2010 Chevrolet Camaro is Great

Jalopnik

As we are used by history when we have a Camaro we also have a SS version. And the 2010 model will be no exception. The Camaro SS will be launched just a few months after the standard version will hit the market. It will be a serious competition for the Ford Mustang Shelby and Dodge Charger SRT8.

Hope you're not tired of retro-styled cars just yet because one of the best just arrived in showrooms.

The 2010 Chevrolet Camaro is a visual rendition of the 1969 Camaro but with a sinister flair provided by bulging fenders and large wheels. A windshield and side windows give passengers the feel of being behind gun slits in a military vehicle.

The new Camaro is substantial, too. The base car, with V-6 and manual transmission, weighs nearly 3,800 pounds, which is akin to a Chevy Colorado Crew Cab pickup truck.

At 75.5 inches wide, the Camaro is wider than many sport utility vehicles. And with 304 horsepower in the base model, it offers much more power than base versions of the Ford Mustang and Dodge Challenger.

Unfortunately, though, the new Camaro received only four out of five stars for driver and front passenger protection in federal government frontal crash testing and only four stars for driver protection in side crash testing.

Major competitors — the Ford Mustang and Dodge Challenger — received five stars across the board.

In addition, starting prices for the Camaro — $23,040 starting manufacturer's suggested retail price, including destination charge, for a base model with 304-horsepower V-6 and manual transmission and $31,040 for one with 426-horsepower V-8 and manual — are higher than those of the major competition.

Specifically, the 2010 Ford Mustang coupe with 210-horsepower V-6 and manual transmission has a starting retail price of $21,845. The 2010 Mustang GT with 315-horsepower V-8 and manual starts at $28,845.

The Dodge Challenger, another American muscle car that returned in retro form to the market in recent years, has a starting retail price of $22,945 with 250-horsepower V-6 and $30,945 with 372-horsepower V-8. It comes with only an automatic transmission.

The new Camaro, which started production in March with 14,000 orders on file, is built on a modified rear-wheel drive platform borrowed from the Australian affiliate of Chevy's parent company General Motors Corp.

But it's clear in driving and riding in it that detailed work was done to the suspension. Struts with coil springs handle things up front. In the rear, a well-designed, independent, 4.5-link configuration works great to even out road bumps and maintain control during spirited driving.

In city traffic, the ride can feel compliant without being soft and mushy. In twisty mountain roads, the car can feel taut and well-managed without being hard on passengers.

Brakes in the test Camaro, the mid-level LT, worked well, too. I just wish the steering felt more precise.

Engines and transmissions are engineered for fuel economy and strong power.

The 3.6-liter, double overhead cam V-6 with direct injection and variable valve timing that's in the base LS model as well as LT has enough "oomph" to move the sizable Camaro forward easily. Torque peaks at 273 foot-pounds at 5,200 rpm, which is more than what's in the V-6s of the Mustang and Challenger.

In the tester, an optional Hydra-Matic 6L50 six-speed automatic transmission delivered the power smoothly, and the car always felt responsive.