SEMA 2016: Chevrolet Camaro SS Slammer concept

Wider, lower and more menacing: the Chevy Camaro SS Slammer concept is the epitome of the 2016 SEMA show in Las Vegas.

Riding on 22-inch front and 24-inch rear wheels – chrome, naturally – the Chevy SS Slammer makes use of air-adjustable suspension to deliver its slammed stance… while also being able to navigate the Macca's drive-through.

The rear-drive Camaro SS Slammer concept is finished in Dazzling Black with contrasting Adrenaline Red leather-trimmed seats.

As well as the wide body kit, some of the exterior modifications include bolder ground effects – think skirts, front and rear bumpers – along with tinted brake lights and the all-important Chevy bowtie badges finished in black.

"The Camaro SS Slammer concept is a design exercise intended to take the Gen 6 Camaro's proportions to the extreme, pushing boundaries to evoke reactions and inspiring personalisation on behalf of other Camaro owners," said John Cafaro, executive director, Global Chevrolet Design.

Although the Chevrolet Camaro is not sold in Australia, it could one day be sitting in Holden dealerships, with an Aussie study of the car confirmed after the Ford Mustang's sell-out success here.

Chevrolet's LT1 V8 engine displacing 6.2 litres beats away under its vented bonnet, smashing out 327kW and 603Nm. Although it's not as fast or as powerful as the 485kW ZL1 Camaro, you’d expect the Slammer concept to match the regular Camaro SS’ claimed 0-100km/h time of 4.3 seconds.

Brembo brakes are added for extra stopping power and although the wheels are massive, the tyres are merely large, measuring 245/30 up front and 275/25 at the rear.

A stainless steel exhaust system has been integrated for a bassy V8 gurgle too.

Chevrolet also showed off a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged Camaro, to highlight the potential of the small capacity powerplant. Dubbed the Camaro Turbo AutoX, it features ‘dayglow yellow’ paintwork and various engine mods such as cold air intake and tuned ECU that enables more turbo boost.

"This concept pushes Camaro in a new direction, integrating new performance parts that make the most of the turbocharged Camaro's lightweight dynamics," said Jim Campbell, vice president of GM’s Performance Vehicles and Motorsports division.

Other mods include upgraded suspension, big 370mm front disc brakes with six-piston calipers and a free-flow exhaust system. The body mods include a new rear wing and lower diffuser, front tow hook and even a GoPro camera mount.

Running since the late 1960s, when it was first held in California, not Nevada, the SEMA show has always been about cars like the Camaro SS Slammer and AutoX: Heavily modified, largely impractical and often brutally powerful.

SEMA is, after all, the home of all things aftermarket.