When we found out the EcoCAR 3 teams would be receiving the all-new 2016 Chevrolet Camaro from General Motors, we were ecstatic to announce the news to our 500 or so team members from the 16 competing universities. We knew they would be giddy to get under the hood and start re-imagining a greener performance vehicle.
Now, almost a year and a half later, we are gearing up to ship 16 of the first 100 Gen Six Camaros to our teams. In fact, the teams will be receiving the 3.6L V-6 Camaro with the eight-speed automatic transmission in Summit White.
Fortunately for us, we got a sneak peek inside Grand River Assembly to feast our eyes on the cars that our students will soon be tearing down. Made in Lansing, Mich., the Camaro has re-invigorated the facility. GM hired back 500 second-shift jobs, invested $175 million in new equipment and new paint systems, and trained the employees on all-things Camaro assembly.
The irony does not escape us – 16 of the first 100 Camaros will have their powertrain systems and other areas – stripped out within days of rolling off the lines all in an effort to reduce its environmental impact, while maintaining the safety, athletic look and performance expected from this iconic American car.
This is perhaps the most anticipated time for EcoCAR 3, as the engineering dreams of our students will soon come to life. We also know this is an exciting time for future #CamaroSix owners who are ready to take their new babies for a spin as soon as the cars arrive at dealerships in November.
Can’t wait to see the car? Chevrolet is hitting the highways and byways of America now to celebrate the car’s launch. Check out the #FindNewRoads hashtag to see what the Camaro is up to, or visit findnewroadstrip.com to see if there is a stop near you.
