Well, the cat’s out of the bag with the 2016 Chevrolet Camaro. At least from the pics we’ve seen so far, the looks are surprisingly subtle, but where does it stand in terms of performance? According to a reliable inside source, the new Camaro gets a new and more powerful V8, a revised V6 and for the first time ever, a turbocharged four-cylinder.
(Update: A few new details are below in bold. More coming soon...)
Our tipster tells us the new, lighter, Alpha platform Camaro gets the following engine options:
- A 2.0-liter turbo four as the base engine with 270 horsepower and 290 lb-ft of torque
- A 3.6-liter V6 with 330 HP and 275 lb-ft of torque as an option up from that
- Or the SS with a 6.2-liter LT1 V8 with 440 HP and 450 lb-ft of torque
The first engine makes a lot of sense because it’s the base engine in the Camaro’s platform-mates, the Cadillac ATS and CTS. The familiar 3.6-liter V6 is a carryover from the old Camaro (Update: It’s actually an all-new engine, presumably the one from the upcoming Cadillac CT6) but gets about a 10 HP boost here.
What’s interesting is that, unlike the Mustang, the turbo four is truly the base engine on the Camaro, both in terms of power and price. The Mustang EcoBoost slots below the GT V8 with 310 HP and 320 lb-ft of torque.
The LT1 V8 is new to the Camaro. Previously the car used the LS-series engines. This new one is the same V8 engine used in the Corvette Stingray, and here it represents a 14 HP jump over the old SS.
Coupled with lighter weight, optional magnetic ride and more power, the new Camaro might be more interesting to drive than it is to look at it.
Contact the author at patrick@jalopnik.com.