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Spy Photos: 2009 Chevrolet Camaro


MELBOURNE, Australia — Chevrolet's 2009 Camaro concept car made its debut at the 2006 Detroit Auto Show and now two long years later, a lucky amateur photographer managed to snap the first spy shots of a group of Camaro prototypes testing near Melbourne, Australia with GM's Holden group.

The 2009 Camaro is based on GM's global rear-wheel-drive architecture, which also underpin's Holden's VE Commodore range of cars, so testing Down Under is no big surprise. Neither is seeing the Camaro running with Ford Mustangs. It's just proof that Chevrolet has the Ford coupe directly in its sights.

Official specifications for the production car have not yet been released, but the Camaro concept was outfitted with a 400-horsepower all-aluminum 6.0-liter V8 mated to a six-speed manual transmission, plus an Active Fuel Management system that can shut down cylinders for better mileage on the highway. And unlike every other Camaro before it, the concept featured an independent rear suspension for improved handling.

Chevy's 2009 Camaro is expected to reach showrooms in early 2009.

What this means to you: Expect to see even more spy photos trickle in as the Camaro enters its final year of prototype testing. — Kelly Toepke, News Editor