After the 2016 Chevrolet Camaro was unveiled this past weekend, there seemed to be two major questions on enthusiasts' minds: How much better is it than the Camaro it replaces? (and) Is the next Camaro good enough to take on the fantastic 2015 Ford Mustang?
The age-old questions remain, but fear not, ponycar fans: We're here to give you talking points to get you started.
Four, six, and eight: Just like the Mustang.
Perhaps the biggest news from the reveal in Detroit was the announcement of multiple engine options for the sixth-generation Camaro. The 2016 Camaro will be available with a 275-hp, 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine; a 335-hp 3.6-liter V-6; and a 455-hp, 6.2-liter V-8. (If those engine choices sound familiar, keep reading.) Manual and automatic transmissions will be offered across the board.
Differences: The Mustang also offers three engine choices in three different displacements, but the base engine on the 'Stang is the V-6. Chevrolet took a different approach, making the turbo four the base engine, instead of pricing the smaller, turbocharged engine as an option.
Advantage: Unclear. We'll have to wait to see if a four-cylinder Camaro has the grunt to keep up.
Its relative is a Cadillac.
General Motors' versatile Alpha platform allows for chassis sharing, and the Camaro is the latest beneficiary. The Alpha architecture, which also underpins the Cadillac ATS, is lighter and stronger than the Camaro's outgoing body structure.
Differences: The Mustang is not related to a Lincoln—yet.
Advantage: Camaro.
Its interior looks like a Corvette's.
One look at the 2016 Camaro's interior confirms a departure from the plasticky, overstyled cabin of the fifth-generation model—mostly. Some larger-than-life design elements remain, like the oversized air vents, but the overall feel is of higher quality and seriousness. GM's excellent navigation system makes itself known in the center stack on high-level Camaros.
Differences: The Mustang's interior is also a high-quality environment, and we applaud Ford for the extra time and effort dedicated to making it feel special. We hope that the Camaro feels as special.
Advantage: Mustang (until we can sit in the Camaro for ourselves)
Magnets and independence.
When the latest-generation Mustang debuted, the most interesting news was the installation of an independent rear suspension, an innovation to the Mustang but hardly to most new production cars. The Camaro has news of its own under the skin, offering Magnetic Ride Control for the first time. If the system works as well in the Camaro as it does in other General Motors products, smoothing out bumps and making the ride more pleasant, we'll be right chuffed.
Differences: The Mustang offers a fairly smooth ride on the highway, but imperfections in the road make the chassis seem floaty.
Advantage: Yet unclear.
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