Chevrolet gives Camaro start-of-life facelift

CHEVROLET has applied some light visual changes to its updated Camaro sports coupe for the US market, only a year after the refreshed version broke cover overseas.

However, HSV marketing general manager Damon Paull told GoAuto that the changes applied overseas will not carry over locally, where the right-hand-drive conversion of MY19 Camaros has just begun.

The new look for the updated Camaro started life as the Shock design concept first revealed at the SEMA show in September and has been applied to the production model following significant customer response to the design.

When the MY19 Camaro was first revealed, SS versions featured an updated grille including a strip of blacked-out bumper running through the centre of the grille, with the signature Chevrolet bowtie badge moved to sit directly on top of the black strip.

Meanwhile, the MY20 Camaro changes the black bumper strip to match the rest of the body colour, while the bowtie badge has been moved further north into the upper grille.

The fire-breathing supercharged ZL1 variant remains unchanged.

Chevrolet director of passenger car and crossover marketing Steve Majoros said the reaction to the Shock concept’s design convinced the company to carry the design into production.

“Customers spoke, and we listened,” he said. “The overwhelmingly positive reaction to the Shock’s stylised design helped prompt its transition from concept to production.”

Along with the styling changes, Chevy has also applied some other tweaks to the US-spec Camaro range, including the introduction of the new LT1 variant which acts as an entry level offering for variants equipped with the 339kW/617Nm V8.

Chevrolet’s 10-speed automatic transmission has also been fitted to LT models powered by the 3.6-litre V6, which is not available in Australia.

Other updates to the US Camaro range include the introduction of the Rally Green paint colour, Recaro seats on LT models, new 20-inch alloys, red or orange brake callipers, and Adrenaline Red or Ceramic White leather interiors.

MY19 Camaros have recently begun the right-hook conversion process at HSV’s factory in Clayton South, Melbourne, with automatic versions of the 2SS featuring the 339kW V8 the first to be modified.

Automatic versions of the beastly ZL1 and its 480kW/860Nm 6.2-litre supercharged V8 are next, with manual options of both variants to follow in coming months.

Pricing for the local Camaro range starts at $86,990 plus on-roads for the manual 2SS, up to $162,190 for the automatic ZL1.