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2016 Chevy Camaro gets 272-horsepower turbo four-cylinder and lighter chassis

When I say “Camaro”, you say “…turbo four-cylinder?”

Yes, according to Automobile Magazine, Chevrolet has added a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder to the 2016 Camaro powertrain lineup.

The 2.0-liter turbo is new to the Camaro, but it’s been seen before in the Cadillac CTS. Under the sedan’s hood, the engine made 272 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. Chevy hasn’t confirmed the 2.0-liter’s output in Camaro guise yet, but we don’t expect it to stray incredibly far from the Caddy’s numbers.

The Camaro’s forced induction four-pot is the latest example of smaller, turbocharged engines making appearances in V8-bound muscle cars. Ford beat GM to the punch, though; the 2015 Mustang offers a 2.3-liter Ecoboost unit with around 300 hp.

Other engines for the 2015 Camaro include a carry over 3.6-liter V6 and, in SS trim, the new 455-hp LT1 V8 from the 2014 Corvette Stingray. No word yet on powertrains for the Z28 and ZL1 models.

The sixth-gen Camaro will also ride on a new chassis: a lighter, nimbler framework known as the Alpha Platform. Alpha is also found in the Cadillac CTS, and it replaces the older, bulkier Zeta platform of previous generations. The change will reportedly save the ‘Maro “several hundred pounds.”

Despite it’s lighter frame, the new platform will increase the size of the new car slightly. The Alpha Platform gives the Camaro a 114.6 wheelbase, 2.3 inches more than before. It’s also a full 7.5 inches longer than the Mustang.

As we previously reported, the aesthetics of the 2016 may remain relatively unchanged, but other reports have surfaced that contrast that information. Automobile Magazine reports that the 2016 model will be influenced by the insect-eyed second generation, and Edmunds says the new muscle car will feature an “evolutionary look” that will refresh the current generation.

For conformation, stay tuned to Digital Trends as we inch closer to the 2016 Camaro’s full reveal.

Andrew Hard
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Andrew first started writing in middle school and hasn't put the pen down since. Whether it's technology, music, sports, or…
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