SALT LAKE CITY — It’s fitting to spend a few days with the 2016 Chevrolet Camaro during the month we celebrate American independence. The latest generation Camaro may be the most anticipated model since the original in 1967. The car has been an American icon since that first model year.

Chevy built that first car, code-named "Panther" prior to its release, to compete directly with Ford’s Mustang. There is much legend and rumor surrounding the meaning of the word Camaro, which is believed to have French origins.

According to Sam Armijo, sales manager at Larry H. Miller Chevrolet in Murray, the word Camaro refers to the extinction of Mustangs. There may be some truth to that. In June of 1966, Chevy held a worldwide press event in Detroit to introduce the new model that, in keeping with Chevy tradition, started with the letter “C”.

As the press in attendance inquired as to the meaning of the word Camaro, Chevrolet product managers originally said it was a “small, vicious animal that eats Mustangs.” Chevy later stated Camaro meant friend or comrade. Turns out there is no such French word.

Whatever its meaning, Camaro has come to be synonymous with American muscle. This newest iteration not only pays respect to past models, but incorporates the latest technology and a complete redesign of the prior generation. One thing has remained constant since 1967 — the beautiful sound that greets the driver with every start of the engine.

Overall Grade: A-

Exterior styling

The black SS model I drove away with was deceptive in its styling. From the outside, sharp curves and muscular angles catch the eye. From the driver’s seat, the hood sweeps out ahead in rounded curves that seem impossible based on what was seen moments before while standing outside.

The windshield and passenger windows are very small — slits seems best to describe them. Combined with high interior door panels that sit at about head-height, I could have sworn from the driver’s seat that I was driving the Batmobile.

The front end and grill are narrower than before and the rear tail lights are single, wide and narrow housings, compared to the segmented lights of the prior generation car.

The lower air intake up front is most prominent and angles back, creating the sensation of constant movement when the vehicle is viewed from the front. Active hood vents are prominent on either side of the center riser.

The front-fender flares give way to tapered doors that create aggressive looking rear fenders. Those rear fenders are on prominent display with every glance in either rear view mirror.

The Chevy bowtie is featured proudly on both the front grill and rear deck; the word Camaro can only be found on small front-fender badges and the SS logo is only subtly found on the front grill and rear bumper.

The trunk itself is not undersized, but the trunk opening is. Trying to place golf clubs in the trunk the traditional way was a challenge. They did fit by folding down the rear seats and placing the clubs in the trunk from the passenger cabin. Larger items and luggage are a challenge.

The 20-inch wheels fitted with Goodyear Eagles round out the aggressive looks of the new Camaro.

Interior styling

The two-tone interior, red on black with this particular car, is striking. Red stitching accents everything beautifully and the seats feature both the stitching and prominent red SS logos.

The dash layout is classic in its simplicity. The 7-inch touchscreen dominates the center console. While not angled toward the driver, it is easy to reach. The screen houses a physical volume and power knob, home button, and media controls below.

The climate controls may be the most attractive I’ve seen in an American car. The simplicity of the single row of controls, including dual temperature controls and heated and cooled seats, is timeless. The buttons are fairly small, however, and easy to miss due to the harsh ride of the muscle car.

GM has been guilty of late, particularly with Cadillac models, of too-busy and too-brightly finished climate and media controls — not only cheap looking, but magnets for fingerprints. The Camaro controls are perfectly understated.

Unlike the controls themselves, the two center-mounted front air vents sit low below the control strip and are enormous. Turning the outside edges of the corresponding vent changes the temperature setting for driver and passenger.

The dash itself hearkens to an earlier time and is center stage, considering the subtly of the media and climate controls. The red accent stitching is included throughout the leather dash and only the passenger-side round air vent breaks up the sweep of the wide dashboard.

The main power outlet is perfectly situated further behind the manual shifter on top of the center console. Rarely do auto manufacturers place these ports so perfectly.

The instrument panel is a combination of physical tachometer and speedometer, with bright, animated secondary gauges inbetween. The entire layout seems especially bright but well laid out. Steering wheel controls are well placed and compact.

While the rival Mustang feels more spacious, Chevy has paid better attention to making controls and technology readily accessible to the driver. The Camaro feels like it was built around the driver. This makes for a snug feel, but much better driver control and orientation.

The glaring blind spot of this interior is just that: blind spots. Everywhere.

I mentioned the tiny windshield and passenger windows. The back-deck screen is equally small. As a result, the driver can see very little in any direction and ATMs and drive-thrus are problematic. The rear interior panels begin to slope upward just behind the front seats.

Combined with tiny triangular rear passenger windows, people with claustrophobia should take the train. Fortunately, I suppose, the rear seats are nearly impossible to use due to their cramped configuration.

Technology

Changing lanes in this car would be nothing short of a guess, if not for the blind spot warnings included in each rear view mirror. I sincerely hope they are sensitive enough to register motorcycles. They seemed to work extremely well, fortunately.

On models equipped with a manual transmission, the rev-matching steering wheel paddles borrowed from the Corvette help to smooth shifts by keeping the engine revolutions in sync with the chosen gear. This feature proved useful as the manual is tightly spaced and the brake and gas pedals are not.

The drivetrain can be adjusted several ways for comfort or performance and the instrument panel can be outfitted several ways to accommodate different gauges, track features or trip and gas mileage data.

Unlike the rival Mustang GT, the seats are fully power adjustable and it’s simple to find a suitable driver position.

Apple CarPlay is included and so is a wireless phone charging pad just behind the center console between the front seats. It seems too small, however, to accommodate most of today’s large smartphones.

The navigation and voice controls worked very well. The voice control seemed less rigid in terms of commands than most systems. The Bose sound system is a good one, although there is not a CD player.

The head-up display, standard on the SS, can be adjusted for what information is seen by the driver and for position up and down and brightness. This car is one of those that always seems to be going faster than the driver feels. The head-up display is likely going to save Camaro drivers from many speeding tickets.

Performance and handling

American muscle cars aren’t known for a smooth ride, to say the least. The Camaro is no exception, but the handling is precise and predictable. While the ride may be harsher overall than the rival pony car, it rarely provides surprises that prove especially rough.

Steering is very precise and the somewhat-small steering wheel is a pleasure to use. Brembo four-piston brakes bring the car to a stop almost as readily as it accelerates.

The 6.2 liter, naturally aspirated, V8 produces 455-horsepower and is exactly the same power-plant found in the Corvette. Combined with significant weight savings in the 2016 Camaro compared to last year and a peak torque output that occurs 200-RPM lower than the Corvette, the new Camaro can be pulled to a zero to 60 time of 4.2 seconds for the manual transmission. The transmission is also shared with the Corvette.

The automatic is capable of sub-4 second runs to 60 mph.

On a spirited drive to Park City, the Camaro begged for more through the curves. Grip is exceptional and body roll is almost non-existent. What’s most impressive about this powertrain, and could be related to the returning of the torque range, is that power is immediately available in any gear at any time. Passing while driving uphill in the canyon was never in doubt, in fifth gear without downshifting.

The sound of the Ford Mustang GT seems unreal in its symphonic precision. The exhaust is finely tuned and never a note out of place. The Camaro features electronic dampers that can be controlled from the driver’s seat to lessen or increase the sound output. The Camaro’s sound is less symphony and more grunge band.

The Camaro is not only louder than the Mustang, but also rawer. When accelerating or slowing, the sound breaks free and loses its timing. It’s not a bad thing, but the track setting will either sound heavenly or out of tune, depending on the driver. I vote for heavenly.

Conclusion

It is not an easy task to pay homage to the past and blend it with the latest technology and comforts. Chevy has done a masterful job. The aggressive styling of the exterior carries over to the interior, yet the color touch screen and adjustable color ambient lighting strips remind one that it is, in fact 2016.

This driver’s car handles well and provides for ample sensory experiences when driving. The sights and sounds make driving a pleasure. The acceleration and braking are excellent.

The interior is well appointed and aside from the afterthought rear seats, it is comfortable yet very supportive. The driver controls and technology are well laid out and easy to use.

The push-button start fires up the sound of American muscle that most everyone will enjoy. It’s difficult to overlook the design flaw that is visibility while driving this car. Thankfully, Chevy has included technology even Batman could appreciate that makes lane changes and backing out of parking spaces possible.

This American icon should please drivers for many more years to come.

Specs

Vehicle Type: front-engine, rear-wheel drive, four-passenger, two-door coupe

Engine: pushrod 16 valve V8, aluminum block and heads, direct fuel injection

Displacement: 376 cubic inches

Power: 455 HP, 455 pound-feet of torque

Transmission: 6-speed manual or 8-speed automatic

Wheelbase: 110.7 inches

Performance: 4.2 seconds zero to 60, 12.5 seconds quarter mile

Top Speed: 160 mph

Fuel Economy: EPA 17 city/25 highway mpg

Cup holders: two

Power Outlets: two power, two USB

Price as tested: $48,475

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