Normally, we don’t like to spoil comparison tests in the title, because we like to route you to the original publishing to take it all in for yourself. However, with a comparison test this high profile, it’s understandably worth it.
Why? Because the 2016 Chevrolet Camaro, that ol’ blue-collar pony car of yesteryear, just took down a Bavarian prince; the Ultimate Driving Machine. This is big stuff, people.
Motor Trend decided it was time step up the competition for the 2016 Camaro, which also awarded the car its coveted 2016 Car of the Year award. What bigger opponent than a car that has done so much throughout motoring history than the M3-now-M4? The results are clobbering for the M4.
We still encourage you to read the original words at the link above, but to sum it up, the Camaro walked all over the M4 with utmost driving pleasure, performance and prowess. From the 6.2-liter LT1 V8, to the sublime Alpha platform pinning the chassis, the Camaro was one big, red, white and blue home run; with a tall-boy Budweiser and cracker jacks to boot.
“I was genuinely concerned that the M4 would wipe the streets with the Camaro, and yet the exact opposite happened,” Jason Cammisa said. “The Camaro’s win was wholesale.”
Wholesale: no middle man, no retail; just pure, bang-for-your buck performance well on display.
Comments
The Devil is finally getting his due.
The General has made long strides. and have become a real serious contender after the bankruptcy.
The Camaro is landing some knock out blows to the competition.
No doubt! Unfortunately it seems that it is tough for GM to get the word out.
I was not too surprised by the results of the article. But it’s going to be scary when Chevrolet unleashes the ZL1 and Z28.
All those years that GM has been testing at Nurburgring is paying off.
now just fix the back end of the car and increase outward visibility and you’re set! I hope to own one some day
If it is fast enough you do not need to know what is behind you LOL!
The Camaro is tune very well. I would like to see them work to change the image and fight back against the hacks who cut the mullet jokes etc.
The performance here kills any objective complaints but yet we still get the subjective BS here. They want to praise the styling of the BMW that while is not offensive is also rather bland and old as it has not changed the basics for years. Same grill etc.
I would love to see GM market the up level Camaros more as luxury sports coupes and let the V6 and Turbo 4 do the grunt work. I would also love to see the marketing call out those who trash the styling for being Cartoonish?
GM has a damn good all around car here and can sell it at a much better price. It is time to confront the media for their jaded comments. Get the designer out and clearly state what and why things are as they are. While the media may still snipe at least GM will be heard from to state their case.
In the past there were things hard to defend. The poor interiors and low quality materials. The Converter hump in the floor. Today there are few things that need to be apologized for and GM should take advantage of this. They really have a 4 seat Corvette if you have no legs and they need to address this as the sports car coupe it is. This is no longer some economy car turned sporty.
I really wish they would repackage the interior to get a back seat with more head room. I was in every coupe made today and I had my head into the headliner of all of them. I did have one my head did not hit the headliner and that was the Mustang. It was worse as it hit the glass. If GM could get as much head room as the last model they could hold a little advantage in this area. I took a long trip in a Gen 5 and the back while tight was livable.
GM really needs to market this now as this would flow well over all the models including the new Malibu that may get looked over but is one of the best cars in segment.
The Ring has helped but the Lutz Ring in Warren they use year round really is where the majority of the work takes place. It may not be 13 miles long but if it handles good there it will handle good anywhere.
“I would love to see GM market the up level Camaros more as luxury sports coupes and let the V6 and Turbo 4 do the grunt work. I would also love to see the marketing call out those who trash the styling for being Cartoonish?”
I don’t. The Camaro doesn’t need to move anymore upmarket, as far as luxury goes. That segment belongs to the ATS Coupe (and hopefully an upcoming CTS Coupe). I’m also pulling for a production Avista, which may not be as sporty as the Camaro, but more refined, comfortable, and understated. The Camaro is fine right where it is.
My point is you already have a car over $40K so sell it as a car worth $40K.
Sorry but the V8 is never going to get cheaper. We are lucky the V6 can still be cheap but I saw one of them at $38K.
In a day where Malibu’s can cost nearly $40K you can not expect an SS for $28K anymore. The bottom line is cars are too damn expensive and they will never get cheaper. I hate to say it but it is the truth.
Even at $44K the Buick and ATS will have room as they too will continue to increase in price. If you want a Cheap ATS get it now as the AT 4 or 5 or what ever they call it will not be any cheaper.
As it is now it is hard to sell coupes and odds are the Buick will never arrive and the ATS could fade away fast.
I have been in just about every coupe offered and there is just no usable room anymore. The leg room is tight and I am just under 6 foot and my head hit the headliner in nearly all models. This is what is driving people to sedans anymore and why you seldom see a ATS coupe on the road.
Scott3, you are right GM needs to bark back about the nonsense that the Camaro is too cartoony. And they also don’t have a damn thing to apologize for with this car! This car is laying the smack down on it’s opponents.
You are also dead on the money about the “subjective BS”. the article still praises the lackluster styling of the BMW.
I first want to state that I do not think BMW’s styling is bad, I think they look fairly good- but it is damn hard to tell the difference between their lineup and the styling is actually a bit old & dated.
Gino
Yes they need to back it up. Most new Lamborghini cars all have that stealth fighter edged element about them too but yet no one calls them cartoonish.
BMW is not bad but they take the safe middle ground as that is what is expected. It is not bad but it also does not push boundaries and in 20 years will still pretty much be selling the same grill etc.
If anything BMW should be shamed for building a car that is not better than a much cheaper value branded performance car. The price they charge there is no quarter for mistakes or lack of detail. If you are the ultimate driving machine then should you not live up to the statement.
Cadillac at one time was the Standard of the World and lost that title because they no longer lived up to that standard. Now BMW is doing the same. They have not done enough damage yet but as it continues the others will only get better.
The Camaro is a Alpha 3.0. This to me tells me the next CTS and ATS as they become CT models will be on the next level. The secret to the Camaro is not just the engine but the whole package. I expect the Johann people will take it there as they never were able to apply their thinking to these cars.
Great car but why are the sales so low? The challenger is catching up, I think they played it to safe with the styling. NOT that it’s bad looking, it does look better than the last gen. But to a none car guy or gal, you wouldn’t tell by passing a dealership that it was all new.
Ken it only has been in production since December. The Challenger is not going up anywhere. When you make a change the old cars slow in sales till the new one comes out. The dealers are moving these as fast as they come in.
I take it you have not seen one in person. There is no mistaking it for the old one. It is no different than a C6 vs C7. Both look like a Corvette but anyone can tell the difference. Well all most everyone.
I have seen them, I was at the car show in Detroit. Also the Mustang was released in the same timeline last year. I’m very surprised with the low sales. I’m not the only one that thinks there playing it safe with styling.
But it’s my opinion, at a glance it looks the same. They do LOOK different, when you stop and look at them. But hey bud what do I know.
And yes Challenger sales are going up. I hate the car, but it is what it is.
There is a difference in sales going up and over all volume. The Challengers are getting discounted as sales have been down and with the discounts they may go up but they will never challenge [no pun intended] the Camaro or Mustang sales.
The Camaro will sell out all they can build this year and with a full year of production next year we will see the car in 6 figures. I do not even believe the V6 and 4 have even been shipped yet.
Wasn’t aware of the Camaro being only V8 models right now, if that’s the case than those are impressive sales. Should blow the stang out of the water than. The Camaros have been sitting on the lots here a little longer, but in the north in the winter a V8 RWD is not on people’s radar for another month.
Scott, actually the dealerships here in NE Ohio have the V6’s but no 2.0Turbos yet.
The Camaro SS’ success could have been predicted especially after they compared the Camaro SS to Cadillac’s ATS-V as there’s just nothing like the low-end grunt from the LT1 6.2L V8 and unlike the Camaro of yesteryear, the current C6 Camaro is built on a world-class Alpha platform that is as sophisticated as whatever the best of Europe is currently building.