Friday 1st July 2011

UK-Spec Chevy Camaro Pricing Announced

Thank God for politically incorrect cars...

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With fuel prices sky-high, more and more electric and hybrid cars heading to dealers, and ever-increasing pressure on car makers to bring down their CO2 outputs, General Motors clearly has its finger on the pulse, announcing the official introduction of, er, the 6.2-litre V8 Chevrolet Camaro to the UK market. Brilliant.

The fully type-approved, euro-spec Camaros, will be in showrooms from early 2012, and Chevy has today announced that its beefy coupe will be available from £34,995, with the convertible version costing £39,995.

All UK cars will be the top-spec model, which means (as well 426bhp) 20-inch alloy wheels, Brembo performance brakes, full leather upholstery with a six-way electrically adjustable driver’s seat, a Boston Acoustics nine-speaker audio system, Bluetooth and rear parking sensors (which, given its size, you might find useful).

Options will include a choice of ‘premium’ paint colours, bonnet stripes, interior trim accents, a sunroof, polished alloy wheels and automatic transmission.

The only fly in the ointment is that there’s no right-hand drive. But when it looks this good, do you really care? Especially when the VXR8 costs near-enough £50k...

[horton]

"All UK cars will be the top-spec model, which means (as well 426bhp)"

The ZL1 will have "6.2L Supercharged V8 engine - Intercooled Eaton supercharger. All-aluminum V8 expected to have at least 550 horsepower."

[Lordsmut]

I saw Transformers 3 last night and am loving the new Bumblebee paint scheme.

1 please.

[BlackCup]

I wish these came in rhd, even say another 5k they'd still sell like hot cakes in that format!

[tucks]

lost its wow factor when you can have been able to buy UK spec Holden v8 range in this contry since O4, some trading at sub 8k!or a spec-ed up 2year old vrx8 with pound for pound power at sub 20k.

tranfsormers fans only in my opinion.

[Mubble]

So the 'UK spec' will still be US-style left hand drive. That sucks.

[EliseKSK]

RHD conversions are available in Australia.

[Guvernator]

That is a very good price for that spec car, however as others have mentioned, not making them RHD will mean they will only sell about 5, shame really.

[louiebaby]

I have my fingers crossed for a Camaro being available at Avis when I cross the pond tomorrow. I know it will only be a V6 if there is, but I don't care...

Over here I'm not convinced they'll work as well, more of an enthusiast choice, so won't sell in anywhere near the numbers they hope for.

[Truckosaurus]

tucks said:

tranfsormers fans only in my opinion.

Or those of us watching the Hawaii-Five-O remake.

[daytonarhymes]

had a yellow SS for 2 weeks along the west coast last summer - while it never felt like 400hp plus and was never going to be pin sharp, i grew to love the thing, had lots of nice touches. and actually the fun and challenge to be had was in hustling the thing on the narrow twisty PCH mountain roads and keeping it between the white lines.

[Ali_T]

Truckosaurus said:

Or those of us watching the Hawaii-Five-O remake.

Silver with polished alloys then? ; )

[c0ldpl4ya]

£35k i'd say is a decent price, but the right hand drive issue will no doubt hamper sales. If Australia has it in RHD why cant we? (genuine question)

[Matt UK]

c0ldpl4ya said:

£35k i'd say is a decent price, but the right hand drive issue will no doubt hamper sales. If Australia has it in RHD why cant we? (genuine question)

Probably due to build numbers. Oz still loves it's V8s and I dare say will sell more there than the UK.

[uk89camaro]

c0ldpl4ya said:

£35k i'd say is a decent price, but the right hand drive issue will no doubt hamper sales. If Australia has it in RHD why cant we? (genuine question)

I think the Aussies have a legal requirement to be RHD, and I expect each owner has to pay for a conversion, rather than it being a factory option.

LHD never stopped the Mustang being very popular over here.

[mackie1]

Less than I thought it'd be. I'll have one in 2 years please for £20k (hopefully).

The VXR8 (which shares the same platform) actually has higher spec running gear (brakes, dampers etc) but this looks sooo much nicer and is a fair bit lighter too I believe.

[PhantomPH]

and

No jokes, if the article had ended with 'and best of all, it's RHD', I would have been registering interest with the dealer this afternoon. As it stands, I just know I couldn't live with LHD. So many of my journeys are along single-lane A roads and even in my LR, you spend a lot of time leap-frogging the old dears doing 40mph in the 60mph limits. Imagine having to put almost all your car on the wrong side of the road, just to see if it's safe to overtake!!!

Bummer.

[Hellbound]

uk89camaro said:

c0ldpl4ya said:

£35k i'd say is a decent price, but the right hand drive issue will no doubt hamper sales. If Australia has it in RHD why cant we? (genuine question)

I think the Aussies have a legal requirement to be RHD, and I expect each owner has to pay for a conversion, rather than it being a factory option.

LHD never stopped the Mustang being very popular over here.

If that's the case can't they import RHD converted cars from Australia? Or am I being sensible here?
Unless the conversions are carried out by a third party with no dealer association.

[uk89camaro]

Hellbound said:

If that's the case can't they import RHD converted cars from Australia? Or am I being sensible here?
Unless the conversions are carried out by a third party with no dealer association.

Probably a limited amount of specialist firms do the conversion, no dealership involved.

Can't imagine how much cash you'd have spent by the time you ship it back to the UK from Oz!! LHD is cool.

[Shaun350z]

The only fly in the ointment being.................it doesn't turn into Bumblebee.

[mackie1]

I gather that the conversion makes them a horribly expensive proposition in Oz.