There are legends, and then there are icons. Take the Nissan GT-R for example, and you have a good impression of what a legend truly is. Mention the name, and enthusiasts will conjure up their own instances of Godzilla, irrespective of the model. An icon on the other hand, fares slightly differently. Bumblebee is a definite icon in its own right; drive out in one of these and you get an immediate reaction from just about everyone. Thanks in part to its appearance on the big screen, it is the younger generation who have the biggest reactions. Kids just swarm the car wherever we go! We went for dinner one night, a bunch of cars – Nissan 370Z, Porsche 997S, GT-R and this Camaro SS… most people were ooh’ing and aah’ing about the Bee, while the other cars barely got any response from the general public.
Definitely not something you’ll see very often on Malaysian roads…
A total of three models are produced (LS, LT, SS) but only the most powerful variant, in SS guise, is sold locally. The SS is powered by a massive 6.2L V8 under the bulbous hood. Again, two transmission types are offered (stick and slushbox) but only the 6-speed auto tranny is sold here. It will have the L99 engine which produced 400PS and 535Nm which are transferred to the rear wheels. These numbers are slightly lower than the LS3 mill in the manual that makes 422PS and 553Nm. Now; the key difference between these two engines is the Active Fuel Management (AFM) system that allows the engine to run on just four-cylinders when cruising – a plus, considering the petrol prices here in Malaysia. The LT and LS variants in comparison have a 3.6L V6 that makes 300PS and 370Nm. Would be interesting to see if the Camaro would be more popular if the LT and LS models were sold here.
By now, I suppose it is very clear that the exterior of the Bee looks absolutely fantastic. The bulging bonnet, fins across the rear wheels, massive wheels under those wide arches and with subtle Transformers badgery all over… all this help to give the Bee a muscular profile. Just look at it! It feels as though it would transform to save the world at any moment! The interior of the Bee unfortunately does not sing the same tune. Now, don’t get me wrong – the cockpit is well built; there are no stray sounds with fit and finish still tight despite the owner thrashing it out rather often. What disappoints is the lack of… imagination in here. Yes, the vibe in here is old-school retro, but it is pretty bland, bordering on boring. Unfortunately, the additional Transformers plusses do not help to lift the spirits in the cockpit. This is surprising when it comes from a car that costs half a million ringgit. Even serious Germans can manufacture a bit of cabin emotions when it comes to cars in this price range!
Very simplistic cockpit.
Gauges are very retro. Unfortunately, the dashboard in the Cruze looks similar to this…
Homage to the original Camaro.
Right – let’s move on to real world performance. Officially, the zerotohundred sprint takes only 4.6 seconds (the manual in comparison does 4.8 seconds), but on my butt-dyno, it never felt that quick. Despite my numerous attempts, I never managed to light up the rears. As it turns out, the L99 powerplant can become sluggish if low octane fuel is used and, although I’m not sure if this was indeed the problem, the resolution is a simple reset on the ECU and a full tank of premium. Perhaps you’ve read that the Bee is touted to be one of the best handling American muscle cars money can buy today. It features a fully independent suspension on both front and rear axles and is said to devour corners with ease. The SS also has a lowered sports suspension, four-pot Brembo discs, as well as sticky 20-inch Pirellis. There is one problem, though – it would require an exceptionally skilled and equally daring (crazy?) driver to eke out every last dollop of performance from the Bee. I did try slinging the Bee into a corner, but it felt much too heavy, and unsafe, to try out stunts like that. Not to mention that it is sold here in LHD configuration only, so I had to adjust my perceptions of its size.
SS badgery in front…
…SS badgery on the rear; helps to remind you that this is the top-model.
The Bee is not a regular muscle-car. The two seats in the rear are decent, not too uncomfortable and has decent leg-room (although boot space suffers quite a bit – you will not be able to fit any golf bags in here). There are flaws for sure – visibility out of the car is poor; the rear mirror is almost pointless and the expansive bonnet up front really impedes vision of the road. Difficult to exploit, it is my opinion that it should really be driven like a Grand Tourer instead. High-speed cruising is an almost effortless affair thanks to the huge V8 in front. Manual shifting is an option, but there are no paddle shifters, replaced instead with shift buttons behind the steering wheel column (left for downshifts, right for upshifts); I felt more at ease leaving it in auto and just buzzing along. Doing just that, you will notice people staring and that cars in front of you tend to get out of the way. I’ve got to admit, it was a pretty good feeling. I’ve driven this Bee when it was stock. At the time, the regular exhaust was barely audible both inside and out. Now though, it sports a set of custom titanium exhaust tips that gives it a more raspy note. Much better now, in my opinion.
Lots of space in front, a little less on the rears, but still decent.
At the end of the day, muscle-cars are clearly not the norm for Malaysian roads. They’re difficult to drive, difficult to exploit, and clearly too expensive for the average Joe. Running costs are an altogether different story. This must explain why it is difficult to see many Camaros roaming our streets. Its credentials are impressive – massive power, pace, and proven track record on the Nurburgring that bests even the likes of Porsche’s Cayman and BMW’s E46 M3. But, and I’ve confirmed this with a few other owners of the Camaro SS, the Bee’s qualities are difficult to exploit. Let’s be honest – buyers of the Camaro are looking for the presence that very few cars can match. That, and the instant feel-good gratification you’ll get, knowing you are driving an icon of this decade. Might sound silly, but that alone makes enough sense to me.
Autobot insignias can be found both inside and outside the Camaro SS.
Chevrolet Camaro SS
• Zerotohundred: 4.6secs
• Top Speed: 250km/h (limited)
• Engine: 6.2L V8
• Power: 400PS / 5,000 rpm
• Torque: 535Nm / 6,000 rpm
• Weight: N/A
• Fuel Economy: N/A
• Wheels: 20” front & rear
• Tyres: 245/45 R20 (front), 275/45 R20 (rear)
• Price: N/A
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