General Motors Corp.'s Chevrolet is steaming ahead with plans to revive one of the signature cars in its long history, the Camaro sports coupe.
Despite GM's financial problems, Chevrolet has advised dealers that the first of the new fifth generation of Camaros will roll out of the Oshawa, Ont., assembly plant this March.
GM has received than 600,000 online hits seeking data on the '10 Camaro since production plans were confirmed.
“The wait is almost over,” says GM's vice-president for Chevrolet, Ed Peper. “Return of the Camaro gives sports-car fans a reason to rejoice.”
Born in 1967 as a response to Ford's Mustang, the Camaro has retained original styling features throughout its various iterations.
The Camaro was sold for 35 years before being suspended after the 2002 model along with its Pontiac Trans Am sibling.
The revived '10 model has the familiar V shape in front and gills in the rear quarter panels, with a short rear deck, a long front end and broad rear fender shoulders.
It's the new V-8 engine that Chevrolet believes will draw the most appeal from sports car enthusiasts. The top-of-the-line Camaro SS model will be powered by a 6.2L V-8, rated at a brand high 422 hp.
Although it's going ahead with the Camaro, GM canceled plans for a Pontiac G8 Sport Truck. The auto maker, struggling financially, says that vehicle doesn't fit with its future plans.
