Chevrolet Camaro 1LE concept
Chevrolet’s display at the Specialty Equipment Market Association show in Las Vegas won’t just play host to the Sonic and Cruze: the company also plans to show off modified versions of the Camaro and Corvette. The SEMA cars are said to help inspire owners to customize their own vehicles.
The Camaro Red Zone concept shows off the muscle car’s convertible model, painted in a new-for-2012 color called Crystal Claret. The car also wears Chevrolet Accessories 21-inch wheels, a body-colored grille, a new silver “heritage” stripe that will be available from dealers soon. Other tweaks include a Pedders suspension lowering kit, a polished strut-tower brace, a new engine-bay liner, “Titanium” leather upholstery with Silver Ice accents, new floor mats with silver Chevrolet logos, and new dashboard trim pieces.
Depending on public reaction at the SEMA show, Chevrolet may put the Camaro Synergy Series concept into production. The Silver Ice car wears black hood stripes, black 21-inch wheels, a new body kit, and deletes the car’s “RS” or “SS” exterior badges. Under the hood is a new Chevrolet Accessories red engine cover, as well as a polished strut-tower brace. As to mechanical changes, the Camaro features a Hurst short-throw shifter, red-painted Brembo brake calipers, and a Pedders lowering kit. Interior upgrades comprise floor mats and pedals from Chevrolet Accessories, Silver Ice trim for the door panels and instrument cluster, black leather upholstery with red stitching, and red SS logos on the headrests.
Chevrolet stresses than the Camaro 1LE concept is just that — a concept — but notes that the show car was inspired by a racing performance package available for third- and fourth-generation models of the Camaro. The car mixes performance parts from the Camaro SS and Camaro ZL1. It has Magnetic Ride Control adaptive suspension, lightweight 20-inch wheels wearing Goodyear Eagle F1 Supercar tires (as found on the ZL1), Brembo brakes with six-pistons front and four-piston rear calipers, an active exhaust nabbed from the ZL1, and a new strut-tower brace. On top of that, the Camaro 1LE scores special hash mark fender decals, black-painted splitter and side skirts, and black leather upholstery.
“The Camaro 1LE concept is all about the track,” said Camaro chief engineer Al Oppenheiser. “It’s an all-out race car package.”
Chevrolet also will show the Camaro ZL1 Carbon concept, which is based heavily on the production ZL1 that will launch next year. The car has been upgraded with exposed carbon fiber for the hood, rear spoiler, shifter trim, and dashboard trim. The car also wears a new-for-2012 paint color called Ashen Gray, as well as satin-black 20-inch wheels.
Toy lovers, take note: Chevrolet’s final modified Camaro is designed to look like a Hot Wheels car. Designed to look like the Camaro featured in the first-ever series of Hot Wheels cars released in 1968, a Camaro SS was painted metallic green and fitted with black decals and red-accented wheels.
Corvette lovers will be equally satisfied by Chevrolet’s SEMA stand, with two concept cars on display. The Corvette Carlisle Blue Grand Sport concept recognizes the 30th anniversary of the annual Corvettes at Carlisle meet. It wears new Carlisle Blue paint, new silver wheels, gray-painted brake calipers, Cyber Gray headlight housings, and Pearl White stripes. Standard goodies include Goodyear F1 Supercar tires, Magnetic Selective Ride Control, a new-for-2012 Bose audio system, and blue-stitched leather upholstery. The Corvette also wears a handful of Chevrolet Accessories pieces including a carbon fiber front splitter and side skirts, a rear spoiler, Ebony floor mats, and “racing” pedals.
Finally, Chevrolet will show off the Corvette Z06 Ron Fellows Hall of Fame Tribute. The car, as the name suggests, celebrates the fact that Corvette race driver Fellows was inducted into the National Corvette Museum’s Hall of Fame this year. The car wears the Z07 Performance Package, CFZ carbon fiber package, black headlight housings, red brake calipers, a carbon-fiber hood, and Torch Red paint. Suede trim graces the steering wheel, shifter, handbrake, and armrests; the interior receives “racing” pedals; and the exterior wears graphics for the National Corvette Museum, Spring Mountain Driving School, and Mosport raceway.
