2010 Chevrolet Camaro

Chevy came late to the muscle car revival. Man, was the wait worth it. The new Camaro's design is simply superb, with its serpentine profile, muscular cowl, long hood and stocky tail, grin-inducing halo-ringed headlights and sharply raked, Stealth-fighter windshield. Our bet is that car guys will covet well-maintained 2010 models several decades hence, the same way we drool over a vintage late-1960s SS today (see our gallery above for six classic late-1960s Camaros).

In a week of gaping at a canary yellow, V-6 LT coupe from every exterior angle, we couldn't find a thing we didn't like. Our vehicle had the optional ground effects package that includes a ground-hugging front splitter, side rocker panels and a rear diffuser, plus a 21"-tire-and-wheel package, rear spoiler, even a body color painted engine cover that offered a little consolation for not getting a V-8 to test. True, we've felt similar pangs of lust over the high-end luxury cars, but this Camaro had a sticker south of $38,000, despite ten thousand in options.

Of course, you'll spend more time inside your car than ogling it, so driving comfort is key, and the new Camaro's interior is cool and comfortable. The recessed kidney-shaped speedometer and tachometer recall the classic 1960s Camaro design. Sandwiched in between those gauges, a digital driver information center gives readouts on gas mileage and other essentials. A foursome of optional console-mounted auxiliary gauges just above the shifter add more retro flair to the cabin. Our only real complaint: The low-profile roofline and raked windshield we adore standing outside the car squeeze the sightlines from the driver's seat, resulting in a significant blind spot and noticeably reduced field of vision in all directions that takes some acclimation.

While the 400-horsepower V-8 grants the ultimate bragging rights, the 304-horsepower V-6 still packs a hefty wallop, with a reported 0-60 time in the ballpark of six seconds (vs. the reported SS time of a tarmac-blistering 4.6 seconds). We didn't get a chance to drive the V-8, but Playboy.com Hot Laps host Pilar Lastra took it out on a track day—look for her upcoming report—and the SS engine sounds spectacular. Not so the V-6, which sacrifices the thundering, muscle-car bass rumble of its big brother at the altar of better fuel economy. Handling is surprisingly poised for a rear-wheel-drive muscle car; the 21" tire package and sport suspension delivered a remarkably composed, well-balanced ride. With the 2010 Mustang, Dodge Challenger and now the Camaro turning heads on American roads, the muscle car era is officially in full force. Again.

Classic Camaro Photos: Copyright 2009 GM Corp. Used with permission, GM Media Archive