Chevy coupe offers low-slung, flat-out fun
Even in a market that’s all about SUVs and “green” technology, there’s still a place for performance. That’s the Chevrolet Camaro SS; it’s something you can drive every day, but if you want to let loose, as I did over a few laps at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park, it’ll hand you back some very athletic moves and acceleration, without spending the extra to move up to the ZL1.
There’s a handsome facelift coming for the 2019 model, but for 2018 the optional performance package — previously available only on the lower 1SS trim — can now be added to the more fully featured 2SS. The 1SS starts at $43,745, while the 2SS begins at $48,745. Both use a 6.2-litre V8, making a matching 455 horsepower and 455 poundfeet of torque. Moving up to the ZL1 catapults you to 650 hp and 650 lbft, but at a starting price of $70,045.
The performance package is an additional $8,495 on either SS trim, but you get a fair number of items for that. In addition to features in the looks department, including black hood wrap and spoiler, and satin-finish 20-inch wheels shod with Goodyear summer performance tires, you get Recaro bucket seats, a head-up display, Brembo brakes with six-piston front calipers, performance suspension, an electronic limited-slip differential, and Magnetic Ride Control.
Magnetic Ride Control uses electromagnetic coils and fluid containing iron particles. If it detects body roll, it sends power to the coils to instantly magnetize the iron, which in turn stiffens up the dampers. The result is that the Camaro, already a well-balanced car, corners flat and loves to be tossed from side to side on a track, where it never loses its footing. It feels solid, and the steering is perfectly weighted.
I first took a few laps in an SS outfitted with the optional eightspeed automatic transmission, which will upgrade to a 10-speed unit for 2019. But the performance package comes strictly with a sixspeed manual transmission — as it should — with a short-throw shifter that snicks precisely into each gear. You can heel-and-toe if you prefer, but if you click the paddle on the steering wheel, it engages a rev-matching feature that blips the throttle on downshifts with a satisfying burble out the back.
There’s much to be said for turbocharged engines, but I’ve always been a fan of big, naturally aspirated mills, and this one’s a beauty. Acceleration builds fast but smooth and with a rough, throaty exhaust note that’s pure American muscle. And that’s what this car is all about.
The beauty of the Camaro is that it’s devilishly easy to drive, but doesn’t lose any edge in that. I’m definitely not a racer, but it still made me look good on the track.
It’s not a perfect car. Visibility is an issue, with its narrow windows and considerable blind spots. I’m not stuck on the stark interior, where the infotainment system seems oddly tacked into the middle of the sweeping dash.
But I do like the simplicity of the controls, especially because this car is intended for those who want to use it for track-lapping days and you don’t want to be searching for climate controls in computer screens. The large, cleverly designed vents are easy to open and direct air, and their large chrome-style bezels are the dials for turning the temperature up or down.
I didn’t get a lot of seat time in the car, but my initial impression is that Chevrolet has a winner here. It’s all about the package: decent power, sharp handling, good steering, flat cornering, and a well-balanced feel that makes it such fun to toss around.
The 2019 version will let you add a track package to the Camaro powered by the base 2.0-L turbofour, where it will include a sport suspension with larger-diameter stabilizer bars, heavy duty brakes, staggered tire sizes and launch control. While pricing hasn’t been announced, GM says it will start under $40,000.
With this latest Camaro generation and the available performance option, the blend of power and driving performance is impressive, especially for a price that’s fairly reasonable for what you get. In a world where most buyers go for practicality, there’s still much to be said for low-slung, flat-out fun.