Chevrolet issued a voluntary stop-sale at the beginning of November on 2020 Camaro muscle cars equipped with the 3.6-litre V6 while it investigates what it calls a potential emissions system issue.While the automaker has not disclosed specifically what the issue is, blog GM Authority surmised it may be linked to an evaporative emissions canister that exceeds emissions standards in the U.S.Other details were still slim after the weekend, but for now any new Camaros with those engines will be sitting on dealership lots and not going
Origin: Chevrolet stops selling 2020 Camaro V6 cars over ’emissions issue’
Camaro
Ringbrothers to bring wildly customized ’69 Camaro, Mustang to SEMA
A teaser image of the Ringbrothers 1969 Chevy Camaro, to be unveiled at SEMA 2019Ringbrothers Renowned customizing shop Ringbrothers is bringing two classic vehicles to this years SEMA show in Las Vegas, a 1969 Chevrolet Camaro and a 1969 Ford Mustang.Of course, they will be barely recognizable compared to the stock versions of each vehicle, judging from the teaser images of the cars.The Camaro is dubbed Valkyrja, and has an extended wheelbase with fender flares. The Mustang takes the name Unkl, and will sport a blue racing livery to go along with its low-slung looks. Both cars have massive front splitters, and huge hood bulges hiding heaps of horsepower.Under the hood of the Mustang is a John Kasse 520-cubic-inch Boss V8. Specs have not been revealed, but rumours of the motor pushing 800 horsepower are circulating.As for the Camaro, a 416-cubic-inch LS engine sourced from Wegner provides the motivation there. Again, specs are top-secret.The teaser silhouette images of the cars let loose by the shop are both way too dark to give us any meaningful idea of what the Mustang or Camaro look like.However, brightening it up a tad reveals a few more of the details on the builds, including a racing number on the side of the Mustang; and a two-tone paint job on the Camaro.Both vehicles obviously have huge wheels, because a rim with a diameter greater than 18 inches is pretty much a requirement to get into SEMA at this point. View this post on Instagram Big things coming at @semashow this year. Stay tuned for more! Any guesses what we’re unveiling? A post shared by Ringbrothers (@ringbrothers) on Oct 7, 2019 at 7:27pm PDTRingbrothers other teaser released on Instagram gave us a better look at the Camaro, or at least the cars rear end. While it may not give us a lot in terms of surface area, it does show off the cars carbon-fibre roof panel, revealed in a style vaguely reminiscent of the originals vinyl top; and the colour palette for the car.It looks like its the classic battle of the pony cars all over again, Camaro versus Mustang. If either of these vehicles were to make their way into your garage, which would you rather
Origin: Ringbrothers to bring wildly customized ’69 Camaro, Mustang to SEMA
GM re-recalls bad Camaro key fobs it accidentally kept giving out
The 2014 Camaro is available with a track-focused 1LE Performance Package.Chevrolet Chevrolet is recalling certain Camaro key fobs given to owners as replacements for defective key fobs starting in 2014, the company said early October.The first recall, in 2014, was for every fifth-generation Camaro produced to that point, beginning model year 2010.The automaker said drivers knees could bump into the keys, possibly knocking it out of position while driving. Chevrolet took them all back and gave owners replacement key fobs.Now it turns out some of those replacements may have been of the same faulty switchblade-like flip design, or at least that some dealers were selling these keys as replacements, says Consumer Reports.It was an employee that recently realized the bad keys were still listed on GMs books as a replacement part, meaning some owners may have got them instead of the less bulky flat blade design meant to actually replace the old ones.Chevrolet will contact the owners of the affected 10,740 Camaros directly to let them know whether they need a replacement for their replacement key or
Origin: GM re-recalls bad Camaro key fobs it accidentally kept giving out
Chevrolet’s 1LE package makes you want to drive your Camaro lap after lap
Camaro 1LE Ron Fellows Driving ExperienceClayton Seams / Driving In the old days, you used to be able to build some weird cars.I dont mean the cars themselves were weird, but that you could ask your cheerful local Chevrolet sales manager to build you a car in one of an assortment of odd combinations: so many engines, big or small, to be paired with interiors, luxurious or sparse.Today, cars pretty much come in well-defined packages. The big engine only comes with the nice leather seats and the handling package. The small engine is available with a stick only if you forgo the luxury options.But there are exceptions. Just like in decades part or, perhaps, much like Burger King Chevrolet will still let you have it your way at least a little, pairing its 1LE track package with any of the four engines available in its new Camaro.Not only that, the 1LE mechanical package is independent of the four luxury option groups (thats 1LS, 1LT, 2LT, 3LT). This means you can order a track package on a Camaro with any engine and any level of luxury trimmings. You can get a lightweight 2.0-litre Turbo with cloth seats and base infotainment to get maximum value; or you can heap your plate high with a supercharged 6.2-litre ZL1 and the full luxury treatment. Now I dont have a calculator handy to tell you how many combinations are possible, but suffice it to say they are many. So to test out the 1LE package on various Camaro models, I went to the Ron Fellows Driving Experience at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park. There, on the big track, we would have the chance to put these 1LE cars on track and see how they compare.So what makes a 1LE a 1LE? Well, it depends on the engine choice. The 1LE contains different bits to match the output. On the four- and six-cylinder cars, it includes the uprated suspension from the SS; 20-inch wheels; four-piston front Brembo brakes; a mechanical limited-slip diff; and a track cooling package with diff, oil and transmission coolers.Step up to the V8 SS model and you get Magnetic Ride Control; an electronic limited-slip diff; six-piston Brembos up front; Recaro front seats; and a dual-mode exhaust system. The ZL1 takes things even further by adding Multimatic dampers with adjustable front ride height, adjustable front camber plates and huge 305-section front and 325-section rear tires.The first car I hopped into was the SS 1LE with a manual transmission and the naturally-aspirated 455-horsepower 6.2-litre V8. Its as close as youll find to a classic muscle car formula in Chevrolets lineup, which is perhaps why it offered proper muscle car noise. Out on the big track, the 6.2-litre could really stretch its legs, and the wide torque band meant few shifts were needed.The upgraded four-piston brakes from the 1LE package were more than up to the task and felt great diving into corners hard. Visibility has never been a Camaro strong suit, and the impaired vision across the A-pillars and low windshield sometimes reduced driver confidence around undulating and tight turns on-track.The SS is an extremely fun car to drive. You can feel it wiggling around under power and sliding around turns. It doesnt feel like a car youd want to set blazing hot lap times in, but you could. It feels like a BRZ with some actual power. And thats high praise.Next up was the world-beating top-of-the-line ZL1. Still 6.2-litres but with a burly supercharger stacked on top of it the ZL1 makes a full 650 hp. Though the ZL1 is available with a stick, the test car had the new ten-speed automatic transmission. No typo: ten speeds.On track, the ZL1 is an entirely different animal than the SS. The playful sliding has been replaced by relentless grip. The ZL1s flanks are peppered with blade-like aero bits, and I have to assume they actually work, because this car sticks harder the faster you go. The massive summer-only Goodyear tires probably dont hurt much, either. The ZL1 simply grips and goes exactly where you point it.The other big difference from the SS is the 10-speed automatic. Whereas I rarely had to shift the six-speed manual around the track, I felt like a Formula One driver ratcheting down through gear after gear in the braking zones. With ten gears to choose from, it almost doesnt matter which one you choose. You could drive through a turn quite happily in 4th, 5th or 6th. It may have been better to let the transmission shift for itself, but I didnt have enough laps to mess around with it in full automatic mode.The ZL1 was also the most fun down Mosports hilly back straight. The ZL1 would come out of Moss corner with a vengeance and storm to 160 km/h almost faster than the speedometer needle could move. Letting all 650 hp pin you in your seat for several seconds without worry of encountering the constabulary were some of the best moments of the day.But the crux of this is that the 1LE package opens up that fun track experience for anyone with coin for a new Camaro. Even the 2.0-litre guys can join in the fun.
Origin: Chevrolet’s 1LE package makes you want to drive your Camaro lap after lap
One-off Chevrolet eCOPO Camaro headed to auction block
Chevy shocked the aftermarket world when it zapped into SEMA last year with its eCOPO Camaro, a concept car that amped up drag racers across the nation so much it hertz.We all good on dad jokes, now? Cool.At the time, the eCOPO concept was based on the 2019 COPO (and not the hideous 2019 SS, thankfully) and driven by an electric motor providing the equivalent of more than 700 horsepower. With about 600 lb.-ft. of torque, Chevy estimated the thing could pull a quarter-mile in the nine-second range.Now, the works of it is being auctioned off by Russo and Steele as part of the action at Monterey Car Week. The thing is an electrical tour de force, as the electric motor is based on a pair of Borg-Warner HVH 250-150 motor assemblies.Each of them generate 300 lb.-ft. of torque and completely replaces the gas engine. It is connected to a conventional racing-prepared Turbo 400 automatic transmission that channels the motors torque to the same solid rear axle used in the production COPO Camaro race cars.When it was being developed, Chevrolet partnered with Hancock and Lane Racing partly because of the teams success in NHRA drag racing but also its involvement with Patrick McCue. You may recognize that name as a driving force behind the record-holding Shock and Awe electric drag racing car and his Seattle-area Bothell High School automotive technology program.(Its worth mentioning that, thanks to the latter, more than a dozen students participated in the development and assembly of the electrified drag car.)Its the Hancock and Lane connection that likely allows this eCOPO to appear on the auction block. The general understanding is that the racing company, not Chevy, actually owns the car, meaning it may not be GM whos offering it for sale. Russo and Steele plan to auction the eCOPO on Friday night around 8:45 pm, according to its website, and goes on to say the car has many unique parts other than its drivetrain, including a one-off hood and a copious number of special badges.And, yes, the eCOPO does have a real VIN. Just dont try to pull any funny stuff at the
Origin: One-off Chevrolet eCOPO Camaro headed to auction block
Car Review: 2019 Chevrolet Camaro 2.0T 1LE
OVERVIEW Chevy imbues its four-cylinder Camaro with track-ready underpinnings PROSRazor-sharp handling, great six-speed manual, affordable, looks as badass as the V8 CONSOutward visibility, cheap interior, you still have to tell people you drive a four-cylinder Camaro VALUE FOR MONEYGood WHAT TO CHANGE?Bring some higher-quality materials into the cabin HOW TO SPEC IT?If you want the cheapest track-rat Camaro, this is it Youd be forgiven for thinking the four-cylinder version of a signature V8-powered pony car as just a throw away model here only for its fuel economy and low starting price.Yet when it comes to the Chevrolet Camaro, youd be wrong. GM is serious about giving its 2.0L turbo-four Camaro which starts at just under $30,000 for the base 1LT trim with a six speed manual some serious performance bona fides. For 2019, the $5,195 1LE Track Performance Package, previously offered only on the naturally-aspirated V6 and V8 models, is now available on the four-cylinder Camaro.Power from the turbo-four does not get a boost with this package, remaining at a healthy 275 horsepower and 295 lb.-ft. of torque. The 1LE package is all about handling, and its the hardware turn this Camaro into a track star upgraded performance suspension featuring larger-diameter front and rear stabilizer bars, uniquely tuned dampers, stiffer rear cradle bushings, and upgraded rear toe links designed to improve lateral stiffness. You also get a limited-slip differential, 20-inch forged alloy wheels finished in black and wrapped in Goodyear Eagle F1 performance rubber, Brembo brakes, heavy-duty cooling and an an engine oil cooler. Rounding out the package are LED headlamps, and a black hood and rear spoiler, plus a flat-bottom steering wheel and shift knob wrapped in suede. The Camaro starts with the stellar Alpha platform that first broke cover under the Cadillac ATS seven years ago, and continues to win over enthusiasts. So, what can make this rear-wheel-drive chassis better? Less weight in the front end, thats what. Some cars tell you theyre already well-sorted right from the get-go, and the Camaro is one of them. The structure feels rock solid, the steering is sharp and direct, and the car itself is planted, poised, and hungry for corners. You probably wont find the Camaros handling limits on the road, but youll have fun trying. Adding to the notion that engineers had their priorities straight are the Camaros positive short-throw shifter, excellent brake feel, and pedal placement suitable for heel-toe shifting action.About the only mechanical part not really inspired here is the engine. Chevy has given this turbo-four some extra snarl, but it still sounds a bit flat and theres no joy to be found in the in the upper rev range this engine does its best work between 2,000 and 5,000 rpm. Theres a bit of turbo lag too, but the Camaro is hardly a slug; Chevy boasts a zero-to-100 km/h time of 5.4 seconds. That, by the way, matches the 1970 Chevelle SS 454 with 390 fume-spewing, bias-ply tire-melting horses.At least Al Oppenheiser, the Camaros chief engineer, points to a faction of enthusiasts who want this small turbocharged engine for its high degree of tune-ability. You can get crazy horsepower out of these, given that Oppenehiser says these guys want to be able to out-drag the 6.2L V8 car. Safe to assume, in this case, their warranty goes up in smoke as fast as their rear tires. The Camaros outward visibility is pretty abysmal its the price you pay for that chopped roof look and gun-slit windows. Its like sitting in a bathtub while wearing a very large sombrero. Add in thick A-pillars, and placing this car in a sharp corner can turn into a guessing game. Cabin quality is subpar, too, with lots of cheap plastics and big panel gaps. The seats arent heated and the infotainment systems graphics looks a generation behind.But GM got the parts that matter right the well-contoured sport buckets, plus the steering wheel and shifter. As with all GMs, theres generous standard connectivity, including 4G LTE wireless hotspot, OnStar, Apple Car Play and Android Auto, and more. Get past the visibility issues, and the Camaro 2.0T 1LE makes for a perfectly suitable daily driver. its fuel efficient, relaxed on the highway, and for such a track-focused car, the ride is surprisingly acceptable.So yes, this bargain performance Camaro is the real deal. Plus, theres no badging here to give away its four-cylinder status. Fitted with the 1LE package, it looks as nasty as any V6 or V8 Camaro and youll probably take them in the
Origin: Car Review: 2019 Chevrolet Camaro 2.0T 1LE
News Roundup: Schwarzenegger masquerades as a used-car salesman, Chevy (maybe) cancels the Camaro, and Genesis takes on the EV market
Welcome to our weekly round-up of the biggest breaking stories on Driving.ca from this past week. Get caught up and ready to get on with the weekend, because it’s hard keeping pace in a digital traffic jam.Here’s what you missed while you were away.Watch Schwarzenegger annoy customers as a used-car salesmanIn film, Arnold Schwarzenegger’s characters usually use bicep strength or Gatling guns to impose their will. But in a new YouTube video, the former Governator relies upon his skills of annoyance to push customers at a used car lot toward electric vehicles. The bit, which appeared on the Austrian-American star’s YouTube page, was a plug for ElectricForAll.org, featuring Arnold as used car salesman overly keen for the gas-guzzling ways of old. Karma, baby! Vancouver driver gets new McLaren impounded minutes after driving it off the lotAh, don’t you just love stories like this, where the idiot driver gets his comeuppance almost immediately? A Vancouver driver recently took possession of a brand-new quarter-million-dollar McLaren 600LT and decided to test its limits on the drive home, accelerating to 161 km/h in a 90-km/h zone before being stopped by police. The $368 ticket probably won’t be such a problem for the obviously wealthy driver, but at least the reckless dummy won’t have his new ride for a week. J.D. Power ranks the best and worst car brands of the yearMarketing information services company J.D. Power has released its Initial Quality Study for 2019, which ranks car brands based on the number of issues experienced by new owners. At the bottom of the pile were British brands Jaguar and Land Rover, which managed to improve their scores from last year but not enough to inch past Mitsubishi, which was ranked third-worse. The top of the list, on the other hand, was dominated by South Korean marques, with Genesis, Kia and Hyundai taking the top three spots, respectively. The highest-ranking North American brand was Ford, which clinched fourth position despite slipping by a couple points from last year. Chevrolet might halt Camaro production after sixth gen Will the sixth-generation Camaro be the last? Rumours of the impending cancellation of the Chevrolet Camaro that started with “multiple sources within GM” speaking to Muscle Cars Trucks suggest so, though later we heard from other sources that the next gen was just “delayed until further notice.” The news has some Camaro fans experiencing deja-vu as the popular muscle car was discontinued once already, back in 2002, only to be resurrected in 2009. GM has neither confirmed nor denied the rumours, telling Motor Authority, “While we will not engage in speculation, we will remind you of our recently announced updates coming to the Camaro lineup this fall.” So we wait…Opinion: The “carpocalypse” is pure BS! Motor Mouth David Booth touched a nerve this week by asking a simple question: “When did we get so f-ing stupid?” OK, so it’s not so difficult to see why some might be offended. In this week’s editorial, our unabashed columnist takes on the idea of the “carpocalypse,” which predicts the forthcoming demise of the auto industry. Despite increased messaging from car sharing companies like Lyft and Car2Go claiming drivership is down – as well plenty of anecdotal evidence suggesting Millennials aren’t buying the same way their parents did – Booth insists it’s all a bunch of hogwash. Do you agree? Join the conversation by commenting on his latest Motor Mouth column. Will another 400 Series Highway improve Toronto traffic conditions? The powers that be in the GTA are studying the idea of connecting Highway 400 in Vaughan to Highway 407 in Milton with another major route in order to reduce congestion. Demand to improve commute times, which rose 8 per cent since 2013, is strong, but as Driving’s Steven Bochenek points out, adding more roads doesn’t necessarily lead to less traffic. In fact, according to a well-researched concept called “induced demand,” more roads often simply lead to more drivers. Well, there’s always the GO Train, I guess. Genesis sets sights on the electric market with announcement of upcoming EVNew kid on the block Genesis has been making waves for a few years now, with its internationally acclaimed vehicles displacing demand for the luxury marquees that have dominated the industry for what seems like forever. BMW and Mercedes-Benz have felt the Genesis pinch, and soon, according to reports from Australia’s Drive, so will Tesla. The publication says the South Korean automaker will release its first fully electric offerings in 2021, in the form of a sedan and an SUV. Genesis claims to be “moving very fast on this,” so expect to hear more (official) news on this
Origin: News Roundup: Schwarzenegger masquerades as a used-car salesman, Chevy (maybe) cancels the Camaro, and Genesis takes on the EV market
Seventh-gen Chevrolet Camaro reportedly delayed, not cancelled
2018 Chevrolet Camaro ConvertibleHandout / Chevrolet Recent reports of the possible cancellation of the next-generation Chevrolet Camaro are being challenged by new information from GM Authority, which suggests the nameplate will live on and a seventh generation will happen but not for a few years.The sixth-generation Camaro currently rides on GMs Alpha platform, the same one underpinning the Cadillac ATS and CTS.But both those vehicles will soon be replaced by the CT4 and CT5 and sit on a new platform called A2XX, an evolution of the Alpha platform.The Camaro is not transitioning to the A2XX platform, which is what initially spurred rumours the pony car could be killed off completely. Now sources are instead saying the next gen will instead simply be delayed until further notice.Its most likely if the Camaro does stick around, it will move to the new VSSR platform, shared with the upcoming CT6, but since that wont be ready until 2023, the next Camaros development will also have to be put on hold.That means the current-gen Camaro will probably be sticking around for the foreseeable future, which is good, because Chevrolet still has a new special editions planned for the vehicle. Wed love to see a new Z/28, as well.The Camaro has fallen out of favour with enthusiasts lately, with the redesign of the classic face not sitting so well; and the lack of a budget V8 model dissuading entry-level buyers. Ford will have a redesigned version of their Mustang for 2021, and Dodge is also believed to be working on a next-generation Challenger, so hopefully Chevrolet doesnt fall too far behind by waiting until
Origin: Seventh-gen Chevrolet Camaro reportedly delayed, not cancelled
Seventh-gen Camaro reportedly delayed, not cancelled
2018 Chevrolet Camaro ConvertibleHandout / Chevrolet Recent reports of the possible cancellation of the next-generation Chevrolet Camaro are being challenged by new information from GM Authority, which suggests the nameplate will live on and a seventh generation will happen but not for a few years.The sixth-generation Camaro currently rides on GMs Alpha platform, the same one underpinning the Cadillac ATS and CTS, but both those vehicles will soon be replaced by the CT4 and CT5 and sit on a new platform called A2XX, an evolution of the Alpha platform.The Camaro is not transitioning to the A2XX platform, which is what initially spurred rumours the pony car could be killed off completely. Now sources are instead saying the next gen will instead simply be delayed until further notice.Its most likely if the Camaro does stick around, it will move to the new VSSR platform, shared with the upcoming CT6, but since that wont be ready until 2023, the next Camaros development will also have to be put on hold.That means the current-gen Camaro will probably be sticking around for the foreseeable future, which is good, because Chevrolet still has a new special editions planned for the vehicle. Wed love to see a new Z/28, as well.The Camaro has fallen out of favour with enthusiasts lately, with the redesign of the classic face not sitting so well; and the lack of a budget V8 model dissuading entry-level buyers. Ford will have a redesigned version of their Mustang for 2021, and Dodge is also believed to be working on a next-generation Challenger, so hopefully Chevrolet doesnt fall too far behind by waiting until
Origin: Seventh-gen Camaro reportedly delayed, not cancelled
Chevrolet may be killing off the Camaro after the sixth generation
The development of the seventh generation of the Chevrolet Camaro may have just been shelved, and after 2023 the Camaro name could die altogether, according to multiple sources within GM speaking to Muscle Cars Trucks.The rumours may seem like a huge blow to fans of the pony car, but it should be noted its already left the automotive world once before, in 2002.The fifth-generation Camaro with its throwback styling was revealed in 2009 to great fanfare, but, two more generations on, its not farfetched to imagine it going away again.A few factors support the claim, the first of which is the phasing out of the current Alpha platform that the Camaro is built on. The Camaro will not transition to the new platform, called A2XX, that underpins the Cadillac CT4 and CT5.Another factor is the movement of Camaros chief engineer, Al Oppenheiser, to GMs electric car division. Information about a next-generation Camaro happening has also been scant, to say the least.When pressed for comment by Motor Authority, GM officials offered a suspiciously vague non-denial.While we will not engage in speculation, we will remind you of our recently announced updates coming to the Camaro lineup this fall, a spokesperson said.An all-new LT1 model will provide customers V8 power with the design and affordability of our LT trim. The award-winning SS model will feature a new front fascia from the Camaro Shock concept. All of our updates are customer-driven to improve the car and its driving experience. Lately, the Camaro has not seen the sort of booming sales it did when its 2009 reintroduction was first announced. The pony car segment is ruled now by the Ford Mustang, with the Dodge Challenger in close pursuit.This has lots to do with the Camaro sitting at a higher price point, as well as a facelift that was so ugly and received so much blow-back, Chevrolet actually reneged on and re-redid the design.This is still very much speculation, so were going to wait for some more clearer sort of confirmation before we start planning the going-away
Origin: Chevrolet may be killing off the Camaro after the sixth generation
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