2010 Camaro goes Synergy green

Striking bright colors are part of the Chevrolet Camaro's history--orange, yellow and what some might label Kelly green from the '60s.

Chevrolet is trying to generate a buzz for the 2010 Camaro with the Synergy Special Edition, a mouthful that means it is a limited-edition coupe with over-the-top green paint.

Count on this being the official pace car of any St. Paddy's Day parade.

The Camaro Synergy is based on a Camaro 1LT, with a 3.6-liter, direct-injection V-6, paired with either a six-speed manual or automatic transmission. Pricing starts at $26,790 including shipping. Production is planned from February to May.

The “synergy green” exterior color was first previewed at the 2009 Specialty Equipment Market Association show.

In production form, the synergy green is accented by gray rally stripes running the length of the Camaro hood and rear deck.

The color scheme is mirrored on the interior, with synergy green instrument-panel and door inserts.

2010 Chevrolet Camaro Pictures Gallery

2010 Chevrolet Camaro
2010 Chevrolet Camaro
2010 Chevrolet Camaro
2010 Chevrolet Camaro
2010 Chevrolet Camaro
2010 Chevrolet Camaro

2010 Chevrolet Camaro Price

2010 Chevrolet Camaro

By New Car Test Drive

On Sale: First Quarter 2009
Expected Pricing: $20,000-$27,000

The launch of the highly anticipated 2010 Chevrolet Camaro is expected in the spring of 2009. It'll feel a bit like back to the future, as GM's iconic pony re-emerges to compete with the Ford Mustang and Dodge Challenger.

The new Camaro will be available with a 3.6-liter V6 aided by a six-speed automatic, a combination expected to be rated at 26 mpg on the highway. Enthusiasts will gravitate to the Camaro SS, equipped with a powerful V8 and a choice of manual and automatic transmissions and 20-inch wheels. The Camaro will be built on GM's new global rear-wheel-drive architecture.

The production version looks essentially identical to the concept first shown at the 2006 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, a remarkable achievement given the demands a modern design must meet. Compared with the retro-styled Mustang and Challenger, the Camaro has a more contemporary and angular appearance that looks more cutting edge.

This is not a reissued '69 Camaro. In fact, some might have wondered if this car was designed in the Chevy studio at all. It's edginess looked Cadillac inspired.

Underneath, it's thoroughly modern, offering the latest in technology.

While the exterior has a modern edge and attitude, the interior has more retro styling cues with two large main gauges and with other gauges located at the front of the center console.

The Camaro SS comes with a 6.2-liter V8 with a choice of six-speed manual or six-speed automatic. Cars with manual transmissions use GM's LS3 V8 expected to produce 422 horspower and 408 pound-feet of torque. The LS3 debuted on the 2008 Corvette and uses high-flow cylinder heads based on the Corvette Z06's LS7 engine for strong low-end torque and high-rpm power. Camaro SS automatics come with a new L99 V8 based on the LS3 that carries all the high-performance design features but also includes GM's fuel-saving Active Fuel Management feature, enabling the engine to run on only four cylinders when cruising on the highway to improve fuel economy.

The 3.6-liter V6 standard on the Camaro LS and LT is direct-injected and features variable valve timing. It's expected to generate 300 hp and 273 lb-ft of torque. A six-speed manual comes standard, a six-speed automatic optional.

Chevrolet Spark, smallest car in lineup, on sale next year

Two women pose next to a new Chevrolet Spark car during the second press day at the 79th Geneva International Motor Show on March 4, 2009 in Geneva, Switzerland. It was rolled out Monday at the Detroit auto show in a virtually identical version.

The head honchos at General Motors have realized that Chevrolet needs to start going after younger buyers. The Chevrolet Spark is one of their attempts to do just that. The five-door mini car, the smallest in Chevy's lineup, will go on sale in early 2012.

It was rolled out Monday at the North American International Auto Show in virtually the same version as the one above, which is sold in Europe. That picture is from the Geneva auto show last year.

"The designers who created this (car) joke that the headlamps are bigger than the wheels," says Michael Simcoe, executive director of global Chevrolet design. But the headlamps are sparkly and shiny. "Every opportunity we get to express 'jewelry' on this car, we'll take."

Chevrolet Aveo RS

The sporty-looking hot hatch is in fact the new Aveo, GM’s Korean-built supermini that goes on sale in the UK in about 18 months.

It is bigger all round than the current car and is powered by GM’s 135bhp, 1.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine with a six-speed manual gearbox.

At the same time Vauxhall/Opel is looking for a new small car to offer underneath the current Corsa.

This might be based on an existing GM Daewoo/Chevy platform or not and will be between two and four years off depending on which way that decision goes.

“It could play a significant part in the Vauxhall/Opel portfolio,” said Nick Reilly, the acting chief executive of GM Europe.

2011 Chevrolet Volt

Despite what may have been the most public development process in the auto industry's history, there's still lots of misinformation about the Chevrolet Volt. The extended-range electric vehicle has undergone innumerable tweaks for aerodynamics, manufacturing and reliability since it stole the auto show as a concept car in 2007, but the sleek four-door on Chevrolet's stand is identical to the cars that will roll off the assembly line this year.

Here are a few key facts to remember as you admire the production version at the auto show:

• There's no need to stop and recharge if you travel beyond the 40-mile range of the Volt's batteries. An onboard generator starts automatically to provide more electricity.

• The Volt will be built at GM's Detroit-Hamtramck assembly plant, formerly home to Cadillac and Buick large cars.

Chevrolet Aveo RS

General Motors pulled the covers off a distinctive hot hatch at the Detroit Auto Show 2010, called the Chevrolet Aveo RS.
The newly qualified driver who receives their first car is a rite of passage for many in North America, with small coupes and even pony cars particularly the preferred male choice. Hatchbacks are perceived as unfashionable and undesirable for many. But with development and petrol costs heading up, hot hatches that can be sold universally at premium prices make financial sense for manufacturers.

The situation for GM is not helped by a general perception that the Chevrolet Aveo has been a bit of a dud. With the RS show car concept, the designers hope to inject a bit of desirability and freshness.

It provides a preview of the next-generation model. Longer, wider and more spacious than the current production Aveo, the Aveo RS showcases the car's upscale-looking design cues both inside and out, and presents the many personalisation options potentially available on the next-generation car.

The Aveo RS is powered by an efficient 138-horsepower 1.4L Ecotec turbocharged engine. Despite the Stateside aversion to 'stick shifts', a six-speed manual transmission is designed to ensure the car will provide a spirited driving experience.

Finished in electric Boracay Blue, the RS wears Chevrolet design cues such as the dual element grille, round tail lamps and fender flares, but designers turned up the attitude on the show car with low openings and a lower mouth trimmed in a combination of brushed and polished aluminium. Outboard fog lamps are integrated into an exaggerated brake-cooling inlet that flows into the front fender flares, creating a more aggressive-looking face.

Exposed headlamps, with their brushed aluminium structural surround, are inspired by the designers' affection for motorcycles. The sleek side profile is characterised by uninterrupted body side lines, a high beltline and low roofline. The side mirrors with amber-coloured turn signal indicators carry the same shape as the car and seemingly disappear into the profile.

No performance-minded car earns its street cred without large wheels and tyres. The Aveo RS show car's wheels are 19-inch, five-spoke with a gun metal metallic finish Chevrolet logo. The wheel openings reveal large Boracay Blue brake calipers. The rear of the show car continues the sport theme, with an integrated spoiler that flows from the roof, a centre-mounted exhaust and chrome exhaust tips.

With its matte black interior highlighted by gloss black, metallic and blue accents, the Aveo RS show car reflects as much attention to detail as the exterior. The Boracay Blue theme continues inside, with accent stitching across the dual cockpit instrument panel, front and rear door insert, steering wheel rim, gear shift boot, parking brake, leather seat bolster and even the floor mats. The integrated centre stack holds the gearshift, HVAC controls and the sound system, including a USB port. Ice-blue backlighting on the audio display, telltale indicator screen and knobs augments the blue stitching.