2010 Chevrolet Camaro First Drive

Editor's Note: This a story that initially ran in August of 2008. We've decided to re-run it in order to whet your appetite for our first drive of the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro this Friday, March 20 at 6 p.m. Eastern

No more guessing. No more hype. No more waiting. At long last, Chevrolet has opened the doors to its feverishly awaited 2010 Camaro sport coupe, and we've enjoyed a thorough shakedown run (in a "99%" prototype).

Let's not keep you in suspense any longer. The envelope, please: Chevy's new two-door is...very good. Very, very, very good. At the risk of inducing insider trading, now would be a good time to sell your Mustang stock.

The 99% prototype is admittedly rough around the edges-awful paint, not all parts to production shape, some interior bits held in place with tape while engineers test final pieces -- but in terms of hardware it's a "nearly done" Camaro. With minor tweaks, this is the car you'll be able to get by March.

For this early drive, Chevy served up only the base, V-6 version of its new ponycar (V-8 drives will follow in about two months), but that quickly proved no disappointment. The headline news: The "base" engine is the same DOHC, 24-valve 3.6L V-6 that serves in the 2008 Motor Trend Car of the Year, the Cadillac CTS. Outfitted with variable valve timing and direct injection, this high-tech beauty will romp with more than 300 hp (final output is still TBD) and should deliver EPA city/highway fuel economy ratings of least 18/26 mpg -- though Chevy is aiming for 19/27 mpg.

Even GM loyalists must be pinching themselves. After so many years of second- or third-rate powerplants appearing in brand-new GM vehicles, seeing this superstar engine make its debut at launch time speaks volumes about the winning mindset of the New General. The development team, a dedicated cadre of Aussies well versed in building fast, rear-drive cars for GM division Holden, fought the good fight to get project money spent where it would do the most good. The result: premium engine hardware, sophisticated chassis moves, a gorgeous shape unmarred by "convenient" production compromises. You want a navigation system? Too bad -- the Holden development crew figured you'd rather they spend the money on things like surgically precise steering and bourbon-smooth six-speed transmissions (besides, all new Camaros will offer OnStar turn-by-turn route guidance).