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2011 Chevrolet Camaro

The 2011 Chevrolet Camaro
Classic American Muscle Meets Modern Ingenuity

If you're a twenty-something then you've heard the stories from your Father:  mid-century American muscle cars like the Camaro Z28, the Chevrolet Novas, Chevy Chevelle's, and the like roaring along the roads.  The teens inside--who's parents could buy them a brand new car with over 400 horsepower just as easily as this generation's parents can buy them a used vehicle with 100,000 miles and 140 horsepower--fly down the street, swerving in and out of lanes with no seat belts on as two of the young men hang out the window.  As Jimi Hendrix or the Rolling Stones blasts in the 8-track inside the car, the boys fly by a police officer doing 60 in a 25 and Officer O'Malley--who is a patient of this particular teen-driver's father, the village doctor--gives the boys a wide smile, a shake of the finger, and that "don't let me catch you tomorrow" look in his eye.  Ah, the nostalgic stories of the father of a twenty-something...

Okay; so maybe that had a lot of embellishment in it, but the fact remains:  when people think of the Chevrolet Camaro, they think of young, raucous kids from the 1970s and all the aforementioned antics.  When people think of the newest iterations oft he Camaro, unless the moniker "Z78" is attached they laugh--and if this particular listener is a muscle-head he may even scoff.

Well scoff no more, and click-it or ticket, because this new bad boy is here for the 2011 model year, and it's got more beef than a Howrigan farm.  So take a look at the specs, take a gander at the pictures, and don't let the video blow you away, because when your mouth starts salivating and you run to Handy Chevrolet at 699 Highgate Road in St. Albans, your local Chevrolet dealer in Vermont and the Burlington area, that, my friends, is the perfect time to let the waters run.



The 2011 Chevrolet Camaro
A Brief Overview

Edmunds.com calls it a "head-turning muscle car that goes like stink..." iguida.com calls it "the continuation of the rebirth of the 1968 Classic," and ConsumerGuideAuto.com says it gets "more V6 power" and remains as "GM's iconic pony car."  And this doesn't even tell you the half of it.

From luminescent gauges, and a foursome to monitor everything under the sun by the shifter, tight handling, seats that make you feel like you're in the cockpit of a rocket ship, and a generally sleek, black interior (in the above shown vehicle that is), driving the 2011 Chevrolet Camaro makes you feel like the hybrid spawn of an astronaut mother and NASCAR-winning father.  From the complete displays, showing you everything from speed to RPM, oil pressure and temperature, transmission temperature and more to the wide stance and accompanying tight handling, high-end calipers and tires with gigantic alloys, this car really has that hot-rod feel that we all though died with the end of the late 1960s and 1970s-era muscle cars.

Take a look at the following specs, a video regarding the 2011 Camaro 2SS, and a variety of customized pictures to show off the sexy features of this beautiful coupe, and you'll be begging for one of your own.

At any time, you may click here to send an email to a Handy Chevrolet Sales Consultant to set up a test drive.

 




The 2011 Chevrolet Camaro
Body Styles, Trim Levels, and Options

The 2011 Camaro, for all its glorious power and beauty, is nothing if not a perfectionists dream come true.  Available in virtually any combination you can imagine, this year's Chevrolet pony-car has something for anyone, from the guys and gals just looking to make a statement to the real muscle-heads looking for the most bang for their buck; and the good news is that Handy Chevrolet can get you in a seemingly customized Camaro ready to tackle all the roads Vermont can offer and all the seasonal variety thereof.

In ascending order of price and gadgets, the trim levels are as follows:
LS, 1LT, 2LT, 1SS, RS, and 2SS

As stated, regardless of your choice, you will have more than enough power at the tips of your fingers and toes to make whatever kind of entrance you desire.  Even the LS (essentially the base model) and the 1LT trims come with a beefy V6 engine.

On the LS trim, standard equipment includes 18-inch steel wheels, keyless entry, air conditioning, dual adjustable front seats, a telescoping steering wheel, a six-speaker stereo system with a CD player and auxiliary jack, and much more.  As stated, the V6 engine is considered "standard" equipment on these beautiful coupes.

An upgrade to the 1LT trim gives you some alloy rims of the same size, some snazzy fog lamps, and doubles your seating comfort by upping the ante--the four-way adjustable seats become eight-way seats, meaning you can find a comfortable position no matter who you are, what your size is both height and weight-wise.

Stepping up to the 2LT package introduces 19-inch alloy wheels to the mix, further enhancing the street appeal and awe-striking looks you'll receive.  Heated mirrors and automatic mirror-dimmers are also added to enhance safety at night, during cold weather, or during the mixture of both--in Vermont this is essential of course--the quad-gauged Heads-up display as shown below is added, showing Oil Pressure, battery charge, even Transmission temperature!




This adds up to giving you a feeling you're in control of your destiny whilst driving the 2011 Chevrolet Camaro, and speaking first hand, this writer can tell you all that power feels pretty sweet!  Other additions to the 2LT package includes leather heated seats and a stereo upgrade to a nine-speaker system from Boston Acoustics, a high-end speaker company rivaling the likes of Bose and Alpine.

When you hit the SS trim, things start to get silly--suddenly, all reasonable amounts of power go out the window, and you're stuck with a super powered V8 engine and 20-inch alloys.  The suspension, already impressive in its own right, receives an overhaul and sport-tuning, the spoiler gets added, and the steering wheel gets another boost in the form of an elegant feeling/looking leather wrap. 

The 2SS has all the features of the 1SS but gets the mentioned benefits from the 2LT convenience package:  heated mirrors, the heads-up display, and the upgraded sound system.  And a really cool feature is the luminescent speedometer that launches onto your windshield; the curious thing about this is it doesn't obstruct your view one bit and actually remains quite visible.

There is also an RS package that is available as an additional upgrade on any trim level less the LS.  The RS package adds 20-inch rims, Xenon headlights, and an upgraded taillight design.  A sunroof is also available on all trims but the LS, as area a plethora of interior features.  All these available upgrades mean you can make your 2011 Chevrolet Camaro the way you want it.



The Heart of the 2011 Chevrolet Camaro
More Muscle Than You'll Need, None Wasted

To continue in ascending order, from the LS trim through the 2SS trim, there is more than enough power to cure any muscle-car-lover's fantasy.  Both the LS and LT trims come equipped with a 3.6-liter V-6 engine capable of reaching an astounding 312 horsepower and 278 pound-feet of torque.  On both of these trim levels, a six-speed manual transmission comes standard, which is a perfect choice for all that power as it gives you complete control over the gears and RPMs thereof, however if necessary, a six-speed automatic transmission is available for a bit extra.

Fuel economy in the 3.6-liter V-6 is not terrible either, as Chevrolet's 2011 lineup has made good use of the six-speed transmissions; this allows the 2011 Camaro, even with the beefy engine as above, to reach a fairly standard 28 miles per gallon on the highway with the standard, and a ridiculous 29 miles per gallon on the highway with the automatic transmission.  Considering the 2011 Chevrolet Impala itself gets 29 miles per gallon on the highway calling this fascinating is an understatement.  Again, with 312 horsepower one would assume the fuel economy would drop, but the fantastic engineers at Chevrolet have made certain power and anti-gas guzzling can coexist.  In terms of acceleration, the V-6 engine in the Camaro is stated to hit 60 miles per hour in 6.1 seconds from a dead stop; although Handy Chevrolet doesn't recommend the practice, this is a drag-racers car indeed.

Now, when you step up to the 1SS or 2SS trims, this is where you need some serious driving skill to handle the massive power within.

As shown above, the SS trim level (2SS shown above and to left) is beefed up to the maximum with an astounding 6.2-liter V8 capable of reaching a ridiculous 426 horsepower and 420 pound-feet of torque when the standard six-speed manual transmission is in place.  With the automatic, the horsepower rating drops to 400 while the pound-feet of torque decreases slightly to 410.  With the manual transmission in place, the 2011 Chevrolet Camaro SS blasts out of the gate with a zero to 60 miles per hour rating of just five seconds.

Fuel economy takes a slight hit as well with all that power being put to the rear-wheel drive dream-machine, but still manages a tasty 24 miles per gallon on the highway with the manual transmission.  With the automatic version of the transmission replacing the standard, just as with the lower trim levels fuel economy on the highway is increased by one mile per gallon, reaching a trusty 25.



The 2011 Chevrolet Camaro's Exterior
Aggressive Grace and Refined Civility


It's certainly an interesting combination the good folks at Chevrolet have interbred, as the 2011 Chevrolet Camaro, here in the 2SS trim, has found the perfect harmony between elocution and hardcore, aggressive street appeal.  Featuring a curvaceous body, elegant lines throughout, and a sleek appearance that will easily appeal to the muscle car-crowd and the import-fanatics alike, the exterior of the 2011 Chevrolet Camaro can simply be summed up with one word:

STUNNING

With standard 18-inch steel wheels all the way up to the 1SS and 2SS' 20-inch alloys, which are also available on any trim LS and above as part of the RS upgrade package, a driver of the 2011 Camaro doesn't even have to step into the driver's seat to know this vehicle is all business.  Featuring an unbelievably low profile, one could estimate sitting no higher than four and a half feet off the ground, that profile becomes even more pronounced in stark contrast to the 20-inch alloys.

In the rear of the 2SS Camaro, the headlamps give the appearance of a born and bread racer with the style of any number of Bavarian luxury vehicles.  As seen in this picture to the right, the width of the vehicle is a super-wide 75.5-inch breadth with a whopping 112.3 inch wheel base (front to back).  The wide stance of this car makes it an excellent handling coupe, capable of a 18.9-inch turning radius for those tight turns on the highway racetracks.

Dual exhausts keep those over-400 ponies running to their heart's content, and the four-wheel independent suspension makes powering through turns with all that might a breeze.  As you may have noticed from the above pictures, the 20-inch rims do little good without the sporty set of performance tires that come on the 2SS model, once again making the road-hugging features stand out.

The bottom line is that this Camaro 2SS is born to be beaten on the pavement--the engine that is, never in terms of place!





The Interior of the 2011 Camaro

The interior of the 2011 Chevrolet is nothing short of amazing; it has that "straight out of a science-fiction movie" look to it that driver's just cannot get enough of.

As shown in the picture above, the leather wrapped steering wheel has a nice feel to it and a very stylish look.  Equipped with Satellite radio and a nine-speaker Boston Acoustics stereo system also helps to make a driver feel right at home as the bass bounds and the clarity never waivers, significantly more so with the aid of the crystal-clear satellite radio.  The highly visible LCD screen makes it a breeze to find your favorite station with out having to focus too long on the task at hand, while BlueTooth connectivity and the hands-free calling (located right on the steering wheel) means you're even more safe.

As you see in the picture to the left, one feature that is just dazzling, simple though it may be in 2011, is a luminescent speedometer to supplement the "normal" speedometer as located naturally.  It may be hard to see in this picture, but that really enhances the point; it was clearly visible, but at the same time 100% non-intrusive, finding that perfect balance point between "cool" and "troublesome.

Above, the quad-gauged heads-up display is seen just in front of the shifter.  This gives you all sorts of information on the 2011 Chevrolet Camaro's performance such as oil pressure, oil temperature, battery charge level, and the transmission's health.

The leather seats, adorned in the front with the SS logo should you choose said trim, pulls the whole car together in a classy sort of way.  With the moonroof wide open and the bass pumping in droves, nobody in their right mind is going to say you look out of place at the classiest of automotive competitions.  The back seat is a little larger this year, although admittedly not a drawing point--but let's face it, you're buying the 2011 Chevrolet Camaro 2SS for the looks, speed, and overall performance, not to haul you're four teenagers to hockey practice.  Hence, he sacrificed cargo space makes sense, and realistically there is still over 42 inches of shoulder room and almost three feet of let room, so if your passengers don't call shotgun it's not like a sardine can.


Summary and Extra Media

So what's the bottom line?  A two-fold attack.  On the one hand, Chevrolet's motto, "an American Revolution," is a promise they live up to in the fullest, as this 2011 model year Chevrolet Camaro is anything but unrefined, completely re-sculpted in it's intricacies, and ready to tackle just about anything with which a throttle-junkie wants to try tempting the vehicle.

On the flip side, Chevrolet has revitalized what most folks though was long since dead:  the pony car.  With the reintroduction in 2010 and the perfection thereof for 2011, the Chevrolet Camaro, especially in the 1SS or 2SS trim, or even with RS package, is a supremely improved vehicle over last year's model--and that's saying something, because last year's Camaro was without a doubt a beautiful car that was a blast to drive.

Enjoy the rest of the footage from the review test drive, and be sure to click the link below to discuss the options, pricing, etc. with a certified Handy Chevrolet Sales Consultant.







 

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