Chevy Camaro headed to Europe

Chevrolet Camaro Dale Earnhardt Jr. Concept

Chevrolet Germany's general manager confirms export plans

By Christopher Jackson
July 3, 2009 7:17 PM
Filed Under: American, Chevrolet

The 2010 Chevrolet Camaro is off to an impressive start in the U.S., with inventories sold out in spite of the general economic slowdown. The resurrected muscle car will get the opportunity to repeat this success overseas, as GM has confirmed that the Camaro will be sold in Europe. No on-sale dates or pricing have been released.

Auto Motor und Sport reports that Jurgen Keller, general manager at Chevrolet Germany, confirmed GM's plans to export the Camaro to Europe. Sale dates will likely be forthcoming as production catches up.

There's no word as to which of the Camaro's three available engines will make the leap across the Atlantic. In the U.S., the Camaro is available with a 304-horsepower 3.6 liter V6 and a choice of 400 or 426-horsepower 6.2 liter V8s, depending on transmission choice. GM's fuel-saving Active Fuel Management is available on the 400-horse V8. The Camaro also sports a four-wheel independent suspension and available stability control. The ride and handling are uniquely American, a fact that will be considered a good thing to some European buyers and a bad thing to others.

Possible styling changes to meet Euro regulations have also not been discussed.

U.S. pricing for the Camaro starts at $23,040 for the V6 and $35,425 for the V8-powered SS. That's about €16,400 and €25,215, respectively. GM has not yet released German or any other European pricing information for an exported Camaro.

email print digg facebook fark reddit delicious myspace

Tags: Camaro, export

2010 Chevrolet Camaro Transformers Special Edition (18 comments

Comments

Renegade

July 3, 2009 7:35 PM

That Dale Earnhardt Jr. Camaro looks amazing.

Edited by user on July 3, 2009 at 7:36 PM

ivanadrive

July 3, 2009 8:25 PM

You'd have to double the prices in euro to get a realistic price, and then add at least another 5 grand for registration tax. That combined with excessively high fuel prices and road tax will make this car a very rare sight on European roads.

scratchy996

July 3, 2009 8:49 PM

imagine on the first date the girl's look on her face when she sees the interior. you'll have to explain to her that this is an American muscle car and crappy interiors are considered cool in such cars... as Clarkson said , it's uncool when you have to start explaining things.

Renegade

July 3, 2009 8:58 PM

Huh, unless they change the specs, I don't see why they have to double the price, and scratchy996 despite that u eastern europeans have your mind on girls 99% of the time, most of the people will forget about the interior materials the moment you hit the gas and the V8 roars, plus I doubt that you have touched the interior of an 2010 Camaro yet.

Edited by user on July 3, 2009 at 9:09 PM

scratchy996

July 3, 2009 9:29 PM

well, Renegade, have you seen our girls ?;) with all the taxes, the V8 will cost as much if not more than the 335i coupe. for that money people expect more than just a V8 noise. and if you really need V8 noise you can get a slightly used CLK 55 AMG for a lot less money.

ShinyG

July 3, 2009 10:13 PM

And, as any eastern european, scratchy996 will always prefer "slightly" used cars bought from "reputable" 2nd hand dealers found all over Europe over new cars! Of course interiors are more important to eastern europeans than power or handling, because the interior bling makes the hot chicks tremble in passion. Get a 2nd hand Passat, smear silicone lube all over the dashboard to make it shine under those pretty blue lights and see the chick's eye sparkle with desire!!! Back on topic: this car rocks! I want one, even the "crappy" V6. Knowing GM's current financial situation, I don't expect the Camaro to be anywhere as cheap as the direct conversion from $ to Euro.

scratchy996

July 4, 2009 1:52 AM

don't forget our 1kg gold chains around our fat necks and the Best of Modern Talking albums in our stereos. oh, and the pictures of Stalin hanging from the rear view mirrors. this is how we roll !

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HpxZOdE_-ck

MusTang

July 3, 2009 10:02 PM

The real, modern Muscle Car. You can love it or hate it. If you love it, you will buy this Camaro despite everything. If you hate it, you will buy "CLK 55 AMG for a lot less money".

scratchy996

July 3, 2009 10:15 PM

i don't hate "muscle cars", i just wish they were a cheaper alternative to sport coupes like they are in the US. in Europe they don't have the whole mystique they have in the US, they are just foreign cars, plain and simple.

bt21d

July 3, 2009 10:59 PM

best car ever.... camarro rules. it's a shame will be so expensive like mustang in europe...

Renegade

July 3, 2009 11:58 PM

The Mustang it's not imported officially in Europe, the Camero will be the first muscle car that will go in Europe, the reason why you probably find the Mustang expensive is that is imported by "gray", not authorized dealers, I doubt you can buy the 'stang at official european Ford dealers.

EMBJATI85

July 3, 2009 11:10 PM

god how much i love this car my dream would to have an rs with a twintturbo set up make around 500hp id rather have a dohc v6 than the v8 still the v8 is nice i just wish they moved on to something more adavanced than ohv

GermanCarsRule

July 4, 2009 12:18 AM

A V8 6.2 liter engine = only 426 HP? The new ass kickin' e63 amg = 525 PS!!!

WildMaverick1200

July 4, 2009 2:41 AM

yep, that's kind of a waste, isn't it? They should at least a turbo or two so that it's worth the fuel waste.

Lemon

July 5, 2009 8:17 PM

6.2l V-8 comparo: Camaro SS: 426 hp, 16 mpg / 24 mpg (city/hwy) C63 AMG: 451 hp, 12 mpg / 19 mpg ZR1: 638 hp, 14 mpg / 20 mpg

Hmm, thats weird; I thought pushrods sucked. Oh and by the way, the 3.6l DI V6 in the Camaro makes 85 hp per liter. The 518hp 6.2 in the E63 AMG makes 83.5 hp/l...

scratchy996

July 6, 2009 4:48 PM

@ Lemon, ok , those are the American fuel consumption ratings . now check the European ones , you will see all corvettes , Camaros , etc have a much higher fuel consumption.

Lemon

July 6, 2009 9:01 PM

Scratchy, C63 AMG consumes 13.7 liters per 100 km Corvette consumes 13.0 liters per 100 km Changing the units doesn't change the vehicle's performance.

scratchy996

July 6, 2009 10:34 PM

it's not about just the units , it's the methodology of measuring fuel consumption in the US(EPA i think) and in the EU(DEKRA in Germany) and the fuel difference.

Lemon

July 7, 2009 10:57 PM

Yep. The numbers listed above are the European values. Both tests reflect the GM V8 getting better fuel economy.

AMGBrabusMercTuners

July 4, 2009 1:10 AM

the engine in the camaro is a push-rod design which is a very old design and makes less power per Litre than the type of engine in the E63 AMG and alot of new cars just letting you know (but i also think that they could have squeezed a bit more power from the engine)

Lemon

July 5, 2009 8:34 PM

You may want to check your sources. Overhead cams are actually a much older technology than pushrods. Pushrods help make an engine smaller while retaining the same displacement since the require smaller cylinder heads. This helps with packaging and weight.

If you wanted more power in the Camaro, its too bad the current economic problems most likely killed off the Z28. GM is plenty capable of getting more power out of a 6.2l. The 6.2 LS9 in the ZR1 makes 638hp with pushrods...

I'm not saying AMG's are bad, I'm just saying maybe you should lay your automotive prejudice aside until you have a better understanding.

kumbo

July 6, 2009 9:25 PM

So that is why Bentley uses a pushrod designed 6.75 liter, right? jackass.

norther

July 4, 2009 7:59 AM

this article is full of bull... if the camaro will start as they say at 16,400 and 25 grand for the SS, well.... I, i'll cut my ..... off, and eat it.

BabyMilo

July 4, 2009 8:54 AM

This isnt what is popular in Europe, in Europe we want quality interiors and fuel efficient cars becuase petrol is so expensive. I like the car but i would still rather have a hot hatch.

phobos

July 4, 2009 9:27 AM

..in the US it starts at 16,400 and 25 grand , perhaps higher in europe..i think it is a good move from GM to make them self more open to global market

C-KING

July 4, 2009 12:24 PM

In my country (EU) brand new 6.2L Corvette Coupe with manual gearbox starting at $92937. In US startig at $49k?

Bristol411S3

July 4, 2009 1:43 PM

I can't see how anyone expects the success story to continue in Europe. The Camaro has no history here. It won't succeed on the nostalgic vote as no one has ever had one r lusted after one. And it won't succeed on its own merits as a car because it isn't perceived to be that great a car compared to European offerings, even at a bargain price (the Corvette has never done that well in Europe for much the same reason, in spite of being fantastic).

Seriously, this car will never break beyond the niche of people who wish they were American. And they are a dying breed these days.

Lemon

July 5, 2009 8:22 PM

Too bad its perceived to be a poor car. The Nurburgring time I heard is an 8:20. Compared to a C63 AMG's 8:13, thats not too poor. Then again, on a track like that the driver is the deciding factor on lap times. It is nice to know that the Camaro is capable though. American's don't just drag race anymore

Edited by user on July 5, 2009 at 8:23 PM

RzGTmorio

July 5, 2009 4:48 AM

I like the colour of the first photo, but now the other one's photos I don't like the colour

Lemon

July 5, 2009 8:39 PM

Regardless of perceptions on quality and performance, there is one thing for sure: this car will stand out and turn lots of heads in Europe.

scratchy996

July 5, 2009 9:32 PM

that's true. like with the mustang people will look and ask what the heck is that ugly thing ?

Lemon

July 6, 2009 9:27 PM

...and why can't I keep up with it? The front is much better looking than the back...too bad most cars will only be able to see the rear :)

I think its cool they're offering the Camaro over there. You don't have to buy it or look at it if you don't like it, but surely there are some Europeans realize that this isn't the redneck Camaro of the 80s and 90s; its a modern coupe with SLA suspension and a wonderfull powerplant.

Andres2007

July 6, 2009 10:19 PM

Odd, scratchy996, because I remember journalists bringing a Dodge Challenger over to Europe and the public's response was overwhelmingly positive, especially in Italy.

By the way, Lemon, it's a shame you're the only person here that doesn't let his sound judgment be ruined by harsh prejudices against modern muscle cars.

Edited by user on July 6, 2009 at 10:25 PM

danteskov

July 23, 2009 10:21 PM

It will make a lots of heads to turn in Europe, although I possess one and know for sure that the interior quality is not anything like a euro car, but the thing is the incredible exterior design is just mind blowing... I must say that the my Camaro brings more attention from people when I am near a BMW 3 coupe, C63 AMG, VW GTI's, etc... The thin is that muscle cars have a lot of iconic heritage and personality. That's what happened to the Motor Trend journalist when he took the Challenger to Europe, it brought so much attention because of the rareness of those cars and I can assure from my experience is that the opinion is divided when it comes to chicks... some prefer the exterior design and some others the interior's quality... The camaro's interior is not that bad because is a very fresh design... so... this car is to love or hate... (I also have a 335 sedan btw if your saying I love American)

dima23

July 6, 2009 4:38 AM

the article says that the ride and handling is uniquly american??? how is this so? the car was developed in australia! dont give the yanks the kudos for our engineering excellence!

kumbo

July 6, 2009 9:21 PM

Only people like Scratchy996 loves to pay more for a "higher grade" plastic than overall performance...

scratchy996

July 6, 2009 10:38 PM

you didn't get the point , the price of the V8 will be higher than European cars with better performance and better interiors.

Edited by user on July 7, 2009 at 12:34 AM

EMBJATI85

July 7, 2009 4:36 AM

all i know is when i test drove a v6 i fell in love the v8 would be nice but its hard to come by 35k right now so 22 is perfect it still does 0-60 in the 5s and for a v6 thats perfect

astonmartindbrs09

July 7, 2009 6:17 PM

who wouldn't what one of them on the drive and then at half six in the morning when you set off to work roar down the road and wake your nabours up with the orgasmic sound. Gives the nabours something real to complain about.

Razz

July 12, 2009 10:45 PM

Hey guys,

I would buy it if the price will be competitive, that's for sure !

At a simple formula you get : ((MSRP Price in USD * EUR rate for 1$) * 10 % (non EU tax))*1.(VAT) = the DDP (total duty paid) price, without adding the transport, handling and other adm. expenses of the official importing company GM Europe.

In the case that GM will bring here the Camaro, i bet that Ford will do the same with the Mustang and Challenger will be brought by Fiat, now that they have a share in the Dodge as part of Chrysler LLC.

And about the crapy quality of US cars, i could say that Cadillac is doing quite well and as the pictures are showing it, the Challenger's interior looks pretty qualitative.

For a big succes, GM should mantain the price in EU under the tag of the independent dealers who are importing it now and have a good profit without offering a real guarantee.

With some nice financing offers, 5 years guarantee for the car and paint and 10 for corrosion, the looks and the "new" element could gain some market share .. but only offering more for less (US formula, so much car for so less money).

Let's just hope that they have learned the lesson with the Corvette, wich i a very good car with a very bad interior, every possible EURO magazine is saying that. Good work GM, let us have the pony !!

Edited by user on July 12, 2009 at 10:58 PM

View Comment Rules