The 2019 Chevrolet Camaro just dropped, and holy crap does it look nuts. But while the headlights and that wild grille are the most obvious alterations from the 2018 model, The General made some hardware changes for 2019 as well, including suspension and brake goodies for the 2.0-liter base motor.
Major changes for 2019 include a new Turbo 1LE, which joins the V6, SS and ZL1 models with 1LE track packages. That means the 2.0-liter, 275 HP four-banger can be had with a performance suspension, which adds larger sway bars, specially tuned dampers, stiffer subframe bushings, and “cross-axis ball joints” for the rear tow links, which GM says “enhance lateral stiffness.”
The six-speed manual-only 1LE four banger, whose performance package is based on the V6 1LE, also gets wide summer tires (275mm in the rear, 245mm in the front), Brembo brakes, a drive-mode selector with sport and track modes, and a flat-bottom steering wheel. GM boasts in its press release that the 2.0-liter turbo engine enables the Turbo 1LE to have a “nearly” 50-50 weight distribution.
Also new for 2019 is the fact that the SS model gets a 10-speed automatic with “custom” launch control and line-lock. This transmission, co-developed with Ford, replaces the eight-speed auto and has heretofore been available only in the ZL1 model.