It was only a matter of time before the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro hit the Nürburgring test track. GM has been using the German road course to fine-tune nearly all of its performance cars as of late, so the appearance of the Camaro alongside the 2009 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 didn't surprise our spy shooters.

Unlike some of the earlier Camaro prototypes we've seen, this particular test mule has a set of Brembo brakes and a more aggressive wheel-and-tire package. The obvious conclusion? This is a Camaro Super Sport model. But not so fast, because when you consider that previous Camaro test mules have featured very tame-look brakes, this upgrade could indicate nothing more than the Chevrolet Camaro Z28.

Then consider the sound of this Camaro test mule. It's all motor, yet it doesn't have the same sonic signature as GM's supercharged LSA V8 that speculation indicates will be the centerpiece of the top-of-the-line Camaro SS. With 525 horsepower, the supercharged engine would give the SS a big advantage over both the Dodge Challenger SRT8 and the Ford Shelby GT500. But this prototype sounds like it probably has a normally aspirated V8, most likely a detuned LS3 V8 with somewhere around 400 hp.

Judging from the looks of this Camaro at speed, the suspension is already well dialed in. Roll, dive and squat are all pretty minimal for a car that's expected to have a curb weight in the range of 3,600-3,800 pounds. With the start of production for the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro still a year away, the engineers at Chevrolet still have plenty of time to fine-tune this car, so these Nürburgring tests are just the beginning.


To see vid, article:
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do...hotopanel..2.*