New-look Camaro revealed, but Aussies might miss out…

WITH the demise of the locally manufactured Ford Falcon and Holden Commodore, it’s pretty slim pickings for the Aussie car enthusiast looking for a V8-powered rear-driver these days.

Sure, you’ve got big bruisers like the Mercedes-AMG C63 S and Lexus GS F, but those premium offerings easily run into six-digit territory.

Ford purists have been satiated with the sixth-generation Mustang that launched in early 2016, but it’s not until this year that Holden fans will have another bent-eight model to rally behind with the introduction of the right-hook Camaro.

HSV has confirmed initial specification for the incoming Chevrolet Camaro, but three-pedal fans better look away as the General Motors’ muscle car will be an automatic-only fare.

Though not badged as a Holden, the Camaro will still wear a General Motors symbol in the form of the Chevrolet emblem, but will be imported and converted to right-hand drive thanks to Holden Special Vehicles (HSV).

It will even be sold in HSV dealers from around the middle of the year as earlier reported, but new juicy details have surfaced showcasing exactly what Australian buyers are going to get.

With one specification level on offer, the 2SS, the Camaro will be motivated by a 6.2-litre direct injection V8 that pumps out a healthy 339kW of power and 617Nm of torque.

Under the bonnet of the Camaro will be a 6.2-litre petrol V8 engine that produces 339kW/617Nm – enough to match the V8 Mustangs power and eclipse its torque.

Just pipping the updated V8 Mustangs 339kW/556Nm that is due around the same time this year, the Camaro will be available with a single transmission option, an eight-speed automatic – sorry three-pedal fans.

However, the Camaro’s big-block V8 is helped by extra cooling, an external oil cooler and bi-modal performance exhaust for those that want to make the most of transforming petroleum to noise.

With a limited-slip differential bolted the rear axle, the Camaro should be able to make the most out of the V8 grunt, but overcook a corner and at least the four-piston front and rear Brembo brakes will offer plenty of stopping power.

While the Camaro will be easily spotted on the road thanks to its unique silhouette, the car will come with 20-inch wheels, bootlip spoiler and vented bonnet.

As standard, the Camaro will ride on 20-inch hoops in the classic five-spoke design wrapped in Goodyear Eagle run-flat tyres measuring 245/40 at the front and 275/35 in the rear.

A rear bootlip spoiler, aggressive front splitter and vented bonnet complete the two-door Camaro’s menacing exterior appearance, although what colours will be available is still to be determined.

Equipment hasn’t been skimped on inside either, with front leather bucket seats featuring heating and cooling, a sunroof, flat-bottomed steering wheel, floor mats, illuminated door sills, nine-speaker Bose sound system, 8.0-inch driver display, and 7.0-inch MyLink infotainment touchscreen included as standard.

Inside, the Camaro will look quite familiar to Holden aficionados thanks to the MyLink infotainment system, but leather sports seats and a flat-bottomed steering wheel will set it apart from standard models.

The latest safety aids are also all there, such as blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, reversing camera, seven airbags and lane-departure warning, but curiously autonomous emergency braking seems to be left off the list.

For those wanting the latest and greatest however, it may be disheartening to learn that the incoming Aussie Camaro will be based on the 2018 version and not the facelifted 2019 model that was uncovered in April.

While it may simply be the case that HSV secured a batch of Camaros from earlier in production and the 2019 update will come to Australia at a later stage, nothing is yet to be confirmed.

A new-look Camaro has been revealed for the US market, but it is currently unclear whether the updated muscle car will make it Down Under.

New in the facelifted Camaro is an updated 10-speed automatic transmission that replaces the eight-speed unit and matches the same number of cogs as its Mustang rival.

Launch control and a burnout function is also added to the US-spec Camaro, but whether those features make landfall in Australia is unclear as the Mustang’s line-lock function was denied entry due to the view that it encourages hooning behaviour.

The new Camaro can be differentiated by its new ‘flowtie’ front grille emblem, LED tail-lights and redesigned front fascia, including new bonnet, headlights and air curtains.

In addition to the revised looks, the new Camaro also gains a 10-speed automatic transmission that replaces the eight-speed unit Australian vehicles will be equipped with.

Though pricing has yet to be confirmed for the Aussie-spec Camaro, rumour has it that it will come in around $90,000 before on-road costs, or nearly $30,000 more expensive than the Mustang GT fastback.

Is it too little, too late for the Camaro then? HSV aren’t even bringing in the latest version of the Chevrolet muscle car and it will be priced too close to six digits to be properly competitive against the Mustang that has had free reign in the segment until now.

Don’t count it out just yet though, as overseas reports are indicating that the Camaro is a sharper tool behind the wheel, meaning track-day heroes should make it their vehicle of choice. We will, as always, reserve judgement until we’ve had seat time in both.

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