KEY POINTS:
General Motors in the United States is asking itself: how do you market a V8-powered 314kW muscle car in an era of $4-a-gallon gasoline?
Answer: by talking up what the company says is the car's improved fuel economy.
GM's Chevrolet arm says the new 2010 Camaro is more
fuel-efficient than many of its rivals.
"We'll be promoting the fuel economy story very much," says Chevrolet's Ed Peper, GM's vice-president for the brand.
"We are 2 or 3mpg ahead of the competition."
GM views the competition as the Ford Mustang, Nissan 350Z and Dodge Challenger, said Cheryl Pilcher, the Camaro's product manager.
Peper said the V6 version of the Camaro will get an estimated 10.8 litres/100km (26mpg), and the V8 about 12.2 litres/100km, or 23mpg.
"And we are still working on it," he said.
Peper hinted that a turbo four-cylinder version is in the works. Each model is expected to carry a six-speed sequential transmission.
The rear-drive Camaro goes into production next February in Ontario, Canada. No word on right-hand-drive models, although one British report says the American two-door will be available in Britain. No word also on price, but Peper says: "We will build as many as we can."
That will appeal to Holden because the Melbourne-based arm of GM had a significant role in the Camaro project.
The car is built on a modified version of the Zeta platform that underpins the VE Commodore and uses the same independent rear suspension.
Holden also had to work at lowering the front suspension components to accommodate the Camaro's low bonnet line.
Other changes included making engineering room around the wheel arches for the Camaro's bigger wheels without lifting the all-important bonnet line.
One GM executive said lifting the bonnet line would have destroyed much of the muscle car's appeal.
GM's top brass are believed to be very happy with the input of Holden's Melbourne-based team.
"We had the coupe and the concept together, and a lot of people couldn't tell the difference from a visual perspective," said Camaro's interior design manager Aaron Denewith.
One of the biggest hurdles while designing the interior was to create a high instrument panel and a dished steering wheel, using a modern car base that offered the exact opposite, he said.
"It's one of those things that is different from the norm.
"Back in '69 that's all there was - nothing but high dash panels and dished steering wheels."
Despite Holden's involvement, the Camaro is still going to be an all-American muscle car, which means it will only be marketed as a Chevrolet.
"The new Camaro delivers the best of both worlds - great heritage and a thoroughly modern, advanced package of performance, comfort and technology," says Peper.
"It's a sports car for a new generation of enthusiasts that doesn't forget the heritage that helped make the original a cultural icon."
