Who says you can’t have muscle power in a car and have fuel economy?
Not General Motors. The autosphere is abuzzed with news of an updated, 30-mpg, 2011 Chevrolet Camaro.
News of the fuel efficient Camaro package comes courtesy of what look like an early release on the official EPA Web site and GM Inside News. The EPA shows two fuel economy ratings for Camaro’s equipped with the 3.6-liter V-6 and six-speed auto — one rated at the same 18/29 mpg (city/hwy) as the 2010 model and the 2011 model with a higher 19/30 mpg rating. That highway rating falls just short of the Mustang’s 31 mpg, but will allow Chevrolet to add the Camaro to the list of vehicles that achieve over 30 mpg on the highway. According to GMI, the more fuel efficient Camaro will be part of the new 2LS package and will retail for around $24,700. That includes the six-speed automatic transmission (the only available option) and is about $1000 more than a base 1LS Camaro with a six-speed auto.
The new model will reportedly be available this spring. Motor Trend spoke with a Chevrolet spokesperson that wouldn’t confirm the existence of special fuel-efficent model, but confirmed that the Camaro will receive several “non-engine related mpg upgrades.” This information all but verifies the report on GMI, which says that the fuel economy boost comes from a lower, 2.92 final drive ratio. Unfortunately, the lower final drive ratio will cause a slight drop in performance too.
via General Motors, GM Insider News, EPA courtesy of Motor Trend Staff
