Chevrolet has released more information on the 2016 Chevrolet Camaro today, continuing with their plan to slowly share information on the sixth-gen pony car before its scheduled debut on May 16 at Belle Isle Park.
It’s common knowledge that the Zeta-based fifth-generation Camaro was a little weighty, tipping the scales at 3,750 lbs in its lightest configuration. As a result, the Camaro team focused heavily on reducing the mass of the sixth-generation model, shaving more than 200 lbs over the outgoing car.
Chevrolet says the Camaro’s new Alpha architecture is responsible for the majority of the weight savings, however several small changes were also made to help reduce overall mass even further. The cross beam that supports the instrument panel is now made of aluminum, saving 9.7 pounds alone. Additionally, the front and rear suspension assemblies are made of aluminum and on some models will be made from “a rigid composite material that’s even lighter than aluminum,” GM says.
“We kept the cornering confidence and control that make the Gen 5 Camaro 1LE so fun to drive, and added a greater sense of agility,” explained chief Camaro engineer Al Oppenheiser. “The new Camaro brakes harder, flicks into corners more quickly, and drives out of the corner faster. We expect it will set the benchmark in the segment and give many sports cars a challenge.”
These improvements will come in addition to others such as the availability of General Motors’ new direct-injection 6.2-liter LT1 V8, which debuted in the C7 Corvette Stingray, and a new and improved exterior and interior.
Comments
So the mustang is weighing more and the Camaro is weighing less.. Hmmm.. That sounds good to me. Can’t wait to see it..
While 200lbs is not bad, considering that a well optioned SS can easily tip the scales to just within 100lbs of two tons – a 500lbs weight reduction would have been far better.
I was really hoping for a 3300 – 3500+lbs, no matter the options car. I bet we’ll see plenty of 3700+lbs Alpha Camaros when the magazines and Auto review shows actually get their hands on them.
Now if GM can just give us a true affordable” Lightweight” – read stripper – car that hardcore enthusiast can get behind. There really is a market for a ‘no frills, just the go fast stuff’ car in the US market place. Enthusiast have been clamoring for such a car nearly two decades now.
@jzEllis
“3300 – 3500+lbs”
3,300 lbs would’ve been nice, it probably would’ve made the Corvette team rethink about the C7s weight, which is 3,300 lbs.
I have heard people who seen the car uncamoflauged was that it was the size of the ATS, actually a little smaller than it being a coupe.. I would like for them to make it lighter than the mustang for sure.. We will see in a couple of months..
Not really the car is bigger than the ATS coupe and a little wider.
I peg the size just under the CTS but over the ATS.
Note the photos of the Camaro with the Impala that floated around as it was as wide and almost as long.
The car will be lower so that will help make the car appear smaller.
The nose is very similar to the Transformer Camaro in shape. The head lamps will vary a little but small grill and large air dam are shaped similar.
The weight is in about where I expected.
I just was hoping the Camaro could come in under the new Mustang at this point.
Any less weight the car would be very small as they can not remove much of the structure and the addition of more exotic materials would drive up cost and profits down.
As for the Stripper it is the Copo car. Sorry but that is the only real way to do it. You gut the car too much and no one will buy it and it cost little more to load them up and make more profits.
There is also the body is white for the hard core guys that really want to get serious. It is better for them and cheaper for Chevy to offer. This way the buyer can make the car his own and not have to trash a new car.
200 less? So 3800? Like the nissan GT-R, but without AWD. Was hoping for 3400-3500…
Where are you getting that the gen5 weighs 4,000lbs? It’s not a Dodge Challenger..
Travis the preset car with the ZL1 is over 4000 pounds.
But you are correct the Challenger is still heavier yet.
I know this man lol… The ZL1 is but barely..
3600-3800 is the target weights. To be fair the GT-R is smaller and uses much more expensive materials and does not have to sell with a V6 in the $25000 range.
I have one suggestion, please convert those numbers in kilograms for us on another side of Atlantic.
Thanks!
3300 lbs=1633 kg, 3800 lbs=1723 kg- 4000 lbs = 1814 kg