2012 Chevrolet Camaro - Performance Review

The 2012 Chevrolet Camaro takes GM's retro revival muscle car to new heights, both in terms of outright performance and efficiency. With the introduction of the ZL1, the Camaro range now brushes up against supercar power figures, while the revised V-6 engine delivers an estimated 30 mpg.

Three engines are available in the 2012 Camaro: a 323-horsepower 3.6-liter V-6, a 426-horsepower 6.2-liter V-8, and a 580-horsepower supercharged 6.2-liter V-8. The engines correspond to the three essential types of Camaro: V-6, SS, and ZL1.

Two transmissions are available, a six-speed manual and a six-speed automatic with TAPshift manual shift control. Automatic-equipped V-8 Camaro SS models are reigned in with a slightly modified engine design that's rated at 400 horsepower instead of the manual's 426. All models come standard with StabiliTrak electronic stability control and traction control. But what are the Camaros like on the road?

It's surprisingly nimble despite weighing as much as 3,800 pounds, thank in part to a well-tuned four-wheel independent suspension setup. Steering is fairly communicative, stable, and complements the Camaro's chassis. Power is never a shortcoming, even in V-6 models, though for real tire-smoking fun, the SS or ZL1 are necessary.