GM's pride stripped bare

In case you hadn't heard, GM has a new Camaro in the starting gates, and it has strong local connections because it is to be built (at GM's plant in Oshawa, Canada) on a shorter version of the Zeta platform developed by Holden for the VE Commodore and WM Statesman/caprice.

These photos are interesting in that context, because they show a car being tested in Germany but wearing Victorian "the place to be" registration plates (Also interesting but of little obvious consequence is the facility for Ford-owned Jaguar in the background of one of the photos).

No questioning from these virtually road-trim shots that the car is a Camaro. From some angles it looks almost too carefully representative of the past, although there is a slightly more captivating, high-shouldered stance that only begins to become evident in rear three-quarter views.

For all its visual familiarity though, the new Camaro is certain to be a pretty refined muscle car with its all-independent suspension and what look suspiciously like red-calipered Brembo disc brakes. The engine choices are rumoured to cover V6 and V8 options, with a 7.0-litre LS7 V8 in an SS version fulfilling Camaro ponycar expectations.

As the disguises peel away with each ensuing capture by an enterprising photographer, the Camaro looks to be virtually in final-trim stages and ready for its US launch in the first quarter of 2009.

The Camaro has also been caught testing in Australia, providing a nice speculative connection with comments from Holden executives that it would be a welcome addition to the Australian Holden fleet -- but still wearing Chevrolet badges.

The Camaro first came to life in the USA as a competitor for Ford's highly successful Mustang in 1966, and continued through four generations before being put to rest in 2002.

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