True to its roots as the every-man's pride and joy, the newest generation of Camaros come with a variety of engines and transmissions to suit every need and desire. From street-cruiser cool to super-car fast, modern Camaros carry on the proud tradition of both economy car and racer, depending on the trim level specified.
3.6L V-6
Though the six-cylinder models of yore were little more than cruisers with barely adequate power, the 3.6L V6 is fully competitive with V8s of less than 10 years ago. Producing 304 horsepower at 5,900 RPM and 273 ft. lbs. of torque at 5,200, this direct injection wonder nearly matches number for number the output of a 1998 Ford SVT Cobra's 4.6L V8.
The V6 is Camaro's base-model engine and does indeed get good gas mileage (17 city/29 highway), but also smoke the rear tires with nearly as much enthusiasm as either of the two V8s. with a 6.0 second 0-60 time and running the quarter mile in 14.3, this motor is a long way from the old man's 140 hp straight six.
6.2L V8
The Camaro SS comes with a choice of two 6.2L V8s. The first "base" model V8 is an all aluminum LS3 engine based on the 2008 Corvette's. This engine has a special composite material, acoustically tuned intake for maximum pulse super-charging, as well as a true dual exhaust system and a slightly more aggressive camshaft than that found in the Corvette.
The two engines are rated at 400 horsepower and 410 ft. lbs of torque for the base L99 engine, and the uprated LS3 version has 426 hp and 420 ft lbs. The only real differences between the two boils down to cylinder head flow and computer tuning. It's worth noting that the Camaro's LS3 has a slightly lower compression ratio than the Corvette's (10.4:1 vs 10.7:1), which accounts for the difference in power between the two.
LS9 Supercharged V8
The next generation of Camaros set to bow in 2011 will include a Z28 version, which will be packing a de-tuned version of the current Corvette's supercharged LS9. In its current Z06 configuration, the LS9 makes 620 horsepower and a thunderous 595 ft. lbs of tire-twisting torque. The Camaro LS9's supercharger will likely come equipped with a slightly larger pulley, dropping boost and producing somewhere in the range of 500 horsepower (Road & Track). Even so, this engine should still maintain the corvette's table-top flat torque curve and continue to produce about 90 percent of its peak torque from 2,600 to 6,000 RPM. That means that the next generation should accelerate from 0 to 60 at least as fast as the Corvette, smoking the tires all the way through third gear.
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