Motoring Middle East: Car news, Reviews and Buying guides

The Camaro narrowed its penetrating gaze, staring down the old Mustang. ‘Do ya feel lucky? Well do ya?’

By Shahzad Sheikh

[Read previous Camaro SS review here]

There’s a brand new Mustang on the way, and by my reckoning the Camaro’s got about another three years to go before a full new generation arrives. Here then is the inevitable mid-life refresh of fantastically popular, and Mustang-sales usurping, Chevrolet Camaro.

And as you can see, the designers seem to have left the classic coke-bottle profile alone and focussed on the front and rear of the retro-inspired icon – giving it a narrower more aggressive appeal.

The front of the car is squinting now, its menace-factor having gone up substantially. But it works, and refines the style, in the same manner that the 2010 Mustang refresh further improved the breed. Most people struggle with the rear, which loses the four taillights, and to be honest it’s the hardest to get used to.

It’s not unattractive in anyway – in fact it reminds me of the fifth generation Honda Prelude from 1997, which is nice – but I can understand Camaro loyalists finding it too radical a departure from traditional. Personally I see it this way: when you’re behind the wheel, the rear styling really doesn’t matter!

And from behind the wheel it’s all good. The long, thrusting bonnet, with that large grated hood scoop that helps reduce heat and front aero lift, plus the colour heads-up display (HUD) and then there’s the familiar interior. Familiar but better.

There is of course the new Chevrolet standard-issue MyLink system that all the range is getting, deployed here thought a 7-inch central touch screen, and really uplifts the gadget levels of the Camaro. But there’s more. A slightly imperceptible overall improvement in quality, fit and finish throughout the reasonable spacious cabin – which features just about enough room for four.

And then there’s the drive. Arguably still the best handling of the muscle car triumvirate – at least until we get to sample the all-new 2015 Mustang – the latest iteration feels better still. It’s just a little tighter, keener, better damped, and they’ve definitely dialled back the traction control.

Learning a thing or two from the ZL1 power-crazed flagship, the SS Camaro now lets you burn rubber away from the lights and powerslide out of junctions, whereas the old version was a little too sticky at the rear for muscle car tastes. Which one of my two earlier issues with this car now addressed.

The paddleshifts for the six-speed auto work remarkably well – though I do hanker after a proper manual in a car like this, and that’s how I implore you to buy it – and performance feels punchy and purposeful as every if not more. If you want pulverising though, you still have to save up extra for the ZL1.

Though not as much as before. Despite the refreshed and improved infotainment systems, prices seem to have gone down across the range. The ZL1 has dropped from AED240k to AED230k, and this SS is now AED169,000 where previously it was around AED190 plus. The LT models with the 3.9-litre V6 putting out 323bhp start from just AED123,000 for the auto.

Earlier I mentioned that one of my two issues had been addressed by dialling back the traction nanny. So what was the other? Engine noise. Sure it’s all there, low, rumbly and mean as befits the grunty and lusty 6.2-litre V8 now putting out a standard 432bhp and giving this car a 0-100kph time of 5.4 seconds (5.2 for the manual). However it still feels a little muted to me. Personally I’d really like it to roar a little more – but that would be easily fixed with after-market mods.

That aside, I really do like the Camaro. It’s evolved nicely but remains as much as a hooligan as ever, though only when you want it to. Most of the time it’s a very cool way to get about town with presence and street cred. It also makes me very happy just being behind the wheel of this thing – if you’re into muscle cars, you’ll know what I mean. It retains that pony car appeal.

So better style, better quality, better kit, better drive, and better value. The 2014 Camaro has undergone a splendid refresh, when it didn’t even necessarily need one.

2014 Chevrolet Camaro SS
Specs
Price: AED169,000 ($46k)
Engine: 6.2-litre V8, 432bhp @ 5900rpm, 420lb ft @ 4900rpm
Performance: 0-100kph 5.4s, 250kph (est)
Transmission: Six-speed auto, Rear-wheel drive
Weight: 1701kg

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