What KBB Loves About the 2021 Chevy Camaro: “The Punch When You Nail the Pedal”

The staff on duty at Kelley Blue Book have been educating the auto-loving public on the best and worst attributes of cars since 1926 and had the ferocious 2021 Chevy Camaro on tap for their latest last week. Just for starters, a few of the things new this year are the wireless Apple CarPlay / Android Auto as standard and the addition of the Wild Cherry Design package. Horsepower offerings range from 275 for the base turbocharged 4-cylinder on up to 650 for the supercharged V8. It is also pointed out early in the article that something for us here at West Chevy of Knoxville and all of our customers to love is the starting price is lower than that of rivals Ford Mustang and Dodge Challenger.

There is the choice of coupe or convertible body style, and the KBB staff praised the new Camaro for its very tech-rich interior. They were thrilled with the 650-horsepower V8 nestled in the ZL1 Model, and appreciated how it does not have the sensation of a “straight line sled” like models from years past and feels a bit lighter on its feet. The testing site they picked was the famous Angeles Crest mountain roads of Southern California, then a bit of proper track time at Willow racetrack.

It was here the KBB crew noticed that the Camaro is at the core a pretty big car, and can feel even larger on narrow, winding roads. Once they got on the track, the mass immediately provided better comfort compared to what you would experience in a smaller coupe such as the Toyota 86. Their favorite attribute on the track was one that is quite understandable: the gratifying punch you get whenever you bear down and nail the gas pedal. Even the base turbocharged 4-cylinder version boasts the same output of a fully loaded V8 Camaro from just a few generations back.

 

Another favorite feature that the KBB crew saw growing on them right away was the convertible: after removing the roof, you get to bid farewell to the blind spots that are unavoidable with this shape and stature of performance auto. Inside, modern touches such as heated seats and the touch-screen infotainment system are welcome additions, and the driver-selector mode offers Snow and Ice, Tour and Sport, plus automatic climate control and a color driver-information display between the gauges.

Make sure to ask us during your test drive about upgrades like larger 8-inch touchscreen, and enhanced driver-information center. The SS model offers up magnetic ride control and dual- mode exhaust, which are both standard on ZL1 models. One thing to keep in mind is that even at the mid-range LT1 trim level, you get to enjoy the 6.2-liter V8, Brembo front-disc brakes, performance suspension, 20-inch wheels, and vented SS-style hood! The Camaro has been a legendary and lightning-fast performance car for decades, and we’re excited about just how awe-inspiring and memorable every single drive is from behind its wheel.

Chevy Camaro Deemed by Car Connection “Best Performance Buy for 2020”

Aaron Cole is the experienced and well-versed editor for The Car Connection, and he began his latest feature about our prized Camaro by lamenting that “These are halcyon days for horsepower”. In regards to the best reasons to purchase one, he opens up with saying that nothing provides as “intoxicating a mix” in regards to the horsepower and throaty V-8 for the price. The SS model focuses heavily on the 6.2-liter V8, which cranks out 455 horsepower and 455 lb-ft of torque. It is paired with the 6-speed manual transmission that Aaron ranks as the most engaging out there, and rises up from zero to 60 mph at around 4.3 seconds.

When compared to the LT1 model, the SS features a larger 8.0-inch touchscreen, Brembo Brakes, performance tires, and a digital instrument information display as standard. The SS also provides the addition of available magnetic dampers that really mold the car into a shining star on the track. After the additional finesse of a 1LE suspension tune, the SS is ready to take on anything track-related, with a lot of heart and sheer muscle.

When stacking up the Camaro to it's prominent crosstown rival in the form of the Mustang, the Car Connection team points out that they love the 5.0-liter V8 that makes 460 hp, but the Camaro beats out the Mustang when it comes to handling. In regards to the Mustang GT, it is improved with a Performance Package 2 upgrade, but after extensive driving, was still not deemed as nimble when it came to navigating every single little bump and turn on the track. It was not long ago that cars that boasted more than 400 horsepower were usually going to hover around the six-figure range, and all of us here at West Chevy of Knoxville agree that these are exciting times for anyone who wants to experience this type excitement on a bit of a  budget.

This is the longstanding “pony pride” of the Chevy line that Car and Driver bills as “endlessly enjoyable to drive”, and offers up something for everyone as far as driving experience overall. For 2020, the lineup also saw the addition of a new Rally Green paint color  and a few other options to hone in and personalize your Camaro. The LT1 Model is the entry point designed to make V-8 power more accessible to the masses, but the SS is where you see truly linear power delivery, and heart-pumping acceleration enhanced by the dual-mode exhaust.

The professionals who have years of experience with high-performance cars that have driven the Camaro as of late say that the brake performance is fantastic: aggressive and assuring responses are the norm, and every time you engage it's obvious that years of research and development more than paid off. Key safety features include available blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert, forward-collision warning, and available rear parking sensors.

New Camaro Model Announced For Thrilling 2020 Nascar Cup Series

Last week the announcement was made that Chevy teams in the 2020 Nascar Cup Series would be driving the Camaro ZL1 1LE, which will be the fastest, most track-capable production Camaro of all time. This exciting and world-class car will replace the SS for the 2018 NASCAR Cup Series season, and so far this year, the ZL1 has produced seven wins. Chase Elliott has 4 under his belt, and Kurt Busch, Kyle Larson, Alex Bowman, and Justin Haley all have one each.

With the new model, engineers went hard to work optimizing aerodynamic performance by using computational fluid dynamics, simulations, and full-scale wind testing to hone in and create the best track contender possible. The new ZL1 1LE is the absolute highest performer within the Camaro lineup, and the Chevy namesake has won a record of 39 NASCAR manufacturer championships, seeing 13 titles in a row from 2003 – 2015. Chevy drivers have achieved a record 31 championships, including Jimmie Johnson's record-tying seventh three years ago. The 2020 NASCAR Cup Series will be the 72^nd season for the thrilling sport of stock car racing, and the 49^th season for the modern-era Cup Series.

The season will begin at Daytona International Speedway with the Advance Auto Parts Clash, the Gander RV Duel qualifier, and the 62^nd running of the sun-splashed Daytona 500. Just two weeks ago, it was announced that Go Fas Racing created an alliance with Stewart-Haas Racing to glean chassis, data, and technical support from them beginning next year. On October 16 of 2019, JTG Daughterty Racing announced that they signed Ricky Stenhouse JR to a multi-year deal, and three weeks later, Landon Cassil stated in an interview that he plans to stay put in the StarCom Racing no. 00 Chevy for 2020.

On October 1 of 2019, NASCAR officially released the rules listings for 2020. Among the

changes is the reduction of road crew members from 12 to ten, and teams with three or more cars are now limited to just three roster spots. This year after 21 years of being NASCAR's Premiere Fourth of July weekend event, the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway will now move to August and becomes the final race of the regular season. Everyone here at West Chevy of Knoxville is beyond excited to see how the most powerful Camaro ever fares during one of the most exciting pastimes in America, and we’ll keep you posted right here as the multitudes of Michelin rubber hit the pavement!

2016 Camaro Sees Upgrades in Tech, More Engine Choices

Big gains in technology, fuel efficiency and refinement slated for Chevy muscle car

The wait is slowly ending for Tennessee Camaro fans as more information is being revealed on the 2016 Camaro. This sixth-generation Camaro is poised to be one of the best Chevys on the market and at West Chevrolet serving Knoxville, TN.

New tech makes muscle modern

The 2016 Camaro is one of many new Chevy models to have available Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration. This new technology will allow smartphone users to plug their phone into one of the available USB ports. The Chevrolet MyLink system must be an added option on the Camaro, but it will be used for the smartphone integration.

The touchscreen will reflect driver-safe apps that are seen on the phone, so you can listen to your music apps, check your maps or many other features found on a smartphone. Voice activation can be utilized for many of the apps, and incoming text messages can be read out loud by the Camaro.

Other new safety and technology features for the 2016 Camaro include an OnStar 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot, drive-mode selector and back-up camera.

Three engine choices means more Camaro variety

As your Knoxville Chevy dealer, we want to offer you the best, and with three new engine choices, the 2016 Camaro can better fit your needs. The new base engine is an efficient 2.0-liter turbocharged four cylinder. Don’t let the size fool you—this engine still kicks out up to 275 horsepower and 295 lb.-ft. of torque. You can also get up to 30 mpg on the highway, so you can take your Camaro further.

The 3.6-L V6 engine and its CVV timing is good for up to 335 horsepower, and GM claims it will get better fuel economy as well.

For a true muscle car fanatic, the classic 6.2-L V8 is back. Owners can get up to 455 horsepower and the same number for torque. Brembo brakes and auxiliary coolers for the transmission, differential and oil are also seen on the V8 2016 Camaros.

If you’re itching for a new 2016 Camaro, keep an eye on our inventory and follow us on social media for updates. If you have any questions about the Camaro or other fine Chevy products, feel free to contact us online or call at 877.323.6383.

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