Behold the first real-world photos of the 2019 Camaro in LT trim with the 1LE and RS packages.
Those not up to speed on the latest Camaro parlance, that means that this is the LT trim level Camaro – the one powered by the 2.0L LTG turbo four-cylinder or the 3.6L LGX V6 engine, while also being equipped with two distinct packages – the 1LE track performance handling package, and the RS appearance package.
The 1LE package is new for the four cylinder Camaro for the 2019 model year. Also new for 2019 is a restyled front and rear ends, the 3LT trim level, and various other features, such as the available Rear Camera Mirror… but that’s all besides the point. The more pertinent factor is that this is the first time we’ve seen the 2019 Camaro in LT trimmings wearing the 1LE and RS packages… in person.
The model seen here is coated in the Crush exterior color, which is also new for the 2019 model year. The front fascia is wearing the updated design that, in the case of the 2019 Camaro, is unique to the LT RS model. The same goes for the rear end, which is revised with a new fascia and new LED taillamps with dark-tinted neutral-density (clear) lenses. These lenses are standard on the SS and ZL1 models, while LS and LT Camaros without the RS package get LED taillamps with red lenses.
Notably, the 2019 Camaro LT 1LE see here is equipped with the RS package, which gives it those unique clear-lensed LED taillamps and RS-specific grille. The package also includes 20-inch 5-split spoke premium Gray-painted, machined-face aluminum wheels with a decklid mounted spoiler, but the 2019 Camaro order guide those two features are superseded on this vehicle by 1LE-specific 20-inch Black forged aluminum wheels and a Satin Black rear blade spoiler.
The complete 1LE Track Performance package includes the following features on the 2019 Camaro LT:
- Brembo 4-piston front, performance 4-wheel antilock, 4-wheel disc brakes
- External engine oil cooler
- Extra capacity cooling system
- Rear differential cooler
- Limited slip differential
- Dual-mode performance exhaust
- Heavy-Duty Cooling and Brake Package
- Performance suspension
- Satin Black front splitter
- Satin Black hood wrap
- Satin Black rear blade spoiler
- 245/40ZR20 front and 275/35ZR20 rear blackwall summer-only run-flat tires
- 20″ x 8.5″ front and 20″ x 9.5″ rear Black forged aluminum wheels
- RS badging
- RS lighting
- Sueded-wrapped, flat-bottom steering wheel
- Sueded-wrapped shift knob
The GM Authority Take
Despite the heavy criticism of the 2019 Camaro refresh, it would seem that this particular model looks better in real-world pictures than it did in the renderings Chevy released initially… but maybe not.
Have some thoughts? Share them with us in the comments.
Comments
Well that certainly looks better than the press images.
But I also thought that was the best looking car from the press images…
Get rid of all the black trim and wheels
Geee wiz, can those front brake rotors be any smaller?
Those are actually likely large front brakes! When you have 19″ wheels, even 14″ brake rotors will look tiny. Those are still 4 piston Brembos, I’m sure they stop very well, no point in making a 275HP car more expensive with 6 piston 15″ brakes while also increasing un-sprung mass.
You also only have ~3300 lbs to stop in a car that won’t be reaching the insane straighline speeds something like a 3900 Lb ZR1 would.
I have a 2020 1LT 3.6 liter with the 6 speed manual. It has had trans problems from the get go. When I bought it it had 3.6k. 3600 miles. After 1100 miles I got a “clutch overuse warning”. So I replaced the clutch, pressure plate, release bearing, and flywheel. Now at 8044 miles I got the clutch overuse warning and the trans threw a code. GREAT CAR CHEVY! THANKS!!! Obviously I am dissapointed that the car I built is all screwed up.
Looks great, I bet runs great! I would not buy one. I believe the Camaro should be v8 or nothing.
SS, SS 1LE, ZL1, ZL1 1LE, Z28
looks good, still want to see more of the SS
The SS is coming up shortly.
I personally can’t wait for the blacked out trend to go away. The hood and spoiler make it look like the car has been in the body shop and had new ones installed but now it’s waiting to be painted in the paint booth. Literally it looks like a car in the middle of being worked on. And the black rims on everything just look like wheels coated in brake dust that need cleaned. Or even 4 spares..
Aside from that, I too thought this was the nicest looking one of the group. I didn’t like the SS front end at all. Though I loved the photo’s Camaro6 did of a fixed version.
I agree about the hood and spoiler. They look bad. I don’t mind the black wheels though.
1LEs have black hoodie for clearer vision at the track… No glare off the hood.
Those front rotors look comically small
Both the SS and RS look better in person than on the release photos. Chevy should fire their photographer, though It seems to me that the images are actually CAD renderings cause their pasty, so fire the manager who decided that CAD could suit for real images. I really wanted a 5.3 in the LT. Not great upper band power, but awesome lower end torque. NOS isn’t exactly legal in Kentucky. The 5.3 with DSF, and if they teamed up to increase output of the 6.2 in the Silverado and camero to 490tq, 470hp would make it world beating in power with no sacrifice of economy that has caused ford to move to the ecoboost. Heck, the 5.3 with DSF could be light enough on fuel to compete in the European market despite their high gas prices
CAD Renderings are used by almost every automobile company these days.
I agree – the do not compare to the real deal, but it is what it is.
I also would be shopping an LT if it had a 5.3 with stick. I wish the DSF updated engines would’ve included a bumped up 500hp 396 SS, a short deck 350 LT on 87 octane, and a base 4.3 LS. Which if they added AWD to, I couldn’t resist.
Regardless, this LT RS is easily the best looking of the refresh. Though, I’m glad the hood is just a wrap. Detail work like they put in these tailights is always nice to see.
That 470hp, or so, would be more attainable for a 396. 500 is likely too wishful. Which, in my case, is mostly moot as only a potential future used purchase. And I don’t expect they want to re-ignite LS7 fans.
I agree with the use of a 5.3 or smaller V8 for the sub SS models, but why are you so obsessed with the old displacement sizes? There’s no need for a 396ci, or 350ci v8. the current LT-1 crushes the hp numbers of any of the legendary Chevy v8s of the 60s and 70s; never mind the LS series engines.
I say, toss a 4.8-5.3L LT variant out there by way of de-stroking. Tune it to run on 87 octane, and get obviously better mpg than a SS. Then push the ‘economy with traditional sound and feel’ aspect. Also – this is the important part – allow for it to be a worst kept secret that with little more than a tune, there’s alot of hp to be regained. For instance, stock it gets 340-350hp, 30 mpg via cylinder deactivation, variable valve timing and taller gears with aggressively economical trans shift points. But it’s well known a basic tune will net you 380-400hp and will shut down the economy nannys . Then keep the price at 28-35 grand.
Finally make it look unique with existing fascias and trim peaces without making it look de-contented, and LIMIT pricey options that create sticker shock. GM will have a winner.
The only problem is GM would not sell any V6 of turbo four models. And they need those to keep the GOV off their back about economy standards. It would also probably eat SS sales as well. Want a V8 Camaro but can’t afford a SS? Buy a LT V8! 75% of the performance at a much cheaper price!
In the end the ONLY reason we don’t have the cheap V8 performance many of us clamor for, is politics. The government has demanded certain things of the auto industry, and is willing to hit them in the pocket book if they don’t comply. therefore no more single-minded devotion to big engine performance.
Because how does making a new v8 and putting it in a sub model make it cheaper for GM to produce? How would a 5.3 Camaro be cheaper than a 6.2? They use all the same parts, same transmission, the engine is the same besides bore/stroke, so it costs the same to make. It would actually be more expensive as they need to take the 5.3 and make it work for the Camaro in the way of tune, possibly a new intake manifold, cam and some other parts.
No it wouldnt, because GM already has a smaller stroke crank in the truck motors, which will bolt right into the LT MOTOR. Hell they can just drop the 5.3l truck short block with LT1 top half and meet the small v8 objective with no tooling or extra cost. All that would be different is tuning and possibly accesory drive modifications on the truck block.
The beauty of the small block has always been it’s ability to mix and match parts from with in it’s family regardless of displacement.
With all due respect I can tell alot of people on here don’t actually work in the automotive engineering industry. It takes GM multiple millions of dollars in engineering time, dyno validation, EPA powertrain verification fees, print advertising, plant overhead and coordination to make one new engine or transmission work even if it’s already used in another vehicle. This is not the 1960z, you cant just throw a new engine in and call it a day. Then add on the fact you will sell it for less and that’s a big red no to managament.
Excactly. It would cost them more money to make the car available with the 5.3 and for no reason because it wouldn’t save them money on production. It’s not like the 5.3 would be cheaper to build. A shorter stroke and less bore doesn’t cost less.
These people are just looking out for their own pocket books, they want to be able to tell people that they have a v8 Camaro without having to open their wallets! That’s equals being cheap!
GM shouldn’t cater to these people! Keep the v8 Camaro a premium performance car!
That’s not necessarily true. Not everyone can shell out 40 large on a camaro but it’s a car that most people love and everyone loves the sound of a v8. Honestly I think it would be a great idea for gm to drop the v6 camaro rs, make that the 5.3l with about 395hp and 430tq, put the new 2.7l turbo as the base setup with 300hp, keep the prices around the same and go from there. Hell I’d love a brand new v8 ss camaro but I’ve got real world responsibilities. I’m not rich or upper middle class but I still love a good old American pushrod v8 and honestly I think there should be another option for a reasonably priced v8 coupe outside of the Dodge Challenger. So yeah a 395hp 5.3l camaro would be a great idea for the rest of the real world and it would sell. Chevy did it before with the camaro so why not now?
With all due respect I can tell alot of people on here don’t actually work in the automotive engineering industry. It takes GM multiple millions of dollars in engineering time, dyno validation, EPA powertrain verification fees, print advertising, plant overhead and coordination to make one new engine or transmission work even if it’s already used in another vehicle. This is not the 1960z, you cant just throw a new engine in and call it a day. Then add on the fact you will sell it for less and that’s a big red no to management.
This idea of having a cheap v8 performance car needs to go away. There should be nothing on a performance car that is cheap!
This isn’t the late 60 or early 70!
While it does look better in the ‘real world’ pics, it’s still ugly when compared to 2016-2018. Say what you want about the sight lines, and MSRP of the current 6th gen; GM pretty much caught lightning in the bottle when evolving the look of the 5th gen. So much so, a restyle was completely unnecessary.
I guess they really wanted to make a mark with the 2019 and newer Camaro since the current 6th gen is often mistaken for a 5th gen by the non fan-boy on the street. Too bad they went the route of polarizing.
It’s funny because BOTH the SN955 Mustang and the Alpha Camaro were very good looking cars. So good looking,both GM and Ford really had no reason to mess with perfection. Ford – in the end – was forced to, because of their move to sell the car overseas. This necessitated the bulbous hood, smaller headlights and further refinements to the fascia for pedestrian safety.
With GM I suspect they were doing little more than shaking things up, and it shows.
correction SN550 Mustang
I agree, the current Camaro looks much better than this. I do think Chevy should have kept the DRL halo of the previous gen though.
Do we know all the colors that will be available on the 2019 Camaro?
Crush, Red Hot, Garnet Red Tintcoat, Satin Steel Gray Metallic, Silver Ice Metallic, Summit White, Mosaic Black Metallic, Black, Shadow Gray Metallic, Riverside Blue Metallic…
Great looking Camaro…….would love to see Hugger Orange make it back into the Camaro color pallet.
So many models and variations. Very confusing for the average buyer who goes to a Chevy dealer and buys something on the lot.
Gonna have to move that badge on the front. That’s what’s really holding the design back,
I wish they would make the Recaro seats optional on the 1LE and ZL1. I’d go buy on tomorrow if they did.
I like it! A lot!
MCE CAMARO’19 looks 100 times better. Non MCE’s rear lights and bumper were fugly as hell.
The new Camaro styling is just plain ugly! I will look elsewhere. I wish they would get input from the public on their thoughts before making these changes. We are the ones that buy them. SAD!!! I am in my 4th and last one ( a 2013) with the direction they are headed.
So if the sales numbers go up will that say that GM got it right?
I love the new Camaro looks!
Looks much better than the SS variant, which itself is a blot on GM design.
The Camaro is nothing more than a single purpose sports car , not suitable for more than two people , The Mustang , Challenger and Camaros were PONY CARS . Both Mustang and Challenger retained the heritage but Camaro went weird with gunslit windows , low roof line , gross grinning idiot grill . Sales from Jan to end of March 2018 have Mustang at 19,164 sales , a 14.69 % drop . Challenger has 17,648 sales , an increase of 12.23 % , Camaro has 11,792 sales a decrease of 22.92 % . Time is overdue for Camaro to live in the real world with a more retro PONY CAR , not a single purpose sports car , it already has the Corvette as the sports car . Enough is enough , get some older neat designer to work here , or bring him out of retirement before it’s too late and GM continues this current trendy nonsense !
You are so wrong! Making the Camaro a family is the wrong direction! It needs to stay a sports car, if a person cant fit in the back seat then that’s a you problem!
Maybe it’s just that I’m older now and no longer do burnouts at the stop sign in front of the high school, but I submit that the 455HP and 455 lb-ft makes my 2016 2SS ferocious enough. I don’t need 600 or even 500HP. Faster, more comfortable and a better drivimy vehicle than my former Z06. Why all the discussion about more horsepower? Looks-wise, OK, I ‘ll keep my ’16. But the most recent edition is not a BAD looking car.
I replied to a comment above but I’ll say it here as well. It would be nice for gm to have a lower end v8 model camaro like what dodge has with the regular rt lineup of the challenger the Charger and the Durango. A 5.3l v8 camaro with the rs 1le package would be an awesome and affordable car. It’s not a cheap car but it is an affordable car. And you figure a 375hp-390hp 5.3l v8 would be more than enough Car for most people. You still have the lt1 sitting comfortably where it is but it would allow gm to have more offerings and get more sales and it would pirate sales for people looking at a challenger rt. And seriously undercut ford because the mustang can’t offer a smaller v8 that’s more affordable and with the camaro having better features it’s another hit that the mustang can’t recover from. Also the 5.3 would be lighter than the coyote 5.0 and since the camaro is lighter it should get better fuel economy especially with the new 10 speed. It would be a win win situation for camaro owners and gm Corp.
ideal Camaro lineup
LT/LT-1LE: 2.7L 300hp turbo 4-cylinder
RS/RS 1LE: 5.3L 385hp/420tq V8
1SS/2SS/SS-1LE 6.2L 455hp V8
Z/28 650hp LT1 6.2L Supercharged V8
ZL1/ZL1-1LE: 755hp 6.2L LT5 Supercharged V8.
Back in the early ’90’s the Camaro had two v8 options, the 230hp 5.0L V8 and the 245hp 5.7L and both cars were good cars. I don’t see why a lower priced 5.3L V8 shouldn’t be available on the Camaro. Dodge has already shown that a lineup like this works with the Challenger, having the base and GT V6 models, different variations of the 5.7L V8 (R/T, R/T Plus, R/T Shaker and the 5.7L T/A variant) all of which sell very well, why not do something similar with the Camaro? There are a lot of people out there that would still buy the mighty 6.2L LT1 SS but the 5.3L V8 should have a chance in the Camaro lineup and with different options and packages and have the current 2019 V6 Camaro’s body styling with added aerodynamics and a slightly different grille. It wouldn’t be that hard to make this a reality either, take the standard 5.3L V8 and the 6.2L heads, cam, intake manifold, intake and exhaust manifolds, a dual fuel injection system and the dual mode exhaust and call it a day. This would do several things: 1.) people cross shopping the Challenger 5.7L models will have something else to compare with and this would give them a better, lighter, faster, entry level V8 car to work with 2.) Ford’s mustang can not compete with this because of the fact that the Mustang already has a tiny V8 engine for the GT and there is nothing to slot below the mustang for people who want an entry level V8, especially with the options that the Camaro has over the mustang and a 5.3L V8 Camaro starting at $29,500 would seriously undercut the mustang by a long shot and the sales for the Camaro would crush the mustang at that point. 3.) Better MPG with the 5.3 than the Camaro 6.2L or the 5.7L Hemi or the 5.0L Coyote. I’d put a large sum of money that the 5.3L GM V8 mated to a 10-speed automatic will turn better numbers than the 5.0L Coyote & much better numbers than the 5.7L Hemi and with a lighter car with better gear options than the Challenger R/T, better aerodynamics and slightly more power, the Camaro would be a better performer than the Challenger and probably be close to the Performance of a Mustang GT 5.0 despite the Mustang having 460hp being that the car is lighter than the mustang and the pushrod engine is a lighter mill that makes better power down low than the mustang. Granted the mustang will be a better quarter mile car, but I would stand to think that a 5.3L Camaro would be a better stoplight-to-stoplight car than the GT mustang and a better handling car than the GT Mustang. I think there is a good market for a 5.3L Camaro RS V8 car. The car needs the Red outlined bowtie emblems for sure, a rear lip spoiler, 18×9.5″ Rally wheels with red outline bowtie center caps, Brembo brakes, Magnetic ride, unique hood w/functional scoop similar to the 96-02 Camaro SS, unique ground effects that include a front lip spoiler & side skirts, dark tail lamps, a graphics package (nothing cheesy), more color options (like that mid-80’s dark red metallic, hugger orange, etc.) sunroof, cloth houndstooth interior with RS badging, the red outline bowtie emblem on the steering wheel, Navigation, 12-speaker Rockford Fosgate stereo system with amps and subwoofers, 6-speed manual option, etc. You figure at even $36,500 fully optioned it’s still just shy of a non-optioned 1SS Camaro which starts at $37,995 and just above a non optioned Mustang GT which starts at $36,100 and right around the price of a Challenger R/T Plus which starts at $36,995.00 as a Challenger R/T base starts at $33,995.00. A car like this would be great to boost Camaro sales all over and it would make it the best, all around muscle car (best price, best performance per dollar, best MPG for a V8 muscle car, etc.) Like I said, Ford wouldn’t be able to touch this offering from GM and neither would Mopar because their cars are too big and lack the aerodynamic shape or handling characteristics of a Camaro. It’s perfect.
Good idea, but don’t call the 5.3L Camaro the RS. The RS is an appearance package across the entire lineup… although that might be changing with the new Traverse and Blazer.
I drove a 2019 Camaro SS with the 1LE Track Package, but did not like the skip shift (1st to 4th) manual transmission, complicated cylinder deactivation system, need for premium fuel, extra weight, and $8,500 added price compared to the 3.6L V-6 engine RS 1LE I bought. The V-6 revs like a chainsaw, feels light and handles well, and with the special exhaust system sounds great. Unless all you want is straight-line performance of a V-8, the V-6 is a much better balanced car on a track or slalom. Drive one and see.
Now, Chevrolet already has a sports car; the Corvette; so the inability to see out of the Camaro, no back seat room and a silly trunk that cannot fit a golf bag in it makes the car pretty single purposed. Chevy should take the Camaro underpinnings and put a 1969 Nova body on it so it was practical. Then I would say, go to a smaller 5.3L V-8 with a manual transmission and sell them like crazy. GM almost had it right with the Cadillac ATS, but dropped the manual transmission and priced it too high.
You are the exact problem with the performance world we now live in, you want this thing called practicality.
The Camaro is not and should never be about practicality!!! The Camaro is not a people mover, cargo hauler, or anything that resembles a minivan.
The vision problem is no big deal if you as a driver know how to setup your mirrors on the Camaro. Apparently you were never taught this.
People like you, and there are alot of them unfortunately. Are dying to change the Camaro from what it is to something that fits their lifestyle better.
It needs to stop. Leave the Camaro alone.