-Two (2012) Chevy Models: Impala/Camaro
#1
06-29-2011, 06:43 AM
-Two (2012) Chevy Models: Impala/Camaro
2012 Chevrolet Impala - Car News
More pep for your next full-size upgrade at the rental counter.
Oh `No ~> Would you Rent one ? Buy one ? Post & let us know `ok
BY ALEXANDER STOKLOSA
June 2011
Pages: 1
Chevrolet Impala
News & Reviews
<TABLE class=default border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=2 width=133><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top>
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>For 2012, Chevrolet has streamlined the Impala’s engine lineup from two ho-hum V-6s to a single, more-modern V-6. To replace the Impala’s two ancient pushrod powerplants—a 3.5-liter making 211 hp and a “range-topping” 3.9-liter pinching out a mere 230—Chevy dipped into the corporate parts bin and plucked out GM’s 3.6-liter direct-injected six, here making 302 hp and 252 lb-ft of torque. The 3.6-liter can be found powering everything from the Malibu to the Cadillac CTS, and in this application pushes out just 1 hp and 71 lb-ft fewer than did the Impala SS’s 5.3-liter V-8, which was discontinued for 2010. Chevrolet also saw fit to upgrade the Impala’s transmission, yanking out the old-school four-speed slushbox and dropping in a six-speed automatic. The new engine and transmission should net the Impala improved fuel-economy numbers, but we’ll have to wait for its official EPA rating for the exact amount. The large sedan currently achieves 19 mpg city and 29 highway with the smaller 3.5-liter V-6, which isn’t terrible for a ton-and-a-half cruiser. In the somewhat heavier Buick LaCrosse, the 3.6/six-speed combo produces less power than it will here but only returns 17 mpg city and 27 highway.
The Impala’s looks have been gently warmed over, with an emphasis on “gently.” Malibu-like chrome mesh now adorns the grille and fog-light housings, replacing the horizontal slats on last year’s model. The headlights, bumper, and grille openings remain the same. The base Impala now rides on 16-inch aluminum wheels instead of steelies with hubcaps. (We expect more—and hopefully better—photos by the end of the month; the anticipation is killing us.) The interior of the Impala carries over, although Bluetooth connectivity is now standard on all retail Impalas, and optional on those destined for fleets. For driving impressions of the 2012 Impala, we’d suggest you rent one and experience it for yourself—the press fleets aren’t exactly loaded with the things.
More pep for your next full-size upgrade at the rental counter.
Oh `No ~> Would you Rent one ? Buy one ? Post & let us know `ok BY ALEXANDER STOKLOSA
June 2011
Pages: 1
Chevrolet Impala
News & Reviews
- 2009 Chevrolet Impala - Review
- 2008 Chevrolet Impala - Review
- 2008 Chevrolet Impala 50th Anniversary Edition - Auto Shows
- 2007 Chevrolet Impala LTZ - Short Take Road Test
- 2006 Chevrolet Impala SS - Road Test
- Chevrolet Impala - First Drive Review
- Chevrolet Impala - Auto Shows
- 1964 Chevrolet Impala - Auto Shows
<TABLE class=default border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=2 width=133><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top>
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>For 2012, Chevrolet has streamlined the Impala’s engine lineup from two ho-hum V-6s to a single, more-modern V-6. To replace the Impala’s two ancient pushrod powerplants—a 3.5-liter making 211 hp and a “range-topping” 3.9-liter pinching out a mere 230—Chevy dipped into the corporate parts bin and plucked out GM’s 3.6-liter direct-injected six, here making 302 hp and 252 lb-ft of torque. The 3.6-liter can be found powering everything from the Malibu to the Cadillac CTS, and in this application pushes out just 1 hp and 71 lb-ft fewer than did the Impala SS’s 5.3-liter V-8, which was discontinued for 2010. Chevrolet also saw fit to upgrade the Impala’s transmission, yanking out the old-school four-speed slushbox and dropping in a six-speed automatic. The new engine and transmission should net the Impala improved fuel-economy numbers, but we’ll have to wait for its official EPA rating for the exact amount. The large sedan currently achieves 19 mpg city and 29 highway with the smaller 3.5-liter V-6, which isn’t terrible for a ton-and-a-half cruiser. In the somewhat heavier Buick LaCrosse, the 3.6/six-speed combo produces less power than it will here but only returns 17 mpg city and 27 highway.
The Impala’s looks have been gently warmed over, with an emphasis on “gently.” Malibu-like chrome mesh now adorns the grille and fog-light housings, replacing the horizontal slats on last year’s model. The headlights, bumper, and grille openings remain the same. The base Impala now rides on 16-inch aluminum wheels instead of steelies with hubcaps. (We expect more—and hopefully better—photos by the end of the month; the anticipation is killing us.) The interior of the Impala carries over, although Bluetooth connectivity is now standard on all retail Impalas, and optional on those destined for fleets. For driving impressions of the 2012 Impala, we’d suggest you rent one and experience it for yourself—the press fleets aren’t exactly loaded with the things.
Last edited by Space; 06-29-2011 at 06:49 AM.
#2
06-29-2011, 06:45 AM
2012 Chevrolet Camaro Gets 45th Anniversary Edition, Face Lift, and 323-hp V-6 - Car News
Hello power, goodbye understeer—we hope.
^^^^^2012 Chevrolet Camaro Gets 45th Anniversary Edition, Face Lift, and 323-hp V-6 : )
BY JUSTIN BERKOWITZ
April 2011
Pages: 1 Photos
Chevrolet Camaro
News & Reviews
The first time we experienced a major oil shock—the Disco-fabulous 1970s—it eviscerated the muscle-car scene, leaving us with neutered behemoths constructed with all the care of a North Korean knock-off Benz. In comparison, as today’s crude oil and prices at the pump again head north, muscle-car fans are still coming out winners. Ford’s Mustang Boss 302 is a track-attacking monster. And now Chevy is actually increasing the standard horsepower in its base V-6 2012 Camaro, from 312 to 323, while maintaining a 30-mpg highway rating.
Happy Birthday to You
For the hard-core Camaro community, though, the bigger news is the 45th Anniversary Edition Camaro. While a 45th birthday is less noteworthy than a 50th, who wants to wait another five years? By then, the Camaro will probably be a wheatgrass-electric hybrid. The 45th Anniversary package is available for the top-spec Camaro regardless of engine, and dresses up the car’s exterior with asymmetric hood and trunk-lid stripes, new-design 20-inch rims, a spoiler, and HID headlamps. Inside, the package splatters 45th Anniversary logos all over the place—seats, dash, instrument panel, steering wheel, sill plates—and trims the seats, steering wheel, shift boot, armrests, and center console in red, white, and blue contrast stitching. Disappointingly—but not surprisingly—it offers no performance upgrades. It should, however, look very sharp at the local Sunday-morning car club, alongside owners clad in Camaro hats, T-shirts, and windbreakers, clutching Camaro key chains and Camaro thermoses.
As for that smaller engine, GM’s 3.6-liter V-6 is its workhorse, powering everything from the Cadillac SRX (as of yesterday) to the Buick LaCrosse. The Camaro’s version is now dubbed LFX (in the past it was called LLT), and it makes 323 hp versus last year’s 312. The engine has longer-duration camshafts and an improved head design with larger intake valves. It drops 21 pounds, mostly thanks to a composite (read: plastic) intake manifold and lighter connecting rods, and Chevy says it is still good for 30 mpg on the highway.
<TABLE class=default border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=2 width=405><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top>
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>On the dynamic front, engineers went to work on the chassis, sorting the stiff ride of the V-8-powered Camaro SS. The new suspension features retuned front and rear dampers, and new solid anti-roll bars front and rear. You know the drill though—we’ll believe it when we drive it.
Bye, Bye, Miss Steering-Wheel Pie
General Motors was also kind enough to clean up the Camaro’s interior for 2012. Most notably, the deep-dish steering wheel—the bane of people everywhere who like steering wheels—is gone, replaced with Chevrolet’s corporate tiller. The gauges dump the retro font from last year’s car, and the monolithic slab of cheap plastic that used to span the majority of the dash has been replaced with several smaller panels. (We just hope the quality is better.) To deal with the Camaro’s pillbox-inspired visibility problems, Chevy added a standard rear spoiler. Since there will now be absolutely no rearward visibility, a rearview camera system is available; it displays the image on a screen located in the rearview mirror.
If visibility is the only compromise we have to make with the new Camaro—and Chevrolet seems to be trying hard to provide it all in terms of power and economy—then it’s just another welcome sign that the 2010s will be a lot gentler on the auto industry than were the ’70s.
Hello power, goodbye understeer—we hope.
^^^^^2012 Chevrolet Camaro Gets 45th Anniversary Edition, Face Lift, and 323-hp V-6 : )
BY JUSTIN BERKOWITZ
April 2011
Pages: 1 Photos
Chevrolet CamaroNews & Reviews
- 2012 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 / Z28 - Feature
- 2012 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 - Video
- 2012 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Official Photos and Info - Auto Shows
- 2011 Chevrolet Camaro SS Convertible - Short Take Road Test
- Supercharged 2012 Chevrolet Camaro May Not Be Called Z28 - Future Cars
- 2011 Chevrolet Camaro Convertible - Video
- 2011 Chevrolet Camaro Convertible - Auto Shows
- 2012 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 Spy Photos - Future Cars
- 2011 Chevrolet Camaro V6 Gets Fake Power Bump - Car News
The first time we experienced a major oil shock—the Disco-fabulous 1970s—it eviscerated the muscle-car scene, leaving us with neutered behemoths constructed with all the care of a North Korean knock-off Benz. In comparison, as today’s crude oil and prices at the pump again head north, muscle-car fans are still coming out winners. Ford’s Mustang Boss 302 is a track-attacking monster. And now Chevy is actually increasing the standard horsepower in its base V-6 2012 Camaro, from 312 to 323, while maintaining a 30-mpg highway rating.
Happy Birthday to You
For the hard-core Camaro community, though, the bigger news is the 45th Anniversary Edition Camaro. While a 45th birthday is less noteworthy than a 50th, who wants to wait another five years? By then, the Camaro will probably be a wheatgrass-electric hybrid. The 45th Anniversary package is available for the top-spec Camaro regardless of engine, and dresses up the car’s exterior with asymmetric hood and trunk-lid stripes, new-design 20-inch rims, a spoiler, and HID headlamps. Inside, the package splatters 45th Anniversary logos all over the place—seats, dash, instrument panel, steering wheel, sill plates—and trims the seats, steering wheel, shift boot, armrests, and center console in red, white, and blue contrast stitching. Disappointingly—but not surprisingly—it offers no performance upgrades. It should, however, look very sharp at the local Sunday-morning car club, alongside owners clad in Camaro hats, T-shirts, and windbreakers, clutching Camaro key chains and Camaro thermoses.
As for that smaller engine, GM’s 3.6-liter V-6 is its workhorse, powering everything from the Cadillac SRX (as of yesterday) to the Buick LaCrosse. The Camaro’s version is now dubbed LFX (in the past it was called LLT), and it makes 323 hp versus last year’s 312. The engine has longer-duration camshafts and an improved head design with larger intake valves. It drops 21 pounds, mostly thanks to a composite (read: plastic) intake manifold and lighter connecting rods, and Chevy says it is still good for 30 mpg on the highway.
<TABLE class=default border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=2 width=405><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top>
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>On the dynamic front, engineers went to work on the chassis, sorting the stiff ride of the V-8-powered Camaro SS. The new suspension features retuned front and rear dampers, and new solid anti-roll bars front and rear. You know the drill though—we’ll believe it when we drive it.
Bye, Bye, Miss Steering-Wheel Pie
General Motors was also kind enough to clean up the Camaro’s interior for 2012. Most notably, the deep-dish steering wheel—the bane of people everywhere who like steering wheels—is gone, replaced with Chevrolet’s corporate tiller. The gauges dump the retro font from last year’s car, and the monolithic slab of cheap plastic that used to span the majority of the dash has been replaced with several smaller panels. (We just hope the quality is better.) To deal with the Camaro’s pillbox-inspired visibility problems, Chevy added a standard rear spoiler. Since there will now be absolutely no rearward visibility, a rearview camera system is available; it displays the image on a screen located in the rearview mirror.
If visibility is the only compromise we have to make with the new Camaro—and Chevrolet seems to be trying hard to provide it all in terms of power and economy—then it’s just another welcome sign that the 2010s will be a lot gentler on the auto industry than were the ’70s.
Last edited by Space; 06-29-2011 at 06:57 AM.
#4
06-29-2011, 10:42 AM
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Southeast PA
Posts: 25,136
Nice to see the new engine/trans combo too.
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