Chevrolet may be lagging a bit behind its competition from Ford and Dodge with its sixth-generation Camaro, but that will be changing soon.
As we zero in on the pony car’s May 16th debut, Chevrolet has announced a few new details about the 2016 pony car.
Unfortunately, there are no official pictures or videos yet (save for a snapshot of the vehicle’s ‘tri-Y’ exhaust manifold), but Chevrolet assures that 70 percent of the 2016 Camaro will be completely new.
Most of those changes will be underneath the bodywork, though, as preliminary renderings, teaser videos, and industry rumblings all point toward an evolutionary styling approach.
The biggest change, though, pertains to the platform. For 2016, Chevy has thrown out the old Zeta architecture in favor of the lighter, more modern Alpha platform shared by the Cadillac ATS and CTS.
“Designed to compete with premium European brands, Alpha offers exceptional driving dynamics and refinement, as well as a balance of mass and stiffness necessary for a world-class performance car,” the brand says.
Despite similar aesthetics, the exterior and interior dimensions will change, with the front structure being lengthened and widened to give the car more stable handling through the bends. The car will boast new front and rear suspension as well.
As far as the powertrain goes, the 6.2-liter LT1 V8 will return, but with 20-percent fresh parts. A V6 will continue to be offered for base trims, and a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder will reportedly show up in the Camaro for the first time, undoubtedly aimed at the EcoBoost Mustang’s 2.3-liter mill.
In the Cadillac CTS, the 2.0-liter four makes 272 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque, compared to the ‘Stang’s 310 hp and 320 lb-ft, so a retuned version is fairly likely.
Chevrolet will finally take the wraps off the Camaro at a special event at Belle Isle in Detroit.
