GM builds 100,000th Chevrolet Camaro

As the pony car wars rage on seemingly unaffected by raising gas prices and the collapsing economy, the big 3 just keep on cranking them out. Chevrolet has now reached a milestone by producing the 100,000th "new" Camaro. The lucky 100,000 was reportedly an inferno orange SS.

Ever since June the Camaro has been outselling it's arch rival Mustang, but the 2011 model is set to debut with it's much improved powertrains. It will be interesting to see if the new developments will alter the pace of muscle car sales.

SEMA 2009: Yenko Camaro makes it's debut

Well that was quick. It was only a couple of weeks ago that we had some nice artist renderings of the new Yenko Camaro, and now we get to see it in the flesh at SEMA.

Behold, the Phase I. It features an LS3, the same 6.2 liter present in the Camaro SS. While that may not match the cubes of the original's 427 big block, it does make a stout 600 horsepower thanks to a supercharger.

The Phase II and Phase III are in the pipeline with what is expected to obviously be more horsepower. Think perhaps an LS7, or LS9?

750hp LS7 Lingenfelter Camaro to debut at SEMA

Lingenfelter is known for tuning cars to ridiculous levels of power, and his latest creation is no exception. This 2010 Chevrolet Camaro will roll out at SEMA in Las Vegas next month sporting an LS7 V8 (428 cubic inches) tuned to 750hp and featuring a lot of exotic and unique engine parts.

Co-engineered with Hotchkis, this Camaro is not just a straight line monster. Underneath you'll find a Hotchkis Total Vehicle System that consists of sport springs, adjustable sway bars and a ChassisMax subframe brace. The dampers come from Lingenfelter/Sachs and are fully adjustable, and of course there's Brembo calipers and rotors. 20-inch wheels sport Pirelli 275/40ZR20 tires up front and Pirelli 305/35ZR20s in the rear.

Check out the press release below for full details and specs (including floor mats).

PRESS RELEASE

Santa Fe Springs, Calif. (October 2009) – Two of the most storied names in domestic performance vehicles will join together to debut a stunning, world-class supercar at the 2009 SEMA Show in Las Vegas. Lingenfelter Performance Engineering of Decatur, Indiana, will unveil its latest offering; a 750 horsepower 2010 Camaro SS in the Hotchkis Performance booth at the annual automotive aftermarket trade show. Hotchkis Performance, of Santa Fe Springs, California, developed the suspension system for the Lingenfelter Camaro and has worked with the renowned specialty supercar builder on several projects in the past.

"Over the years we have been involved in dozens of OEM and racing development programs, but this one is special," said Hotchkis Performance founder and president John Hotchkis. "Lingenfelter builds some of the fastest, coolest and most refined domestic supercars in the world, and the fact that they asked us to help develop the suspension for a 200 mph Camaro and then offered to debut the car in our booth is very exciting. Everyone in attendance will certainly be impressed with this stunning piece of high-performance engineering."

The Lingenfelter 750HP Supercharged LS7 2010 Camaro SS is a technological tour de force, featuring a hand-built 427 CID (7.0L) LS7 engine featuring forged pistons, titanium connecting rods and Inconel exhaust valves. A Magnusson/Eaton TVS2300 supercharger breathes into a custom Lingenfelter intake manifold. The result is 750 tractable, usable horsepower. Other highlights include a Hotchkis Total Vehicle System (Sport Springs, Adjustable Sport Sway Bars and ChassisMax Subframe Brace), Brembo brakes, custom LPE 20-inch 10-spoke wheels, an LPE exclusive air management body kit, a custom embroidered interior and a Mito rear view mirror with video display. The Lingenfelter body kit and engine package will also be offered as separate packages.

* Engine
* 427 CID/7.0L LS7 engine
* 8.8:1 compression ratio with forged JE pistons
* Production GM LS7 crankshaft and titanium connecting rods
* LS7 cylinder heads with titanium intake valves and Inconel exhaust valves
* Magnuson/Eaton TVS2300 supercharger
* Custom fabricated LS7 cylinder head supercharger base manifold
* Lingenfelter 14 rib rear drive system with tensioner pulley
* Lingenfelter/ATI Racing 10 rib front accessory drive
* Lingenfelter heavy duty power steering pump
* Lingenfelter low temperature thermostat
* Custom Lingenfelter coil covers
* Corsa stainless exhaust system
* Lingenfelter Camaro SS twin pump fuel system with LPE fuel pump controller


* Drivetrain
* Six-speed manual transmission
* Lingenfelter 6 bolt LS9 twin disk flywheel and clutch assembly
* Heavy duty Driveshaft Shop halfshafts


* Chassis
* Hotchkis Sport Springs
* Lingenfelter double adjustable Sachs shocks
* Hotchkis Sport Suspension Adjustable Sway Bars
* Hotchkis ChassixMax Subframe Brace
* Brembo brake calipers and Brembo rotors


* Wheels/Tires
* Custom LPE 10 Spoke Design Wheels
* 20 X 9.5 Fronts
* 20 X 11 Rears
* PIRELLI 275/40ZR20 Fronts
* PIRELLI 305/35ZR20 Rears


* Lingenfelter Camaro SS Body Package:
* Front Fascia Splitter
* Rocker Extensions
* Carbon Fiber Grille
* Hood with Air Extractors
* Rear Deck Lip/Spoiler
* Rear Fascia Extension with LPE Exhaust Tips
* Custom LPE 10 Spoke Wheels
* Lingenfelter Embroidered Interior
* Lingenfelter badges


* Interior
* Muth turn signal mirrors
* Mito rear view mirror with video display
* Lingenfelter/Grant custom steering wheel
* Lingenfelter CNC machined pedal covers
* Lingenfelter floor mats

Video: A whole lot of 2010 Camaros in Dallas

Last week, a parade of 2010 Camaros drove from Victory Park in Dallas to Sundance Square in Ft. Worth with a police motorcade. It was Chevrolet's first large-scale Camaro event, and hopefully soon we'll be seeing lots of these on the streets.

On a side note, two weeks ago while driving through Atlanta I saw a yellow SS. Not really sure how someone got their hands on it before the first one was officially sold, unless it was a dealer or pretty important inside guy.

GM Performance Parts to offer race ready Camaro body

Pundits will argue that the new Chevrolet Camaro will be short lived like it's predecessor, thanks to high oil prices and the tanking economy. It's times like these when you need to cater to your true fans, and that's exactly what GM is trying to do by offering up a plain white Camaro body for sale.



Fans of traditional muscle have long clamored for a basic model of today's muscle cars, complete with a low base price and a lack of options (and weight). While no one has offered a "stripper" model per say, the availability of a plain body for race use is a start anyway.



The Camaro BIW package will be a full body assembly available through GM Performance Parts for $7,000 beginning in the first quarter of 2009. The chassis will not have a VIN number, so there will be no means for street registration. Any application must be submitted to GM for approval before a transaction is made. See the press release for more information on this race ready body.



PRESS RELEASE:



RACERS REJOICE! GM PERFORMANCE PARTS TO OFFER NEW CAMARO BODIES IN WHITE



Grand Blanc, Mich. – Racers who want to slip into something more fashionable at the track next year will find the 2010 Camaro is just their size. GM Performance Parts will offer body in white packages of the new Camaro starting in the first quarter of 2009.



The basic package lists for $7,000 and includes an assembled body structure, including the front fenders, hood, front valance/grille header panel, roof, doors, rear quarters, trunk lid and rear valance. The structure also includes the complete floorpans and chassis rails.



Racer must fill out an online application to be eligible to purchase one. The form is available at www.gmperformanceparts.com. Bodies will be sold on a first-come, first-serve basis. There is no limit to the number an approved racing team can purchase.



"This is the easiest and most cost-effective way to build a race-ready new Camaro," said Dr. Jamie Meyer, of GM Performance Parts. "We envision racers using these bodies for all types of competition, from Pro Street and Competition drag racing to road racing."



The body in white includes only a painted body shell and no additional components or materials. The bodies do not have vehicle identification numbers, so they may only be used as racing vehicles that will never be licensed for street driving.



Racers will add powertrain, fuel system, suspension, interior components and glass (or sanctioning body-approved alternative), and safety equipment, then go racing.



"For the racers who would strip down the entire car and replace most of the components with racing-spec parts, the body in white saves time and money," said Dr. Meyer. "Drag racers, for example, won't have to worry about swapping out for a solid axle – they can just bolt one up and go."



The body in white's unadorned interior also saves time and money by allowing racing teams to eliminate the process of stripping a fully equipment production car in order to reduce weight and prep the chassis for a roll cage.



And when it comes to building up the body in white, GM Performance Parts offers crate engines, engine controllers, high-performance transmissions and hundreds of other parts to help complete the project – including dedicated drag racing engines and engine suited for circle track and road racing competition.



GM Performance Parts – Tested to the Limits, Backed by GM



GM Performance Parts crate engines undergo a 50-hour, full-throttle engine dynamometer validation; requiring that the engines perform from peak horsepower to peak torque. And if that's not enough, GMPP installs crate engines in its own engineering vehicles for ongoing testing and continuous improvement. It's that commitment to quality and durability that allows General Motors to back GM Performance Parts crate engines with a 24 month / 50,000 mile warranty (whichever occurs first). All GM Performance Parts components carry a 12 months / 12,000 miles warranty.



Enthusiasts who crave the latest technology, maximum horsepower and the expertise and confidence backed by GM, can purchase GMPP crate engines, blocks, heads, high performance transmissions and components, from GMPP Authorized Center dealers or any other GM dealership nationwide. For more information or to locate the closest GM dealership visit www.gmperformanceparts.com.

GM Performance to put Camaro under the knife

GM has released a batch of videos that tease us into submission leading up to SEMA '08. In the three videos, we witness a 2010 Camaro undergoing a teardown and buildup to turn it into a worthy showcar. Not that there's anything wrong with the stock Camaro, but when you're going to SEMA you have to present something a little more glamorous and unique for the show crowd.