Chevrolet promised that the 2016 Camaro's move to the Alpha platform would mean a lighter package, and now that the 0-60-mph and quarter-mile acceleration numbers are in we can say that it definitely delivered. It's no surprise that the best acceleration numbers come from the 455hp, 6.2L LT1 V8 backed by the quick-shifting 8L90 eight-speed automatic, netting a 0-60 time of 4.0 seconds and tripping the lights at the big end of the quarter-mile in 12.3 seconds at 116 mph.

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} 2016 Camaro coupe 0-60 mph (sec. ) Quarter-Mile (sec. @ mph) Grip (max. lateral) 60-0 mph braking (feet) 2.0L turbo w/18-in. tires 5.4 (man.) 5.5 (auto. ) 14.0 @ 100 (man.) 14.0 @ 99 (auto. ) 0.85 g 129 3.6L V-6 w/20-in. RF3 tires 5.2 (man.) 5.1 (auto. ) 13.7 @ 102 (man.) 13.5 @ 103 (auto. ) 0.89 g 124 6.2L V-8 w/20-in. RF4 tires 4.3 (man.) 4.0 (auto. ) 12.5 @ 115 (man.) 12.3 @ 116 (auto. ) 0.97 g 117

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Those impressive times are the result of nine million hours of computation as 140 engineers throughout Chevrolet worked full time modeling a very rigid yet lightweight body and chassis that increased stiffness by 28 percent while knocking off 136 pounds compared to its platform mate, the Cadillac ATS. Camaro engineers expanded the use of advanced high-strength steel, which is used in the rocker and cowl structure, and press-hardened steel, which is used in the windshield pillars and door jambs, in order to increase strength while reducing mass. Assembly methods were also taken into consideration, as the roof panel is laser brazed in place, saving one pound versus traditional welding. Even the lengths of fasteners were custom tailored to the Camaro so that they weren't longer than necessary and adding unneeded weight. The following table details just how much weight the Camaro team managed to shave compared to the fifth-generation.

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} 2.0L Turbo 3.6L V-6 6.2L V-8 2016 Camaro 275 hp / 295 lb-ft 3,339 lbs (auto) 12.1 lbs/hp 335 hp / 284 lb-ft 3,435 lbs (auto) 10.3 lbs/hp 455 hp / 455 lb-ft 3,685 lbs (man) 8.1 lbs/hp 2015 Camaro N/A 323 hp / 278 lb-ft 3,729 lbs (auto) 11.5 lbs/hp 426 hp / 420 lb-ft 3908 (man) 9.2 lbs/hp Change 390 pounds lighter than 2015 V-6 294 pounds lighter 12% lbs/hp improvement 223 pounds lighter 14% lbs/hp improvement

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Bench Racing

Chevrolet noted that the 2.0L turbo 2016 Camaro has the same power output as a 1993-1995 Camaro Z28 equipped with the LT1 V8, with performance to match. We checked some vintage road tests and noticed that the 20-year-old Camaros had curb weights around 3,400 pounds and were low to mid-14 seconds cars. How's that for progress?

As for its contemporary competition, our sister publication Motor Trend recorded a 2015 Mustang EcoBoost running 0-60 in 5.6 seconds and the quarter-mile in 14.1. It was a heavily optioned example that tipped the scales at 3,658 pounds, so the two turbo four cylinder ponycars seem like they are pretty fairly matched with the Mustang bringing more power but also around 190 more pounds. We'll have to pit them against each other to find out for ourselves.

In the V8 arena, Camaro should be comparable to the new 2015 Mustang in weight, with the base GT at 3,705 and well-optioned GTs coming in around 100 pounds more than the Camaro's stated 3,685-pound curb weight. The 485hp Challenger 392 brings 4,200 pounds along with it, and also manages low four-second 0-60 sprints.