Quote:
Originally Posted by ruxp
I'm curious how it drives. I'd never buy a car based on looks alone.
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Aside from the Corvette and the long forgotten Corvair, Camaro will be Chevy's only other real wheel drive passenger car to have an independent rear suspension. The marketing types are referring to Camaro's new rear suspension as a "4.5 link" system which employs a pair of stamped steel lower links, an upper steel formed link with a wide chassis attachment point and a narrow point at the knuckle (the 1.5 part of the link?) plus a stamped lower locating link. A stabilizer bar and progressive rate coil springs should allowed for a controlled ride and sharp handling.
Up front, Camaro once again shuns upper and lower control arms for a new multilink strut type front suspension with coils springs. Differing from the strut type front suspension of the 3rd Gen cars, this one is double ball-jointed for improved ride quality. The front stabilizer is termed direct acting and the power assisted with the variable ratio steering rack mounted ahead of the front axle. The suspension works with a 52% front and 48% rear weight distribution.
Stopping the new Camaro will once again be a four wheel antilock braking system, with single piston front calipers and aluminum rear calipers for LS and LT models. Those cars will have a hefty 12.64" front and 12.4 rear rotors. SS models step it up a bit by featuring Brembo front and rear aluminum four-piston calipers clamping 14-inch front and 14.4-inch rear rotors of 1.26 and 1.1 inches of thickness respectively.
While the 1969 Camaro was about lots of power with minimal regard to turning or stopping, the '10 version needs to operate an a realm not only unheard of, but also undreamed of in the '60s. Camaro uses the latest electronic nannies to assist in holding the car on the intended course. For those of you unfamiliar with GM's Stabilitrak, it is a system that uses the power and resources of the antilock braking system to apply selective brake pressure to any or all of the four wheels to keep the car going in the right direction. There are sensors which measure steering wheel angle, speed, and the vehicles yaw, and based on that data, the cars helps you from bending it. While the system works remarkably well, it can't bend the laws of physics so if you are going way too fast, you are going to make a lot of noise.
A benefit of adding Stabilitrak to the Camaros electronic array is Launch Control on SS models with manual transmissions. The system works in tandem with the standard traction control to limit wheel spin to an optimum level for consistant take-offs resulting in maximum acceleration. The Stabilitrak on SS cars also feature a Competitive/Sport modes which can benefit the experinced driver by having a lesser degree of intervention.