2016 Chevrolet Camaro SS Hits 60 MPH in 4 Seconds

With as much as 390 pounds of weight shed versus its predecessor, the redesigned 2016 Chevrolet Camaro is as quick as many supercars. With its eight-speed automatic transmission, the Camaro coupe hits 60 mph in just 4 seconds flat en route to a quarter-mile time of 12.3 seconds, according to performance numbers released by GM today. That may not surprise anyone who’s driven the prior-gen Camaro Z/28 or ZL1, but here’s the kicker: That’s from a run-of-the-mill Camaro SS, a car you can buy for less than $37,500.

Related: 2016 Chevrolet Camaro Starts at $26,695; $37K for V-8 Camaro SS

Of course, “run of the mill” is a relative term, given the Camaro SS’ 6.2-liter V-8 makes 455 horsepower. But raw horsepower is just a spec. If GM’s acceleration figures pan out, the new Camaro SS should deliver stout performance. Consider this: Our friends at PBS’ “MotorWeek” clocked 4.5 and 12.9 seconds, respectively, to hit 60 mph and the quarter-mile in a stick-shift 2015 Ford Mustang GT. In a non-Hellcat automatic Dodge Challenger SRT8, it took 4.7 and 12.8 seconds, respectively. Dodge claims a few tenths quicker times for the SRT8; Ford did not respond to our request for factory performance numbers.

Naturally, we’ll have to organize a track run of all three to report our own numbers. Sure, twist our arm.

Those weren’t the only numbers GM released. The automaker announced a lot more performance specs for the Camaro coupe today:

• With its base 275-hp, turbo 2.0-liter four-cylinder and manual transmission, the Camaro hits 60 mph in 5.4 seconds and clears the quarter-mile in 14 seconds flat, GM says. That’s “comparable” performance to the 1990s-era Camaro Z28, the automaker reports.
• With an optional, 335-hp, 3.6-liter V-6 and automatic transmission, the Camaro needs 5.1 and 13.5 seconds, respectively, to hit 60 mph and clear the quarter-mile.
• Transmission choice has little performance effect on the turbo four-cylinder, but the V-6 and V-8 get their best times with automatics. Manual transmissions slow the V-6 by a smidge, but the manual Camaro SS is considerably slower to 60 mph (4.3 seconds). Stick-shift purists like us will groan, but it’s the latest example of automatic transmissions enabling the best track times in performance cars.
• With Goodyear Eagle F1 high-performance summer tires, the Camaro SS pulls a strong 0.97 Gs of lateral cornering. That compares to 0.89 Gs with the RS Package on the V-6, which has Goodyear Eagle F1 all-season tires. With the standard Goodyear Eagle Sports, the turbo 2.0-liter pulls 0.85 Gs.
• With those same tires, braking performance from 60 mph to zero ranges from 129 feet in the turbo 2.0-liter to 117 feet in the SS.

The Camaro coupe hits dealerships in November; a convertible will arrive at year’s end or in early 2016.