Next Chevrolet Camaro Loses 200 Lbs In Time For Summer

by Derek Kreindler

March 30th, 2015 6:01 PM

next chevrolet camaro loses 200 lbs in time for summer

The next Chevrolet Camaro is set to lose 200 lbs thanks to a variety of light weighting techniques.

While a Chevrolet press release provided a number of granular details (ooh, a new dashboard support beam saves 9 lbs!!), the real savings likely come from a move to the newer, smaller and lighter Alpha platform shared with the Cadillac ATS, rather than the Zeta platform meant for full-sized Holdens.

Based on current curb weights, the newest, lightest Camaro probably checks in at around 3,500 lbs. We’ll know the full story on may 16th when the new Camaro makes its debut.

#Chevrolet #ChevroletCamaro

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14 of 47 comments

Golden2husky on Mar 30, 2015

Losing weight in a car is pretty much a win across the board. As pointed out above, where that weight is as important as how much. The amount of unsprung weight of these stupidly large rims is one area that greatly impacts the quality of the ride and handling. Less weight saves gas, improves handling, and makes a car feel much more sporting. You can mitigate the effects of weight (see the explosion of weight in the BMW M cars - heck the M should stand for MASS) but that mitigation can only go so far. And all of those tricks can also be applied to the lighter car as well. So, whatever may be driving the diet, I'm all in favor of seeing cars lose 20% of the bloat they have gained over the years. If that means a bit smaller, that's ok. Good design can trim size and weight without impacting the interior dimensions. Bad design get you a new Taurus interior.

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- Wmba on Mar 30, 2015
  
  1995 M3 weight 3180 lbs 2001 M3 weight 3580 lbs 2008 M3 weight 3650 lbs 2013 M3 weight 3613 lbs Source Car and Driver - they actually weigh their test cars. I see no "explosion" in weight, except from the 1995 to 2001. They've been the same weight for 15 years, so don't know what you're on about to be truthful.
  
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- 319583076 on Mar 30, 2015
  
  Part of the problem is attributable to the horsepower wars. More horsepower means heavier transmission, driveshaft, differential, which requires bigger brakes which means more unsprung mass which requires heavier rigid and active suspension components - it's a positive feedback loop. All of the enthusiasts basking in the "golden age of factory horsepower" are implicitly worshipping at the altar of curb weight bloat. If you're building a warrantied car that must operate in daily driving/commuting conditions you can go high power and heavy or low power and light.
  
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- Energetik9 on Mar 31, 2015
  
  @wmba 1995 M3 weight 3180 lbs 2001 M3 weight 3580 lbs 2008 M3 weight 3650 lbs 2013 M3 weight 3613 lbs 2015 M3 weight 3540 lbs "I see no “explosion” in weight, except from the 1995 to 2001." I don't see the weight gain either. I added the 2015 numbers. golden2husky: "see the explosion of weight in the BMW M cars " Not sure where you're seeing this. If you consider the huge increases in performance levels, added safety, and overall weight loss, I think BMW has done better than most.
  
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Deanst on Mar 30, 2015

When I see that a cruze weighs 500 ponds more than a civic, I assume it's a combination of bad engineering and cheap, heavy materials. Either way, I'm much more unlikely to view the cruze favorably.

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- Derekson on Mar 31, 2015
  
  How do you figure? A 2015 Cruze LT is 3118 lbs and a Civic EX is 2868 lbs. If you're going to slag GM at least do so on merit.
  
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- NoGoYo on Mar 31, 2015
  
  @derekson You know, people apparently say the Cruze is a nice drive, but I really don't think a car that's like 3250 lbs once I get in it and only has 140 horsepower could possibly feel swift or enjoyable.
  
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- LectroByte on Mar 31, 2015
  
  @derekson You're comparing the Cruze LT to a fully loaded Civic EX. If you're going to half-assed attempt to defend GM, at least look up the weight of the LTZ. Spoiler Alert: The Cruze is only 400 lbs heavier.
  
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- Mopar4wd on Mar 31, 2015
  
  @NoGoYo The Cruze is nice to drive maybe not the best handling but a great solid quiet highway car. In it's class only the dart and the cruze seem like cars you could take on an 8 hour road trip and be happy about your choice at the end. I haven't driven the newest focus but I would say the civic handles a little better on the curves then either car but these two do better than say the elantra and corolla in the curves so I don't think the weight is much of an issue and maybe be better for the majority of buyers (as some of the weight is sound dedending and other comfort improvements.
  
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- Burgersandbeer on Mar 31, 2015
  
  Sound deadening is part of it. Engineering and materials choice are probably factors, but at least you get a quiet, comfortable ride in the bargain. The Cruze really is impressive in that area.
  
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- Vulpine on Mar 31, 2015
  
  @NoGoYo You'd be surprised how lively a 100hp engine can feel in a 2800# car--with the right gearing.
  
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Zackman on Mar 31, 2015

Still can't see out of it. No deal.

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Superdessucke on Mar 31, 2015

It's Only losing 200 pounds?? I was led to believe we'd see a significant weight savings. That means nothing. Don't the V-8 versions of these weigh around 4,000 pounds? Still about 500 pounds to go IMHO.

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- TMA1 on Mar 31, 2015
  
  I believe the ZL1 is the heaviest Camaro. 4118 lbs. That's 6.4L Challenger territory.
  
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