Chevrolet Camaro SS – 2010

The 2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS marked a triumphant return for the Camaro nameplate, blending retro-inspired styling with cutting-edge engineering and world-class performance. Two years after its concept debut at the 2006 North American International Auto Show, the production Camaro impressed enthusiasts with its bold design, powerful V8 engine, and, for the first time, true global competitiveness.

Retro Styling and Modern Engineering

Drawing inspiration from the iconic first-generation Camaro of 1967, the fifth-generation model retained the classic long-nosed, short-deck silhouette and aggressive stance, but seamlessly integrated the latest technology. The result was a striking car that honored Camaro’s historic roots while appealing to new generations of performance fans.

SS Powertrain, Performance, and Efficiency

The SS trim represented the peak of Camaro’s capabilities. Under the hood, the SS featured a modified version of the renowned Corvette LS3 6.2-liter V8. In manual transmission guise, it churned out an impressive 426 BHP with 58.1 kgfm of torque, while the automatic delivered 399 BHP and 56.7 kgfm. To harness this power, Chevrolet equipped the SS with a performance suspension kit, a limited-slip differential (LSD), and Brembo high-performance brakes for optimal stopping power and dynamic control.

Manufacturer testing on the famed Nürburgring Nordschleife demonstrated the SS’s prowess, with a lap time of 8 minutes, 20 seconds—an achievement that highlighted its global competitiveness and engineering sophistication.

Efficiency wasn’t neglected; the V8 featured an active fuel management system that could deactivate half of its cylinders during low-demand conditions, significantly improving fuel economy. The Camaro SS was capable of achieving 9.4 l/100 km in EPA highway mode, making it one of the most frugal muscle cars available at the time.

Quality, Value, and Market Impact

After a seven-year hiatus since the fourth generation ended production in 2002, the new Camaro arrived free of the notorious issues that long plagued American performance cars—namely, lackluster build quality, reliability concerns, and poor handling. With the fifth-generation model, Chevrolet delivered a car with solid fit and finish, world-class cornering ability, and modern amenities at a competitive price.

These qualities helped cement the 2010 Camaro SS as an attractive offer, rivaling contemporaries in its class and broadening the Camaro’s appeal to an international audience of performance enthusiasts and muscle car purists.