You’d think comparing an American sports car against a finely tuned German equivalent would be brand suicide, but that hasn’t been the case for the sixth-generation Chevrolet Camaro. Most recently, Road & Track published another comparison test, pitting the Camaro against another German so-called “driver’s car”. The publication pitted the 2019 Chevrolet Camaro SS 1LE against the 2019 BMW M2 with the Competition Pack. It may seem crazy by subjective standards; however, a closer objective glance reveals the two have become quite similar in recent years. Writer Jack Baruth called it “Convergent Evolution.” It’s where “Two creatures, despite having different ancestors, end up looking similar.” Sometimes, not even convergent evolution can differentiate predator from prey. In the magazine’s comparison test, the Chevrolet Camaro edged out a win over the BMW M2.
You don’t have to believe Baruth that Chevrolet Camaro is better than the BMW. All you have to do is look at the numbers. The Camaro sports a 6.2-liter LT1 V8 engine producing 455 horsepower and 455 pound-feet of torque, which routes through a six-speed manual gearbox to the rear wheels. The BMW M2 packs a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six making 405 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque. Power hits the rear wheels through a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic. Both hit 60 miles per hour in 3.9 seconds in Road & Track’s testing. However, the smaller BMW ran a quarter-mile in 12.2 seconds at 115 mph while the Camaro did it in 12.3 seconds at 115.9 mph. One area the Chevrolet Camaro crushed the BMW M2 was in road-holding test, pulling 1.05 Gs to the M2’s 0.99 Gs. The Camaro even had a shorter braking distance, despite being the larger car.
One factor that helped the Camaro SS 1LE was its price, at $49,995. Baruth wrote, “No other car at the Camaro’s $49,995 price can match it for poise and pace around a road course. It’s an E36 M3 for modern times.” The BMW M2 is nearly $10,000 more expensive with a starting price of $59,895. As tested, the price jumps to $64,545, which is 640 hp 2018 Camaro ZL1 money. That’s a considerable difference for two cars that are so similar in performance.
Comments
Beats it on price, but similar in performance other wise. Comes down to the pilot at the wheel and tire size.
For my money the Camaro wins, but for the M2 money I’m looking at Caymans.
It takes 6.2L V8 to beat 3.0L i6. What a joke of a car Camaro is. The M2 is not even competition package and has pretty much same numbers.
Can’t tell if you’re serious.. Troll?
It was the M2 competition package.. M2 costs more. M2 was slower. M2 was around 2 seconds slower around the track. M2 has twin turbos to make up for lack of displacement.
Mustang fan…..
I don’t have to bite back vomit when I look at the M2 though..
What does the engine size have to do with it when turbos are involved? Twin Turbo the 6.2L and U’re going to have a 650HP Beast.. all for the same price that the boring BMW costs. And as pointed out, it was the competition package. Camaro for me. Even if it were a regular SS
The M2 doesn’t have two turbos, it has a twin scroll turbo for enhanced low end performance and packaging.
I couldn’t comment one way or another as I don’t know the number of turbos it has. However, maybe you should get in touch with all the automotive magazines that state it has two and correct them.
M2 competition has a TWO turbo 6.
I stand corrected. The M2 has two ‘mono scroll’ turbos. BMW used the ‘Twin Scroll’ turbo.
yea, cause that much boost on 6.2 L gets 650Hp
Or a hell of a lot more… try well over 1,000HP
Uh, not exactly Dave. You don’t seem to understand that turbocharging is a power enhancer. Yes, I fully realize that people like you live to lurk about and criticize cars no matter the stretch required to do so.
The M2 I believe also does not have leather seats. The camaro has much better options compared to the M2.
This is the results you get when people focus on the right things! PERFORMANCE!
Drivetrain, suspension, brakes, platform
Seats, dash, steering wheel should not be the focus on a performance car