble, with a capital T that rhymes with C and stands for Camaro.


That’s right, the Chevrolet Camaro is back, and its seven years of hiatus haven’t mellowed it a bit.  This car is a pugnacious street brawler, an incorrigible delinquent, and a bad influence.  It’s like Mickey Rourke in sheet metal.  And of course, I mean all of that in the nicest possible way, and not just because I’m afraid the Camaro will beat me up and take my lunch money.
The Camaro, perennial rival to the Ford Mustang, went away in 2002.  The pony car wars weren’t settled, however, and many enthusiasts believed that it was only a matter of time before the grudge match began again.  It’s unlikely that you’ve missed the resurrection of the Camaro, as it’s been accompanied by media speculation, movie tie-ins and public appearances throughout its development.
The new Camaro makes good use of classic influence, with a look that’s inspired by the original 1967-69 model.  Dramatic fender and hood lines are combined with a boxy body and short-hood, long-deck proportions.  The contouring of the hood is mirrored in the roof, suggesting a twin-cockpit design.  The Camaro looks aggressive and angry, even without the larger tires and simulated air intakes of the performance SS model.  Eighteen, nineteen and twenty-inch wheels are available, and flared arches ensure that everyone looking knows this car is ready to brawl.
The interior is a study in gun-slit sized windows and retro touches.  The four-passenger interior is rife with retro touches, from deep-set square gauges on the instrument panel to an optional Hurst shifter and a modern XM satellite radio sound system that’s laid out like the old pushbutton radios of the Sixties.  This last is something of a letdown, as it’s difficult to use and doesn’t look as cool as you might expect.  The slick available console mounted four-gauge package does look cool, but it’s largely useless.  Like most muscle cars, the front-seat passengers will be more comfortable than those in the rear, thanks to wide cloth seats.  Modern touches like LED ambient lighting, steering wheel controls, Bluetooth, a USB audio jack and heated seats are also on the options list.
For power, the Camaro offers both V6 and V8 engine options.  The entry-level engine is GM’s new direct-injection 3.6 liter V6.  Rated at 304 horsepower, the V6 provides reasonably entertaining performance and returns 29-mpg freeway fuel economy and can be had with a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission.   A choice of V8 engines is available.  The star of the family is the Camaro SS, with its 6.2 liter LS3 V8, rated at 426 horses.  The LS3 comes with a six-speed manual transmission only.  Prefer an automatic?  The six-speed automatic-equipped Camaro SS comes with the L99 V8 but takes a slight horsepower hit, with output rated at 400.  As a consolation prize, the L99 features Active Fuel Management, a system that shuts off fuel to up to four of the Camaro’s cylinders when they’re not needed to save gas.  Both of the Camaro’s engines are derived from the Corvette’s 6.2 V8.  Neither Camaro SS is a particularly easy car to drive; the six-speed manual transmission prefers to be driven hard, and has a tendency to lurch unpleasantly if you don’t hammer it.  If you’re not prepared to go fast–or at least to accelerate fast–then the Camaro SS isn’t interested.  Manual transmissions also include a “launch mode” that modulates power for more consistent hard acceleration.
To handle the ample horsepower in all models, the Camaro has a four-wheel independent suspension, a first for the Camaro line which has traditionally been equipped with lower-tech, solid rear axles.   StabiliTrak stability control is standard, and a limited-slip differential is available.  The stability control in the Camaro SS has a “track” mode that allows for more aggressive driving.  Four-wheel disc brakes provide stopping power; the SS gets larger Brembo calipers to handle its increased power.
Modern interpretations of the muscle car have grown up nicely, with attention paid to more than just a gigantic engine to scoot the car through a quarter-mile as quickly as possible.  The new Camaro is no exception, as it sports a retro style as well as having the reflexes to be considered a decent all-around performance car.  Of course, I wouldn’t trust it not to have a big house party if left at home alone for the weekend, and it’s certainly going to cut school to go smoke behind the bleachers.  But the 2010 Camaro’s bad-boy attitude is part of its appeal, isn’t it?  Camaro pricing starts at $22,995 for the V6-powered LS, and the V8-powered SS comes in at $30,995.

Specifications:  All specs are for the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS.
Length:  190.4 in.
Width:  54.2 in.
Height:      75.5 in.
Wheelbase:  112.3 in.
Curb weight:   3849 lb.
Cargo space:   11.3 cu.ft.
Base price:  $30,995
Engine:   6.2 liter OHV V8
Drivetrain:  six-speed manual transmission, rear-wheel drive
Horsepower: 426 @ 5900
Torque:  420 @ 4600
Fuel capacity:  19.0 gal.
Est. mileage:  16/24