CHEVROLET CAMARO LZ1 test drive from 2012 coupe

New Chevrolet Camaro. Dubacimum on Dubai!

Oil. It is this liquid and combustible mixture of hydrocarbons is obliged to the Dubai flourishing. More than a hundred skyscrapers are one above the other, luxury hotels, beautiful roads laid in lifeless deserts, all this has become a reality due to the increase in prices for black gold. And where without luxurious cars? Bentley, Porsche, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Bugatti are also found here as often as limousines with flashers in Moscow. But the more is more important that we invariably turned out to be the focus on the wheel ... new Chevrolet Camaro! And the reason for acquaintance was the quick debut of Camaro in the Russian market.


The predatory, aggressive, muscular, which only epithets awarded Chevrolet Camaro since the debut of the concept-punishment of 2006. And, fortunately, it was in this form that he reached the conveyor. By the way, while Camaro replays a little direct sales competitors, and they also have very attractive external data.

It is characteristic that it was the oil that could become the end of the history of Camaro in 1973, the energy crisis rushed with the conflict of the United States and Arab oil-producing countries and had a lot of interesting American cars with large engines. But Camaro not only resisted, but also became even more popular. The choice of sports cars was declined, so more and more buyers turned to the pon-car with the Cross Louis Chevrolet on the grille.


The unrestrained construction started in Dubai 15 years ago, and in 1999, Arabs opened one of the most elegant hotels in the world Burj Al-Arab (in the photo below left), which they were immodally called semi-known. The tower with a height of 321 meters until 2008 was considered the highest hotel in the world, while her achievement did not blocked another hotel in ... Dubai. Since then, in this emirate, 38 buildings have already been built above 220 meters. And it seems that this is just the beginning ... In the same 2008, Atlantis hotel was also opened (in the photo at the top), crowning artificial bulletin Palm Jumeira. Despite the fact that his height is just 92 meters, Atlantis has already managed to become one of the sights of Dubai

As a result, Camaro lasted on the conveyor until 2002, when production still turned the car by order of outdated, and the General Motors concern was not at all. It seemed that Camaro would forever disappear from the schemer of the Chevrolet models. But the universal fashion on the retro and successfully revived Ford Mustang played a legend's hand. Could not in Chevrolet to allow their sworn competitor to assemble all cream! Camaro's concept car in 2006 literally treasured the public, and three years later, in 2009, got to the conveyor. And the appearance practically did not undergo changes good, infection!


Chevrolet Camaro Large Machine: 4836 mm long, 1916 in width. Wheel base 2852 mm. Against this background, the mass in 1713-1751 kg (depending on the modification) does not look something out of a series of outgoing

And the Arabs like it. Looking around, look approvingly on chrome-plated five-skate 20-inch wheels: Here Camaro is still found very rarely, I saw only one, with the exception of our column. Especially defiantly looks yellow Camaro with stripes the same as in the transformer blockbuster. But I got it later, we were distributed on the crews in a voluntary and compulsory order. However, I was frustrated only a few seconds.


Chevrolet Camaro SS already in the basic configuration is equipped with 20-inch wheels and four Brembo calipers on the front axle. Brake Disk Diameter 355 mm Front

It turned out that only the red Camaro had a small, but very important nameplate on the trunk lid two letters SS! That is, under the hood here V8 with a volume of 6.2 liters, which gives 432 horses and 569 Newton meters. Solid ... by the way, it is SS that proudly brings the flagship banner of the Camaro family, for the crazy compressor ZL1 will appear on American roads no earlier than spring of next year. And in the rest of the countries and later. It turns out, I was driving the wheel of the most powerful version of Camaro today!

And most importantly, the entire power of the large V8 is transmitted by the rear wheels through ... Mechanical PPC! Yes, a rare chance to find a purebred American on mechanics. And the box (Tremec TR-6060) is set almost to all charged cars from states: it is Chevrolet Corvette, Cadillac CTS-V, the main rivals of Camaro Ford Mustang Shelby GT500, Dodge Challenger and even Dodge Viper SRT-10. However, some kind of breathtaking speakers did not have to wait: according to passport data, Camaro SS accelerates to hundreds in 5.2 seconds. Something modestly for such a herd. And after all, we won't call the mass excessive for such dimensions of 1751 kg.

Although, what, to hell, seconds! Turn the key in the ignition lock, and the V8 comes to arrive. You give gas to neutral, and the body will swing from the inertia of the crankshaft. Vyma-Viduum! Still, the voice of a large V-shaped eight is unique. What, as not this bullion at idle, replacing the loud root at the top, so supplements the chic appearance of the regenerate American muscles? Yes, at least 18 turbines hang on your motor with two cylinders, at least 600 strength blow, but the sound will not interrogate. And it becomes sad from the fact that in the future of these irrational mastodonts, green will finally drive into the angle. Forever.

But while enjoying! I squeeze a tight clutch (oh, I didn't go to the machines with such a rigid pedal), sticking the first transmission with a short lever, and ... no, I do not accelerate into the floor with slipping, scattering neighbors on the road and leaving fat black traces on Dubai's hot asphalt Roads. Here, for such a head, I will not exactly answer. Therefore, we allocated a guide, followed by which we should strictly follow the city, observing the limitations of speed. And why didn't I get a convertible? I would sit yes I looked at the numerous skyscrapers on the Sheikh Zaid highway.


Spartan situation reigns inside. All plastic is rigid, everything is simple. Flat buttons, primitive displays and no climate control only air conditioning. In expensive versions of Camaro there are four additional devices that show the oil pressure, the temperature of the engine oil, the voltage in the onboard network and the temperature of the transmission oil. Short arm MCP Original, but uncomfortable

In the absence of such an alternative, I begin to master the cabin. Hi, America! The design, of course, is good, the motives of the first generation of Camaro are felt. And this is a stone in the garden of the revived Dodge Challenger that, with all the attractiveness of the forms, inside absolutely conjured. But the originality of Camaro, alas, hurt Ergonomics. A huge ram with a concave hub is inconvenient, devices are non-informative, in beautiful mirrors it can be seen that the embossed hodges of the rear wings are visible, and to set up music, you have to be distracted from the road for a long time. Yes, and the point of the equalizer curved is changing a little, and the sound still leaves much to be desired. But Boston Premium is written on the speakers. Well, I will listen to V8 ...


Seats are quite comfortable, but they do not pretend to the title of sports. Leather upholstery Privilege of expensive complete sets of Camaro 2LT and 2SS. In the rear sofa, two Camaro people will easily be demolished can be considered a full-fledged four-width coupe.

In addition, the tall people complain that the head rests on the roof. Of course, Camaro was equipped with a hatch (he eats a bit of space), but the adjustment of the chair in height may not be enough. Although what I quit? In the US, the most affordable Camaro costs $ 23,200 for us for such money. You can buy anything Cruze! Therefore, he can forgive very, very much. But the feeling of so much Texas nevochenia is not just feeling Camaro literally impregnated with it.


The trunk in Camaro is small than 328 liters. But it is unlikely that this greatly worries the owners. Outskirts There is only a repair kit

Require from Camaro European Master? It is easier to force a farmer in a checkered shirt there is oysters and snails, drinking their expensive champagne. The wheel has to rotate to large corners, and the body of heavy wheels are transmitted on the body. The suspension is unceremonably beats along the fifth point on the lying cops, and the gearbox with the original (and uncomfortable) lever is not distinguished by the clarity of the switching mechanism. But it was worth it to escape into the desert, how everything was instantly forgotten. Just we were finally allowed to click.


The fifth generation of Chevrolet Camaro was even driven on the northern loop of Nürburgring. But on the roads of Dubai to understand what engineers were engaged in Germany, it is impossible in the desert serpentines do not, and turns are less common than camels. It is only possible to say that the suspension is moderately tasty, and the car can turn and stop. By the way, the Camaro SS 2012 model year received an updated FE4 chassis with reconfigured shock absorbers, thicker transverse stability stabilizers. Therefore, to understand the Nuances of SS manageability with an old suspension, in fact, there was no need to come to us with FE4

And we pressed! Now Camaro in his element. The guide went to rampant times we reached 200 km / h. The cameras were not afraid of our presenter was well acquainted with their location and dropped the speed in advance. Turns? Occasionally came across circular junction, but most of the roads in the desert are straight as an arrow. It is impossible to assess the Camaro handling in these places, and even in the convoy. But no accident on SS is the brakes with four Brembo calipers and good tires Pirelli P Zero dimension 245/45 R20. Obviously, it is beneficial from his ancestors in terms of running qualities.


It was possible to ride and on the Camaro V6 converter with a machine gun, which in Russia is not going to sell. The car is almost a hundred kilograms harder the closed version (1808 kg), so the feeling of the speaker creates ... Wind! If you still can still be calmly located at speeds over 120 km / h, in any case in hot dubai, then the back blows as soon as the speedometer arrow cross 80 ... and no windproof screen!

Although I do not think that someone will go to the Chevrolet Camaro on the racing track. Even on SS versions. And let the ZL1 modification already rushed along the north loop of Nürburgring with a good circle time 7: 41.27, this machine is intended for very other purposes. Pool around the restaurant or nightclub, ride the engine at the traffic light, catch up on the autobahn or just collect admiring glances in traffic jams for which you need Camaro.


The brakes in the six-cylinder modification are more than modest. The calipers are ordinary, with a floating bracket, and the diameter of the front disks is less than that of any decent charged Hatchback of the golf class is only 321 mm!

In Russia, to any decent car, it is necessary to dive at least 300 kilometers (and this is subject to habitat in the capital!), And the owners of expensive cars do not want to paint the gearbox. So the Russian representative office of Chevrolet, perhaps, made the right choice: Camaro will be sold exclusively with a six-band machine. Alas, Camaro with automatic transmission and V8 in the test program did not enter, so I had to be satisfied with a less powerful modification. And it was just the most yellow coupe with stripes. So, what will the Bumlby transformer deliberate with the RS sign and the V6 engine?

At a minimum, the wheel from ... Chevrolet Cruze! It turned out that it was him put on cars of the 2012 model year. And replaced not only an uncomfortable original beam, but also a tachometer and speedometer schedule. It seems that a lot of buyers complained about them. It turns out that Camaro SS received the same package of updates, simply at our disposal was not the freshest machine (which was also confirmed by the mileage of 30 thousand kilometers).


The original steering wheel, of course, much better corresponds to the spirit of classic Camaro, but the rabble from the cruise (in the photo) is more convenient. Equipment for the Russian market has not yet been approved, but in the US for Camaro there are various leather finishing options, the Bluetooth protocol for connecting to the phone, AUX and USB sockets, and to connect the iPhone. Plus rear parking sensors, a rear view camera that transmits an image on the display in the rear view mirror, a simple navigation, drawing turns to the screen between the tachometer and the speedometer. And even such an exotic option as ... the backlight of the cup holders!

But even the new Camaro V6 with an upgraded motor can not oppose the mighty SS-KE. It is worth going to the endless straight, as SS leaves literally in front of her eyes. And the engine volume of 3.6 liters is not developed by the volume of 328 horsepower and 377 N ∙ M of the torque, you cannot compare with the power V8. Yes, and the Hydra-Matic 6L80 box is clearly configured to save fuel, and it is not in a hurry to go down when you need to quickly accelerate.


From Cruise Chevrolet Camaro got not only the steering wheel, but also steerly levers. But the differences on the instrument shield are not so noticeable slightly changed figures, and the arrows now became completely red

So for a more dynamic ride, it is better to move the gearbox to the M position M and take control of the gear shift. And to do it, you can only with the help of stealless ... buttons! The usual petals are just visibility, and in fact it is necessary to press on the keys located on the back of the steering wheel. Another original solution in the interior of Camaro.


Seats with fabric upholstery are traditionally better adapted for fast driving, rather than leather, they are more chain. But the 245-watt music of Boston Acoustics was not impressed, despite the presence of 9 speakers. But, fighting in the configurator of the American website Chevrolet, I discovered in the list of options ... two 10-inch subwoofer and a 200-watt amplifier, which are installed in the trunk

But after acquaintance with Camaro SS, the yellow-black coupe on the machine is not too impressed. And it's not only a lot of sensation in the dynamics of a lot of sensations, and the voice of the motor is more intelligent, rather than the eight rod. There is not enough Camaro with V6 of that rudeness and brutality, which literally flies on you a hooligan with stamping SS. It is curious that Chevrolet does not publish the dynamic characteristics of the six-cylinder modification. Feels like a machine, he will barely fit in 7 seconds to hundreds.


RS This is not a Chevrolet Camaro special interview, but just the name of the package of options for the six-cylinder version LT. It includes 20-inch wheels and xenon headlights with spectacular LED sections.

However, there is a nuance that for many will be more important than the differences between the two versions of Camaro. This is the difference in price! If in the US Camaro V6 with an automatic machine starts from a mark of 24,400 dollars, and SS C automatic transmission starts from $ 36,455, then in Russia the gap between them is even more. Thus, the six-cylinder coupe will cost about 2 million rubles, and for V8 will have to pay extra 500 thousand. True, these preliminary prices, as official sales start in May. For about the same money, we now sell Camaro so-called gray dealers importing them from the USA and Germany.

Expensive? If reasonable, then yes! Any European or Japanese sports car is a teaching a lesson in Yakovenan Yankov on racing conditions. And there is nothing about the salon and talk. But can you find a more spectacular new car for this money, and even with the name behind which a 45-year-old story costs? So the Chevrolet Camaro will definitely find their fans in Russia. Moreover, the variant with V6 seems quite justified. Under the hood SS with an automatic installed another engine modification. It gives 405 hp. and 556 N ∙ M (instead of 432 hp and 569 N ∙ M with mechanics), and the boxes themselves are the same. But the main thing is that Camaro V6 and Camaro SS looks almost the same difference only in small, barely catchy details. And any of them, when choosing the right color, will be the center of attention. Checked in Dubai!

Vadim Gagarin
Stock Photo The author and company Chevrolet

 


Technique

Engines


-V-shaped 8162 cube (at the top) with an aluminum unit has a ... Nihinear design with pushing valve rods! And then they are just 16, 2 on the cylinder. In general, the Americans hold out of their dinosaurs, as they can, which gives them some cars a special chic in the conditions of the World Downsayzing under the pressure of ecologists. The LS3 engine (432 hp, 569 N ∙ M) is irrelevant for us, since SS with a machine gun is equipped with a L99 engine of the same architecture and volume, but with a lower impact (405 hp 556 N ∙ M). Weak consolation can be the fact that the L99 has an Active Fuel Management system that turns off half of the cylinders while driving at partial loads.
-V6 has a much more modern filling here and valves 24, and even immediate injection! Moreover, from this year, the LFX engine was initiated on Camaro instead of the former LLT. The volume remained the same (3564 cubic centimeters), but the motor dropped 9 kg and received upgraded inlet valves, nozzles, fuel pump and exhaust manifold. As a result, the increase of 12 hp and 7 n ∙ m. TOTAL: 328 hp and 377 n ∙ m

Chassis


The fifth generation of Chevrolet Camaro is built on the GM Zeta platform developed by the Australian Concern. Front McPherson Rack, in the steering drive operated electric power, and the back of the four-dimensional design. The engine is shifted behind the front axis for the purpose of better weighting (it turned out 52/48 in favor of the muzzle). In the basic configuration, Cup Chevrolet Camaro is equipped with six airbags, but the convertible is content only to four

History
Chevrolet Camaro celebrates the 45th anniversary in 2011, in honor of which we have already published a historical essay. You can learn about the history of Camaro from the material friend, comrade and brother


Vadim Gagarin
Photo by the author
 

A source: AUTO.Mail.Ru.