Introduction When a child of nine years of age asks you “Is that Bumblebee?” You know you have to go and do some research. That’s what I did. What is this ‘Bumblebee’? Well it’s the yellow and black Chevrolet from the feature film Transformers. When the next child asked “Does Bumblebee transform?” I was much better informed and said, 'Yes, sure it’s Bumblebee.' It wasn’t just the children that were drooling over the Chevrolet Camaro, adults were too. In fact, a couple of drivers nearly crashed as they were gawking so much at the American muscle car. On tickover, the Camaro is quite quiet, however feather the throttle and the V8 kicks into life with a raucous growl. The Camaro is a guilty pleasure, it doesn’t have an interior as plush as an Audi or a BMW, however, that’s not the point, it’s all about that V8 growl and the muscle car looks. This is a purchase that you make with the heart. It is so leftfield total strangers will give you street cred as you pull up. It comes in left-hand drive at present and as long as you can get past this then it’s a car you’ll love and possibly will be a future classic. Performance 4.0/5 On test we had the ‘LS3’ version that comes with a 6.2-litre engine six-speed manual transmission. It produces 432bhp and 569Nm of pulling power, meaning that overtaking slower moving vehicles is child’s play. Performance figures are good. It will get from zero to 62mph in 5.2 seconds, while it has a top speed of 155mph. It feels a bit lethargic when at low revs but put your foot down and the Camaro surges to life. Ride & Handling 4.0/5 Most muscle cars have a reputation of being of little use when cornering. However, the Camaro has been developed with Europe in mind and actually fares quite well. There is little body roll and the big American machine is good fun through the twisty stuff. It grips well too thanks to the wide tyres. It’s also ideal for cruising on the motorway - on the straights it is a match for almost anything but feisty Italian sports cars will have the upper hand on twisty mountain passes. Equipment 4.0/5 The Camaro comes well equipped. Highlights include climate control, electric windows, electric mirrors, electric leather seats and cruise control, 20-inch alloy wheels, LED tail lights, high-intensity headlamps with xenon surrounds, ambient interior lighting, a comprehensive trip computer, ISOFIX anchors for child seats and rear parking sensors. Running Costs 3.0/5 If you are looking for a frugal car then it’s best to look away now. The Camaro will average 20mpg and it emits 329g/km of CO2 emissions. With all that in mind, the price tag is ultra-competitive at £35,320. The Camaro is easy to live with thanks to its practice al side. It has a load space of 384 litres, that’s larger than a Ford Focus by 68 litres. Motortorque Verdict 4.0/5 One of the best muscle cars to grace UK shores in recent years. Respect this 'Bumblebee' as it has the ability to sting.
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