Chevrolet Camaro News

And its latest incarnation has the sort of numbers local musclecar drivers would be keen to sample.  The Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 - which will wear a US$58,000 pricetag when it goes on sale in North America - is boasting a top speed near 300km/h and a sprint to 100km/h in under four seconds.  The heart of the ZL1 is a Roots-supercharged and intercooled version of the 6.2-litre V8, which kicks out 432kW and 754Nm - the most powerful production Camaro ever. It also has an active exhaust and the choice of a six-speed manual or automatic transmission.  Chevrolet have also endowed the ZL1 with the third-incarnation of the Magnetic Ride suspension system, which uses dampers with magneto-rheological (MR) fluid that can be quickly altered by means of an electric current to change the suspension firmness according to road conditions and driving behaviour. Driver behaviour will also be tempered by the system Chev calls "Performance Traction Management" - the system is taken from the ZR1 Corvette and oversees the magnetic ride control, stability and traction control, the electric power steering and launch control systems. The latter - only on offer with the manual transmission - automatically monitors (1000 times a second) and if required restrains the engine's torque to offer the best balance between acceleration and wheel spin. Of course, that's a track-only pursuit. Also on the ZL1's features list are a rear-differential cooler, integrated engine and transmission oil coolers, and brake-cooling ducts as standard, with the cabin getting leather-trimmed seats, a nine-speaker Boston Acoustics sound system, USB and Bluetooth connectivity, rear parking sensors and a rear camera. Options are limited to the six-speed auto, 20in polished alloy wheels, a sunroof, striping package, a suede interior upgrade or - for the subtle and low-key owner - an unpainted carbon fibre bonnet insert. Don't hold your breath for the ZL1 to pop up in Holden dealerships any time soon - Holden says there's no business case for RHD production of the current Camaro model - but the well-funded Camaro fans might yet be saved by the private importers, but the asking price is likely to be well north of the US$58,000 tag it wears in North America. The Camaro ZL1 Coupe will go on sale in the northern hemisphere spring next year, with a convertible to follow in the summer months of that year, but the droptop's price is yet to be revealed.  Queensland importer Performax International currently bring in a number of US musclecars, including Camaro and Mustang models.  Performax International general manager Glenn Soper says they have a customer-ordered Camaro ZL1 destined for the workshop shortly after its February release in the US.  "The ZL1 differs from the ordinary Camaro in having electric-assisted power steering, which will be a complex job to convert to RHD while ensuring no loss of function for all the interconnected electronic chassis systems," he says. Mr Soper says the company's previous experience with the Ford Mustang electric power steering and Australian Design Rule approval will help, but it won't be cheap.  "As we are a small-volume importer, our prices are always subject to prevailing exchange rates. Including conversion cost and Luxury Car Tax, a registration-ready Australian version of the Camaro ZL1 may cost in the region of $140,000-$150,000, however, a privately-imported vehicle brought to us for conversion and compliance would cost less.  "We don't expect to sell many, but no doubt there will be a few enthusiasts who will just have to have one of the most exciting Chevys ever produced," Mr Soper says.  

Leading importer Performax International has just named the Ascot dealership as the first one in Western Australia to carry their range of right-hand drive converted Corvette, Camaro and Mustang sports cars and the Chevrolet Silverado sports truck.The vehicles are imported and re-engineered to Australian Government right-hand drive specifications by Performax International.Performax has completed factory-standard conversions on thousands of its own and privately imported vehicles over almost 25 years at its factory near the Queensland Sunshine Coast. All conversions carry ISO 9001 Quality Assured certification.The formal appointment of Performance West as a Performax dealer was finalised late last year, but the company has been selling American vehicles for several months."We've already had excellent sales since taking on the dealership and are looking forward to another strong year as demand for these types of vehicles grow. WA buyers are becoming aware that there is now a one stop shop providing professional sales, parts and service at their doorstep." Performance West chief executive Peter Rullo said."The majority have been Chevrolet Silverado trucks, but we've also sold some Camaros and Corvettes. Companies that supply or service the mining industry and some recreational and small business operators make up the majority of Silverado owners. The Silverado is ideal for West Australian conditions with its 6.6 litre V8 diesel engine, four-wheel drive, luxurious comfort and substantial towing and carrying capacity. There simply isn't anything else like it for toughness, performance, comfort and practicality."Performax International general manager Glenn Soper said the dealer appointment would make it easier for West Australian customers to buy and maintain their American vehicles."These are big vehicles for a big State and we're proud to have Performance West aboard to introduce them to more WA drivers. Peter Rullo is a well-known WA businessman and motorsport competitor and his understanding of performance vehicles should give added confidence to our customers," he said."Performance West joins other recently-appointed Performax dealers in New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania. We now sell and support our range of American cars and trucks throughout Australia."The Chev Silverado has class-leading towing capacity of up to 10.2 tonnes. It attracts buyers from the building, construction and mining industries, plus recreational users who tow big boats, cars, horse floats or luxury vans.

JIM Griffin's company makes car hinges and tie-down cleats in Reservoir. He sells them in China - despite a 67 per cent increase in the value of the dollar from the lows we saw in 2008.The car industry is one of our top export earners. The all-American Chevrolet Camaro was engineered in Melbourne - and so was the new Ford T6 Ranger pickup truck, sold in more countries than any other Ford vehicle.The car industry put this city on the global innovation map. In the last year on record, the auto industry was the single biggest customer for local tooling.It consumed $1.3 billion in locally manufactured iron and steel, $444 million in polymer products and $157 million in chemicals; along with $1.6 billion of professional, scientific and technical services. The car industry keeps more than 200,000 Australians in work. So imagine this country without it.It's not just the future of the Bathurst 1000 at stake. It's not just your right to drive a world-class Australian car - a right that we've enjoyed for more than six decades and that we still prize today. No less than four of the Top 10 selling cars in this country are locally made.No, take away the cars, and you take away any claims we have on the 21st century. Opinions will differ on the returns we can expect from the resources boom.But no one, however bullish, claims we can rely on it forever. It has pushed the dollar to levels that are crippling to trade-exposed industries - our automakers among them. They are still keeping alive the raw materials of our post-boom economy.The practical know-how. The advanced machinery. The university research programs. These are the bread-and-butter of any auto operation; but they generate jobs and opportunities in countless other ways.Take SMR Automotive, a company making rear-vision mirrors in Adelaide. They supply almost a third of the global market today. But because they know car mirrors, they also know high-precision medical devices. They know how to make whitegoods and lighting systems that cost less to run. They have the skills in optical engineering, in high-precision moulding and in polymer electronics to take the lead in all these fields.Companies like SMR are first and foremost automakers. They look to the three major vehicle producers in this country - Ford, GM Holden and Toyota - to provide the work that keeps people on the job, day in, day out. Those producers provide vital links to the global auto industry, still the great powerhouse of modern industrial progress.That's how Australians stay at the peak of the technology curve; and that's how our component makers break into the global production chains.I have little patience with commentators who insist on seeing this country as some kind of automotive backwater. Australia is one of only 13 nations with all the capabilities to take a car from the drawing board to the dealership - and we have sustained that position at a far lower per capita cost than most.Every Australian claims the benefits of the auto sector for less than $18 each. Every American is paying 14 times that sum. So this is not the moment to be slashing our support, as Mr Abbott would have us do. It is time to prove to the world that this country is ready to make cars for the 21st century.Electric cars are part of that future. But so too are lightweight composite parts. So are alternative fuels. So are intelligent design and clean manufacturing technology.Australia can undoubtedly compete on its strengths in these fields - which is why innovation has always been the heart and soul of our $5.4 billion New Car Plan for a Greener Future.That's how we secured the low-emission Holden Cruze, the hybrid Toyota Camry, the EcoBoost Falcon. That's how Australia produced the world's first carbon-fibre car wheel, as strong as steel and half the weight.That's why engineers, doctoral students and elite researchers are working together on a large proof-of-concept fully electric vehicle in Melbourne. That's how our auto envoys helped local firms win overseas contracts worth more than half a billion in the last financial year.I am not in the business of holding out false hope. There is undoubtedly a tough fight ahead for this industry, as the hard news from Toyota confirms. But let there be no mistake. This is a battle we are ready to fight.

The Koreans starred, the Japanese mounted a comeback, and One Ford hit the headlines with an extended family of Focus-based newcomers that it is certain to make a big hit in Australia. But it was one car and the commitment of its company chief that made the most impact as America fought back on the opening day of the 2011 North American International Motor Show.Chevrolet makes toys for grown ups who believe they can act like kids, so the combination should produce an enthusiast's dream car.Chevrolet and Hot Wheels have created a life-size concept that revisits the motor show circus in Detroit this week after its first showing at last year's debut at the SEMA show in Las Vegas.The Camaro Hot Wheels concept is inspired by Hot Wheels' Custom Camaro, the finger-sized Spectraflame 1:64-scale toy that was part of the original 16 Hot Wheels cars released in 1968. The project was a collaborative effort between the General Motors Design studio in Michigan and the Hot Wheels Design studio in California. Each sketched its own ideas of a life-size Hot Wheels Camaro, compared notes and refined their visions until the concept hit the right note for each group of designers."The Camaro has been a mainstay in the Hot Wheels lineup since 1968,'' says Phil Zak, GM design director. "Several generations of car enthusiasts grews up playing with Hot Wheels Camaros, while dreaming of driving the real thing, so this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to make that dream a reality.''There was a similar buzz of excitement in the Hot Wheels studio."The Hot Wheels and Camaro brands have been paired together since their inception,'' said Felix Holst, vice president of design for the Mattel Wheels Division."As part of the brand's historic sweet 16, the Camaro was the first Hot Wheels car ever produced. The Spectraflame paint and redline tires of those first Hot Wheels cars have been the dreams of guys for generations, and it was thrilling to inject these elements into a Camaro for real.''The full-size result creates a car that is instantly identifiable as a Camaro with styling cues - including flat-black graphics, red-line wheels and the metallic green paint - that are classic Hot Wheels.The original Hot Wheels cars debuted with their metallic Spectraflame paint finishes, and the Camaro Hot Wheels Concept features a chrome-style finish created in a similar manner - that is, a tinted top coat over a shiny base.The reflective finish was created using Gold Touch Inc's Cosmichrome product, starting with the application of a primer coat on an immaculately prepared surface. The primer coat was then sprayed with a liquid-metal solution to create the mirror-smooth, silver-chrome base coat. Then the green tint was applied in several layers until the right colour effect was achieved."It may sound pretty straightforward, but no one had ever tried using this process to paint a whole car,'' says Zak."The bodywork and paint team experimented with several processes before spraying the first body panel. There were so many variables that contributed to getting the finish perfect, from the drying time to the air pressure of the spray guns - none of which was known before this project - and the team absolutely nailed it perfectly."Additional features of the Camaro Hot Wheels Concept include:Over Chrome Green paint with ghosted Hot Wheels logo on the quarter panelsSatin black ground effects (splitter, rocker and rear fascia-side extensions)Satin black wheels with milled face and Torch Red stripe: 20x10-inch (front) and 20x11-inch (rear)ZL1 grille with Hot Wheels badgingHot Wheels badge on the decklidEuro-style taillamps with new inner smoked lensEuro-style rear fascia with new diffuser and exhaust bezelsZL1 rear spoilerChevrolet Accessories Modified Satin Black StripeBlack aluminum CAMARO fender badges with milled faceBlack aluminum hood insert with milled hood vent extractorsChevrolet Accessories Synergy Series gill decalsBlack leather-wrapped IP and door inserts with Torch Red accents, and cut-and-sew flamesHot Wheels sill platesHot Wheels cut-and-sew embroidered logos in the front seatbacksChevrolet Accessories pedal kitChevrolet Accessories footwell and cup holder lighting (red)Brembo brakes: six-piston front with two-piece rotors and four-piston calipers (Chevrolet Official Licensed Product)Suspension lowering kit by Pedders (Chevrolet Official Licensed Product)Chevrolet Accessories strut tower braceChevrolet Accessories black engine coverChevrolet Accessories exhaust system.Under the hood is the all-aluminum 6.2-litre LS3 V8 backed by the Tremec TR6060 six-speed manual transmission.Hot Wheels is making a collectors edition 1:64-scale model based on the full-size concept.It will be the 18th 1:64-scale Hot Wheels Camaro model produced since 1968, all with a variety of colours and configurations. During the past 44 years, literally millions of Hot Wheels Camaro models have been produced.The original Custom Camaro from 1968 remains one of the most valuable Hot Wheels toys among collectors. That year, Hot Wheels produced all the Custom Camaro models with Spectraflame paint - except for one version in white enamel.Today, examples of the Spectraflame Custom Camaro in excellent condition can sell for $150 or more. Only 15 white enamel versions are known to exist, and none are in their original packages.The value of a white enamel Custom Camaro is upwards of $3000, says Holst. But if one still existed in the package, the value could be tens of thousands of dollars.

GM's Chevrolet brand is celebrating its 100th anniversary, and as part of its celebrations it asked drivers to vote for the best Chevy of all time?  The answer was the 1969 Camaro. The Camaro edged out such famous models as the 1953 Corvette, the 1957 Bel Air and even the 1963 Corvette Sting Ray - to name a few.  By 1969 the Camaro was extremely popular and though this was the final year of the Camaro's original iconic design, it went out with flying colors.  The `69 Camaro paced the Indianapolis 500 for the second time. It was the first and only year the legendary aluminum ZL1 engine was offered, and the Z28 SS/RS performance package qualified the `69 Camaro to compete in the Trans-Am racing series. It's still considered one of the hottest-looking rides of the classic muscle car era. It had a 290-horsepower rating but tested at close to 400. This four-wheeled icon has graced the silver screen many times.  In Almost Famous, a young William Miller watches his sister drive off with her boyfriend in a blue 1969 Camaro coupe. And a slightly earlier version stars as the famous black beauty in Better Off Dead.

Host Adam Carolla, Matt Farah and Dan Neil drive the 2010 Camaro SS, 2011 Mustang RTR and 2012 Charger SRT8 at Willow Springs Raceway.Which of the Big Three’s biggest three comes out ahead?

Last week's "Hottest Car" award at SEMA is official acknowlegement by the auto aftermarket industry that the Camaro is the most popular car to customise in the US.  The local connection continued when the award was received by Alan Batey, who was Holden's managing director before headed Stateside to become Chevrolet vice-president of sales and service.Batey is the latest in a long line of Holden talent GM has tapped to help its US operations and was at SEMA to oversee the four official Camaro entries on display, though they were hidden among a staggering 130 examples of the model, with everyone from Popular Mechanics to DUB magazine putting Camaros on show."We were naturally thrilled when we saw Camaro collect another accolade for its styling," Holden design director Tony Stolfo says.  "The team in the States did a great job preparing the winning entry for the show, adding even more muscle to what is a special design."Given the Australian connection to the Camaro program, it was nice that Alan Batey, a former Holden man, was there to accept the honour."  The Camaro has already been a huge commercial success for GM, with just under 100,000 cars selling in its first year of production to May this year to outsell it main rival, the Ford Mustang, by almost 20,000 vehicles.It has also been judged the World Car Design of the Year and the "Ideal Vehicle" in the sports car category by AutoPacific, which is decided on interviews with new car owners.And it's the new owners that are interesting GM, with its research showing around half of Camaro buyers are new to the Chevy brand.  That number is expected to grow when the convertible version goes on sale later this year after being previewed at this week's Los Angeles Motor Show.Even the South Africans want to toy with our hot-rod Holdens. Tuning company LupiniPower has launched a 400kW Chevrolet SuperUte pick-up. The car is based on the Commodore SS ute - sold in South Africa as the Chevy Ute SS - with a supercharger fitted to the 6.0-litre V8 and upgraded brakes and suspension.LupiniPower says its automatic SuperUte hits 0-100km/h in 4.5 seconds and is more fuel-efficient than the standard vehicle, claiming 9.9 litres for 100km against the regular model's 10.2 litres/100km.  The company is also offering the same upgrades on the Commodore SS sedan, which South Africans know as a Chevy Lumina.

A hotrod Camaro is now being developed to go head-to-head with the Ford Mustang GT500, promising a return of the classic Z28 badge in 2012. Chevrolet is finalising testing of the born-again Z28, right down to running it against the GT500, and the car is caught by Carparazzi during the trails. There is predictable camouflage, but not enough to disguise the much- larger air intake in the nose and a pronounced lip spoiler. There are also giant 20-inch alloy wheels and brakes that could have come from the Cadillac CTS-V. The rear end reveals a set of dual pipes on either side of the car and Carparazzi photographers report a thunderous Nascar-style exhaust note. There are also potential mounting points for a rear spoiler. The car will be powered by a supercharged 6.2-litre V8 and the test car is running an automatic gearbox. The final result for the Z28 is likely to be similar to the Transformers Camaro displayed on the American motor show circuit last year, although GM's engineers are having some of their own fun with a Nascar-style number 2 on the side. The Z28 is likely to be revealed at the Detroit Motor Show in January for American sales, headlining a mildly facelifted 2011 Camaro range, in the first half of next year.

His love of colour and painting on vehicles has since taken him to great heights ranging from a multitude of street machines to royal carriages for the Queen. Today he will unveil his latest creation, exclusively revealed here in Carsguide today, a 1969 Chev Camaro that finally achieves his ultimate dream."Ever since I was 17 I've always wanted a candy-apple red car... and now I've got one," he says. But it's not just any red machine. There's 15 coats of paint on it, a silver base topped with a red transparent dye creating an exquisite depth of colour rarely seen on a car. "It looks like a toffee apple," he says.He estimates the custom machine cost $150,000 to build, with the paint job alone taking $50,000 of the money.Webb's Camaro is one of eight never-before seen cars and three custom bikes to be unveiled at the 10th annual MotorEx show at the Sydney Showgrounds at Homebush Bay this morning (Saturday).The 11 inauguration vehicles, the ultimate in custom machine presentation in Australia, headline a show featuring more than 400 cars ranging from the Meguiars superstars (65 custom show cars) to the street elite (custom cars that can be driven on the road) to muscle cars, classics and bikes.Webb is the show organiser, a key judge of the various categories, and the bloke who came up with the whole idea years ago. He says the inauguration cars at this year's show are top shelf."I would think this year will be the best. There's quite a variety of hot rods, street machines and hi-tech tuners."This year's show features many past winners of the various categories, returning for the first time to mark the 10th anniversary. Normally the winners are not allowed to re-enter. For many of the exhibitors and thousands of car fans at the show over this weekend it's all about the cars.But Webb says the paint job is just as vital as the machine. So much so that he says he could make the most humble of cars sexy with the right paint job. When he bought his Camaro three years ago it was halfway through restoration project. But Webb cast all that aside and stripped it back to bare metal to begin his work."It is all about the preparation," he says. He applied four coats of silver, six coats of red and three coats of clear before it was rubbed down and then a final two coats of clear to his Camaro. Underneath the car it's a more practical Satin Galaxy Grey colour as he may drive it after the show.Webb started his career as an apprentice spray painter in Bowral at 17. Since then he has created many masterpieces. "That's been my life, the paint," he says. Back in the 1980s he painted the royal carriage presented to the Queen by Australia to mark the occasion of the Australian Bicentennial in royal claret and black. He is working on a similiar project now.The Camaro is his fifth elite level show car and he still owns three of them. Over the past 35 years he has been involved in painting hundreds of cars. He also helps apprentices and people new to the work by assisting at TAFE. As Australia's top show car judge he travels Australia and overseas to judge at various car shows.This year's MotorEx show is bigger than before, taking up much more room across the Showgrounds. Apart from the rows of chrome and polish there's also the Shannon's classic car and memorabilia auction at the show tomorrow afternoon and a freestyle motocross show.

WILL Power is the leader of this year's IndyCar World Series after a first-up win at the season opener in Brazil as he begins his full-time career with Penske Racing. The only other Australian in the field, his Penske teammate Ryan Briscoe, was 14th.THE Formula One world championship will grow to 20 races next season when India joins the schedule. This year's title is decided over 19 races, with Korea as the series newcomer.STEVE Owen swept the Fujitsu V8 Supercar races in Adelaide last weekend, but is unlikely to race again for the rest of the season. He is committed to TeamVodafone for the main-game endurance races.COMEBACK racer Andrew Meidecke upset the aces with two wins in the Supercar Masters races in Adelaide to take the championship lead in his Chevrolet Camaro. He is just ahead of Jim Richards with defending champ Gavin Bullas in third.DAVID Sieders is the early leader of this year's V8 Ute racing series after three races in Adelaide last weekend, ahead of Andrew Fisher and Jack Elsegood.STEPHEN Bell is the new Victorian sprintcar champion after a hard-fought victory at Premier Speedway in Warrnambool. John Vogels still leads the Eureka Garages series.WORLD touring car champ Yvan Muller is expected to partner Greg Murphy in the Phillip Island and Bathurst endurance races this year. The Frenchman, who co-drove with Craig Lowndes at Triple Eight, first needs to clear a date clash with his Chevy drive.