The 2012 Chevrolet Camaro has arrived to cast a serious salvo in the war for muscle. This car is a dazzler with plenty going for it in all areas. But it is in its monstrously powerful engine that most will find their greatest attraction to this 45th anniversary vehicle.
The 2012 Chevrolet Camaro, which comes in either convertible or coupe, follows up on the Camaro’s legacy well with the usual array of features. Air conditioning, automatic headlights, keyless entry, cruise control, four-way adjustable front seats, rack-and-pinion power steering and just about every modern music feature come standard; additional options include heated and auto-dimming mirrors, rear parking assistance, xenon headlights, remote starting, and a booming 9-speaker Boston Acoustics sound symphony.
Enthusiasts will enjoy a special 45th anniversary package that includes a number of lovely retro touches. And we would probably get in trouble with something big and angry if we didn’t mention, for those interested, the Transformers Special Edition, complete in Rally Yellow and black stripes (no, it doesn’t transform, but you are free to experiment).
If you are zeroing in on the 2012 Chevrolet Camaro, though, it’s not to look like a fictional movie character; it’s to drive like one. The power numbers for the 2012 Chevrolet Camaro are downright intimidating. The LS and LT models come with a 3.6 liter V6 engine that kicks it at 323 horsepower and 278 lb-ft of torque. And it goes up from there. The SS model puts it’s huge 6.2 liter V8 engine to full use, blasting out 426 hp and 420 lb-ft of torque.
Both of these beasts, though, stand aside in the presence of the motherlode ZL1. Although official numbers have yet to be released, most reports put it upward of an otherworldly 550 horsepower (indulge yourself and actually try to picture that many horses pulling you). Whatever the exact number, this machine is about as powerful as you’re likely without needing some type of military clearance.
Fortunately all of this muscle doesn’t mean that everything else about the vehicle is sacrificed. For starters, The LS and LT trims still manage 19 mpg city and a solid 30 mpg highway, and that’s as an automatic; the SS gets nearly the same numbers. And anti-lock brakes, side airbags in the front seat and OnStar will make sure that if you get a little too carried away with all of the horsepower you’re still covered.
The Camaro brings with it a long a storied tradition, one that Chevrolet proudly covets. The 2012 Chevrolet Camaro builds on this long history with a modern entry that combines modern design and amenities with what everyone expects from a Camaro: thunderous power. This is a vehicle that will satisfy the hardest and most demanding of drivers.
Should You Buy or Lease?