Camaro still King: Sales continue to rise and dominate the competition.
Well, March marked another great month for the Camaro. After the World Design Car of the Year award yesterday, sales numbers are now coming out for the month of March, and they're impressive. 8,904 Camaros came off the lot in March, the second most in any month since the Camaro launched, and a number that dominated the sales of the Camaro's competition: The Mustang, and The Challenger. As for those two though, must give props to the Challenger for almost doubling its numbers from the month prior. It's not a bad car (I like it a lot more than the Mustang, myself) and it's nice to see it getting some boost in sales numbers. Of course, the King stays on top there, with the Camaro outpacing its rivals big time.
Happy Birthday Camaro!
That's right, today is the one year birthday of the official production run of the current Gen Camaro. Yessir, the Gen 5 Camaro is one year old. It has been a fantastic year for a fantastic car too! With over 100,000 Camaros produced this year, the numbers surrounding this car are fantastic! I'm not just talking the performance numbers either (even though that 420 HP is pretty damn impressive). This year has seen the Camaro win multiple awards, including Car and Driver's, MotorTrends, and MotorWeeks year end awards for Sports Coupe, as well as some of those same awards for best over-all car. The Camaro has also been deemed the best new car, and is in the final 3 spots for World Designer Car of the Year award. Beyond those numbers, Camaro sales have been largely responsible for the change of fortunes over at Chevy, while Camaro has also been deemed time and time again as the modern-day muscle car champion. So, with a year like that behind us, I am excited to see what the year ahead offers! Here's to the 5th Generation Camaro, and to it's first birthday! May it have many more great birthdays ahead!
More news on Z28 Potential
Maybe those pictures from a few weeks back were the real deal, I myself am still skeptical, but more rumours are flying in about the return of the Z28. According to one Camaro5 Forums member, a friend working in a GM driveshaft supply house had an order placed for a dozen Camaro driveshafts built for higher HP output. He calls them Z/28 driveshafts, but I imagine they have no official title yet and are in fact driveshafts designed for the Camaro body proportions and built withstand 500+ horsepower. That's normally how these machine housing orders come through. A new driveshaft, possibly to fit the LSA from the CTS-V? Maybe for a new iteration of a different engine model? Perchance a non-naturally aspirated LS3 with a higher output? Only time will tell, but for now we have a "friend of a friend" report towards the increased performance driveshaft for the Camaro.
Here's the actual post from the Camaro5 Forums:
2010 Camaro now in Top 3 for World Car Design of the Year
Recently, I updated that the 5th Generation Camaro had been put on the short list for World Car Design of the Year. The award finale is coming up on April 1st, and the Camaro looks like a very strong contender for the win. The list of 4 had been:
Chevrolet Camaro
Citroën C3 Picasso
Kia Soul
Toyota Prius
World Car finalist Prius has been eliminated, which almost seems laughably obvious now based upon the recent news of runaway Priuses bombarding CNN, Fox, and every other news source around and inbetween. The Kia Soul is a nice little car, especially considering the price tag, but it is nowhere near the same class of car as the Chevrolet Camaro. The C3 Picasso is a little trickier to judge though, as I've never seen one in person here in America. Of course, the images I've seen of it, do not inspire much desire or awe:
In fact, it looks like a car Scion has been making for years now. Based upon the competition, I truly think it would be a travesty if the Camaro lost this prestigious award. Seriously, if you want fantastic design, just look at this:
That's a masterpiece right there, and a clearly deserving winner. Here we go Camaro, let's try and add this award to the shelf!
Camaro Sales Numbers for the Month of February
Well, for the 9th month in a row, the Camaro has outsold the Mustang (and continually by a large margin). The model year for the Camaro ends this month too (March 16th), so we'll soon get to see its total year sales numbers. Lets hope these numbers continue strong for some time to come.
Delivery (sales) Stats:
Camaro February 2010 Deliveries (actual sales): 6,482
Total January 2010 - February 2010 Deliveries: 11,853
Mustang sold 5,115 units in February 2010.
SLP ZL575 Camaro – A Driver’s Car, a Fan’s Dream
The Camaro has been tuned by so many different groups and shops since it was released this past year, that it has almost become a passé thing. Almost. The new SLP ZL575 has absolutely nothing about it one might consider passé, unless of course that means it is passé-ing someone else on an open road. Outfitted with the SLP Supercharger, Long Tube Headers, stainless axle-back exhaust system, and a cold air intake (as well as some other fantastic looking and performing upgrades) the SLP ZL575 Camaro is one powerful machine. Boasting 575 bhp, which is a bump of 149 over the stock SS, this beast gets a lot out of the already awesome Camaro LS3, and couples that with fantastic suspension, braking (Brembo 6-piston big brake kit), handling, and visual modifications for one exceptional Camaro.
With the SLP Supercharger strapped on to the LS3, this vehicle is basically a rocket on 4 wheels. Combining the already great performance of the LS3 with the tested performance and quality of SLP makes for an awesome car. With stiffer springs for an inch-lowered ride height, 29-mm tubular anti-roll bars, enhanced suspension package, and wider staggered (245s front and 275s rear) 20 inch Pirelli P Zero's this car not only flies, but it can sure as hell take a corner as well. Couple all of this with some fantastic styling cues, and you have one of the greatest complete package tuner Camaros out there. The Ram Air hood, functional rear spoiler, active brake cooling rear gills, 5-spoke alloy wheels, custom paint striping, and specialized SLP interior with embroidered mats and seats, all make for one absolutely glorious looking Camaro. The styling touches were small when compared to the stock Camaro (apart from that mean looking ram air hood) but worked absolutely perfect in the context of the car.
If I had any one complaint with the SLP Camaro, it would be with their exhaust choice. This is just personal preference too, but I prefer the more steady hum of a Borla or Billy Boat or other exhaust system to the throatier gurgle of the Powerflo. It is a very mean and aggressive exhaust, and it provides fantastic performance boosts, just wouldn't be my first choice. Of course, it is one of SLP's own in-house products, and makes sense with the package. Saying I don't like it also just feels like nit-picking on my part. And, with the performance and styling this car offers at its price tag (in the very reasonable $60,000 price range), I shouldn't be complaining.
A look at the numbers shows just how impressive these performance modifications are:
- 575 bhp, 550 lbs-feet torque
- 4.3 second 0-60, and a very respectable 9.0 second 0-100
- 12.5 second 1/4 mile run at 118.5 mph
- 121 ft 60-0 braking, 215 ft for 80-0 braking
- .89g on lateral accel (200 ft skidpad)
- and a limited top speed of 190 mph
Very definitely, another great vehicle from SLP, the ZL575 Camaro is a beast begging to be tamed and one of my favorite Camaro tuners on the market!
GM Unveils Indy 500 Pace Car Camaro SS
In paying homage to the 1969 Camaro, a beautiful piece of automobile art, GM has unveiled their new Indy 500 Pace Car for next years race. That's right, on May 30th 2010, the Indy Pace Car Camaro SS will take to the track and lead the way for the start of America's favorite automotive race. Taking the place normally reserved to a Corvette, this will mark only the 6th time in the running of the Indy 500 that the pace car will be a Camaro, and this new one is an absolute beaut! With diamond white racing stripes on metallic orange, this car looks fantastic. The interior touches, which include continued white racing stripe and orange stitching, make for a fantastic looking vehicle. This car will be an automatic with the 400 HP LS99, but I can forgive that for the pure beauty of the vehicle.
Click on the gallery thumbs for full size images:
Source: NZV8
Camaro Convertible as early as Q1
Well, tomorrow is Thanksgiving, so I wanted to give some thanks for the Camaro. So, to Chevy, thank you very much for providing us with this car! It is a fantastic car that has really helped Chevrolet thrive, which is fantastic because Chevy is about the only American Car company doing well these days. Because of the extreme popularity of the Camaro and demand for it, Chevy has also announced that as early as Q1 of 2011 we will be seeing Chevy Camaro Convertibles rolling off of the assembly line (they will be put together at the Chevy Canadian Plant). Thankfully, this also means more Camaro sales for the foreseeable future. Past that, there are a few other things involving the Chevy Camaro I want to give thanks for: How much fun it is to drive, what an eye-turner it is, and how great it sounds. I'm sure there are some things about the Camaro you want to give thanks for as well, right?
2010 Camaro SS
Lingenfelter Awarded Best Car at SEMA by GM
DECATUR, Ind. - Lingenfelter Performance Engineering's (LPE) 750 hp supercharged 2010 LS7 Camaro SS was awarded the General Motors Design Award for Best Sports Car during the 2009 Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show in Las Vegas, NV.
"General Motors is pleased to recognize the fine accomplishments of the top vehicle builders in the 2009 SEMA Show," said Bob Kern, GM's SEMA Relations Director. "We are proud to support their efforts and applaud the large number of new accessories produced for GM products through the SEMA activity. This has a major positive impression with our vehicle buyers."
The coveted GM Design Award recognizes Lingenfelter Performance Engineering for their innovative power and styling enhancements to one of the industry's most coveted sports cars.
"We are very honored to be recognized for our efforts on the Camaro, and we appreciate General Motors giving us the opportunity to win this award by introducing the new 2010 Camaro and renewing enthusiasts' hobby and passion for muscle cars," said Ken Lingenfelter, owner, Lingenfelter Performance Engineering.
Featuring the company's 427 CID/7.0L LS7 power plant, the Lingenfelter Camaro's engine has an 8.8:1 compression ratio with forged JE pistons, production GM LS7 crankshaft and titanium connecting rods, and LS7 cylinder heads with titanium intake valves and Inconel exhaust valves. Other engine upgrades include:
* Magnuson/Eaton TVS2300 supercharger
* Custom-fabricated LS7 cylinder head supercharger base manifold
* Lingenfelter 14-rib rear drive system with tensioner pulley
* Lingenfelter/ATI Racing 10-rib front accessory drive
Lingenfelter Camaro at SEMA
* Lingenfelter heavy duty power steering pump
* Lingenfelter low temperature thermostat
* Custom Lingenfelter coil covers
In addition to ensuring the LS7 Camaro SS delivers more raw power, the 2010 Lingenfelter package ups the ante on overall performance and also features: Lingenfelter 6-bolt LS9 twin disk flywheel and clutch assembly; Lingenfelter Camaro SS twin pump fuel system with Lingenfelter fuel pump controller; Lingenfelter double adjustable Sachs shocks; heavy duty Driveshaft Shop halfshafts; Brembo brake calipers and rotors; Corsa stainless exhaust system; and Hotchkis suspension springs, anti-sway bars and subframe brace.
Body enhancements include a front fascia splitter, rocker extensions, carbon fiber grille, new hood with air extractors, rear deck lip and spoiler; rear fascia extension; and Lingenfelter Performance Engineering exhaust tips. Custom Lingenfelter 10-spoke design wheels with Pirelli 275/40ZR20 tires on the front and Pirelli 305/35ZR20 on the back are also part of the performance upgrades.
A number of driver comfort, performance and style improvements finish off the Lingenfelter package, including: Mouth turn signal mirrors; Mito rear view mirror with video display; Lingenfelter/Grant custom steering wheel; and Lingenfelter-brand CNC machined pedal covers, floor mats and embroidered interior.
For more information, visit www.lingenfelter.com, contact Lingenfelter Performance Engineering at 1557 Winchester Road, Decatur, IN 46733, or call 260.724.2552.
Can’t wait for SEMA! Will we see the return of the Z28 officially there this year?
Facebook, what hath thou wrought? Yesterday, the internet automotive community was abuzz because of you and something one of your users posted. Is that, could it possibly be, the new Camaro Z28?! Boy, we sure do hope so!
This possible Z28 image was leaked on Facebook
SEMA starts today, and starting tomorrow I'll be providing you with updates from the event myself, but until then all I can do is troll the internet and get my hopes up as to what the event will offer me. This image, which clearly shows a very mean, very bad-ass looking Camaro on the SEMA floor, has brought upon a number of speculations that this may be the new Z28. Nothing is official yet, but the vehicle absolutely looks the part. Those hood-vents are mean looking, and an already gorgeous front-end has been improved upon. Reportedly the Z28 will include the LSA powerhouse underneath its hood when released. For those who don't quiet remember what that is, we're talking about a 556 HP and 551 Lb-Torque engine being used to power the Cadillac CTS-V. Imagine that beast in the Camaro. Drooling yet? Yeah, me too.
Source: AutoBlog