2011 Chevrolet Camaro V-6 Rated at 312 Horsepower to Steal Mustang’s Crown

When the Chevrolet Camaro finally returned to the scene last year, it laid waste to the pony car competition. Even its V-6 was top of the heap, but then the 2011 Mustang V-6 came along and stole the Camaro’s thunder, offering even more power. Chevrolet was none too happy about that and has announced today that the Camaro will take back the V-6 crown with 312 horsepower, seven more than the Mustang.

“The 304 horsepower in the 2010 Camaro was actually a conservative rating on our end,” said Tom Sutter, GM’s V-6 chief engineer. “But we knew already that this award-winning engine produced at least the amount of power we stated, but now we’ve gone the extra step in certifying the engine for this application and have verified an additional 8 horsepower.”

The recertification process also found an extra 5 pound-feet of torque hidden inside the Camaro’s 3.6-liter V-6, giving it a new total of 278 pound-feet. Mustang fans will point out that the Camaro still falls 2 pound-feet short of Ford’s V-6. Because GM hasn’t actually changed anything in the engine, just recertified it, the V-6 Camaro’s performance numbers shouldn’t change. That means a 0-to-60 time of 5.7 seconds and a quarter-mile time of 14.4 seconds at 98.3 mph, leaving it still just behind the Mustang, which hits 60 in 5.1 seconds and runs the quarter-mile in 13.7 seconds at 102 mph, owing to its lighter weight.

Chevrolet didn’t just recertify the engine for the 2011 Camaro; it also added some features. After proving popular in the Corvette and other GM cars, Chevrolet will now make its Head-Up Display optional on the Camaro. It’s capable of showing vehicle and engine speeds, OnStar directions, stereo settings, temperature, phone information and more.

Also, if you’re a fan of the Synergy Green color first launched on a special-edition car, you’ll likely to be happy to know the color will be expanded throughout the 2011 Camaro portfolio. For a limited time, the special green will be offered on all trim levels — including the SS — for an extra $325.

“When we looked at the overwhelmingly positive reaction we received from SEMA attendees and consumers on Synergy Green, making the color available across the board was pretty much a no-brainer,” said John Fitzpatrick, Camaro Marketing Manager.

Source: Chevrolet