Auto News 5

The best and worst thing about the fifth-generation Camaro is that it genuinely is a concept car. "That's been our driving theme for both the coupe and convertible: execute it to look exactly like the concept car," Camaro chief engineer Al Oppenheiser told us back in 2010. Three years of strong, growing sales have validated this approach. The only problem is that the Camaro also drives a lot like a concept car. Beyond the bad sight lines and bottleneck trunk opening, we've consistently complained about the softball-sized shifter, the hard-to-read gauges, and the enormous deep-dish steering wheel -- all details that looked cool on the floor of Detroit's Cobo Hall but don't translate to the street. When we took a 2010 Camaro SS to the track, its high curb weight, tall gearing, and tendency to understeer at the limit furthered our impression that the car, though certainly fast and capable, was meant more for cruising and looking good than satisfying the most demanding drivers.