Chevrolet Camaro

The Age

Saturday April 12, 2008

Steve Colquhoun

IT'S NOT coming here but that hasn't stopped Australian muscle car lovers from soaking up everything they can find out about the new Chevrolet Camaro.

Set to go on sale in the US early next year, the modern version of the late '60s classic with the small-block V8 was photographed this week undergoing final tests in Germany prior to its release.

Many Australians have an ingrained lust for anything with a big V8 that sends all of its power to the rear wheels, but that's not the end of our connection to the sleekly retro Chev. Holden has worked with a team of US engineers at its Port Melbourne headquarters to lead the design, engineering and development of the Camaro, and heavily disguised test versions of the car have been seen around Melbourne in recent months.

Despite this connection, the vehicle will be built in Canada.

This rare picture of an undisguised test vehicle shows the coupe has remained largely faithful to the design concept rolled out in 2006.

The low-slung chassis with the Camaro's trademark long bonnet

and pumped-up guards rolls on

21-inch front and 22-inch rear wheels, although the headlights pictured are thought to be false.

The Camaro is slated to get a similar 6.0-litre V8 engine to the one that HSV will soon replace with the 6.2-litre, 317 kW LS3. -- STEVE COLQUHOUN

© 2008 The Age

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