10 Things You Need To Know About The 2015 Chevrolet Camaro

The 2015 Chevrolet Camaro is the kind of car that you buy with your heart more than your head.  That’s not to say that the Chevrolet Camaro isn't a 'logical' purchase - rather, that it engages buyers on an emotional level in a way few other automobiles at its price point do.  With its sleek and sexy two-door silhouette, classic design callbacks to Chevrolet's high performance muscle car heritage, and affordable window sticker, the Camaro is an attainable dream car for so many American drivers.  It's also managed to spawn a number of high performance special models that have challenged some of the best in the world for race track supremacy.

Let's take a look at 10 things you need to know about the 2015 Chevrolet Camaro.

1.  The 2015 Chevrolet Camaro Offers Retro Styling

The 2015 Chevrolet Camaro offered a new take on retro styling when it first appeared on the scene in 2010.  Rather than simply mimic the look of the original 60s-era Camaro that became part of muscle car lore, Chevrolet injected a strong dose of modern interpretation into the mix, creating a design that looked completely at ease in the 21st century while still evoking the spirit of the original model.  With its gun-slit side windows, long hood, large wheels, and canted grille, the Chevrolet Camaro's menace sets it apart from other affordable performance car rivals, and it can be had in both coupe and convertible body styles.

2.  The 2015 Chevrolet Camaro Handles Four Passengers - In A Pinch

Don't be fooled by the presence of a rear seat - the 2015 Chevrolet Camaro is primarily intended to handle a pair of passengers, as anyone who has been asked to squeeze their way into the rear row of the coupe will testify.  A tight roofline cuts into headroom, and the Chevrolet Camaro also offers the smallest amount of legroom of any of its coupe contemporaries.  The spacious front seats are also the place to be in the convertible, as a tall beltline and significant wind intrusion make for a noisy ride behind the first two positions.

3.  The 2015 Chevrolet Camaro Comes In Six Trim Levels

The 2015 Chevrolet Camaro offers many different models to choose from, starting out with the six-cylinder 1LS which offers keyless entry, 18-inch rims, partial power front seats, air conditioning, Bluetooth connectivity, a CD player, satellite radio.  The 2LS includes all of these features, but replaces the standard manual transmission with an automatic.  Additional comfort gear is on offer with the Camaro 1LT in the form of an available remote starter, full power adjustments for the front seats, an LCD touchscreen infotainment system, fog lights, and parking assistance with a rearview camera for convertible 1LT models, while the 2LT introduces heated mirrors, heated front seats, leather upholstery, a rearview camera and parking sensors for the coupe, a louder stereo system, a head-up display, and 19-inch rims.

The Chevrolet Camaro 1SS leads off eight-cylinder versions of the car with the contents of the 1LT package plus a stiffer suspension system, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, a limited-slip rear differential, and 20-inch wheels.  The Camaro 2SS mimics the 2LT package in its entirety.

4.  The 2015 Chevrolet Camaro Provides Two Primary Engine Choices

You might have noticed us referencing six and eight-cylinder versions of the 2015 Chevrolet Camaro, so it's time to explain.  The entry-level edition of the Chevrolet Camaro, and indeed all cars up to 1SS trim feature a 3.6-liter V-6 engine that generates 323 horsepower and 278 lb-ft of torque.  This output is sent to the rear wheels by way of either a six-speed manual or a six-speed automatic gearbox.  Moving up to the Chevrolet Camaro 1SS or 2SS introduces a 6.2-liter V-8 that's good for a healthy 426 horsepower and 420 lb-ft of torque, with transmission options remaining the same (although choosing the autobox drops engine output by 26 horses and 10 lb-ft of twist).

5.  The 2015 Chevrolet Camaro Is Relatively Fuel Efficient

Despite its generous allotment of horsepower, the 2015 Chevrolet Camaro provides a respectable level of fuel efficiency - at least, in V-6 trim.  The 3.6-liter Chevrolet Camaro posts an EPA rating of 19-mpg in stop and go driving and 30-mpg on the highway when equipped with its six-speed automatic transmission (the manual lops one and three miles per gallon from each respective measure).  The Camaro SS, with its 6.2-liter V-8, returns 16-mpg around town and 25-mpg during highway cruising when shifted via its six-speed manual (with the automatic this time shaving off a single mile per gallon from the city measure).

6.  The 2015 Chevrolet Camaro Is Available In A High Performance ZL1 Edition

If the 2015 Chevrolet Camaro SS doesn't blow your hair back quickly enough, then you can spring for the Camaro ZL1.  The Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 installs a supercharged version of the SS' 6.2-liter V-8, which gives it a total of 580 horsepower and 556 lb-ft of torque.  Also included with the ZL1 are a set of upgraded Brembo brakes, special 20-inch rims, an adaptive suspension system, a launch control feature, and more aggressive tuning for the vehicle's power steering.  You can get both coupe and convertible versions of the Camaro ZL1, and six-speed manual and automatic transmissions are also on offer.  In a straight line, the ZL1 shaves 0.4 seconds off of the Camaro SS' 4.8-second sprint to 60-mph.

Photo by General Motors

7.  The 2015 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 Pumps Up Track Capability

If you crave a version of the 2015 Chevrolet Camaro that can rise above its muscle car roots and make a legitimate challenge to world-class sports cars on a road course, then you'll want to order the Z/28.  The Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 strips away everything from the interior that you wouldn't need out on the track - including the stereo system and air conditioner - in the interests of weight savings, and it adds features such as carbon ceramic brakes and a hardcore suspension system.  A six-speed manual is the sole transmission on offer to tackle the Z/28's 505 horsepower and 481 lb-ft of torque, figures that are generated by a 7.0-liter V-8 engine that helps the coupe-only model hit 60-mph in 4.5 seconds.

8.  The 2015 Chevrolet Camaro Offers The 1LE As A Compromise Between The ZL1 and the Z/28

Looking for a version of the 2015 Chevrolet Camaro that's nimble like the Z/28, but not interested in paying that car's huge premium for its high-horsepower engine?  The Chevrolet Camaro 1LE takes the 426 ponies offered by the Camaro SS and pairs them with its own unique suspension tuning, more aggressive gearing, stickier tires, and a few cosmetic improvements.  This creates a version of the Camaro that's both track and budget friendly, and it also gives Chevrolet a direct competitor to both the Super Track Pak (Dodge Challenger) and GT Performance Pack (Ford Mustang) available from its muscle car rivals.

9.  The 2015 Chevrolet Camaro Is Affordable

The 2015 Chevrolet Camaro is an inexpensive option for budget-conscious buyers, especially if you are more interested in the car's muscle car looks than its available V8 performance.  The entry-level version of the Chevrolet Camaro starts at a very reasonable $24,700; if you want the eight-cylinder Camaro SS, then you'll have to fork over a bigger chunk of charge ($34,500).  The Chevrolet Camaro ZL1's price is more in keeping with its high performance peers, starting at an MSRP of $55,505, but the king  of the Camaro hill, the Z/28, is the most expensive version of the car, passing all in the Chevrolet stable save the Corvette Z06 with its $72,305 price tag.

10.  The 2015 Chevrolet Camaro Is About To Be Replaced

The 2015 Chevrolet Camaro represents the last hurrah for this particular platform and design, because starting in 2016 both the coupe and the convertible will move over to an all-new chassis and feature fresh styling that should be sleeker than the current model.  Not much is known about the details surrounding the 2016 Camaro, but we have been told that it will share important details with the Cadillac ATS, a vehicle that has been praised for its communicative handling and its light curb weight.  A lighter Camaro would go a long way towards helping Chevrolet once again proclaim its dominance over the muscle car scene, and it would also improve fuel mileage across the board for all Camaro models.