We’re getting closer to wrapping up this Wednesday, which means it’s time for our Miscellaneous Thoughts post where be bring you some random ramblings from around the Internet.

Top Gear crew comes in at No.5 on list of celebrities UK men want to date most: While Megan Fox took the number one spot on top 10 list of people UK men want to buy a date with, the Top Gear team came in at number 5. Cheryl Cole held the number 2 spot followed by Angelina Jolie. Who would you pick? Let us know in the comments section below. – News Lite (via AutoBlog)

Obama announces $2.4 billion grant for battery and electric-vehicle development: Obama announced today 48 new advanced battery and electric drive projects that will receive $2.4 billion in funding under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Companies working FoMoCo, Chrysler and General Motors will get more than $600 million on to further development of batteries for hybrids and electric cars. – Reuters

Check out our 2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS Review: We’ve finally put up our 2010 Camaro SS review – check it out here.

- By: Omar Rana

Introduced in 1966, the Chevrolet Camaro went on a 35-year production run and four distinct generations of body design before production ceased in 2002. After a 7 year hiatus, the beloved American icon is back in 2010, and it is bolder and meaner than ever, facing its domestic rivals; the 2010 Ford Mustang and 2009 Dodge Challenger.

Its a rarity to find a car that grabs everyone’s attention and commands an unprecedented amount of respect. That is exactly what we experienced on our drive to our nation’s capital this past fourth of July as every man, woman, and child we encountered was awe-struck at the very sight of the car. That being said, the ’10 Camaro has redefined the pony car segment, and as far as muscle cars go it is hands down the best bang for the buck. Transformers fans can also revel at the opportunity to own their very own AutoBot.

Click through to read more and to view our high-res gallery with 103 images.

Reviewed: 2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS:

Exterior:

From every angle the 2010 Camaro looks modern but maintains an overall retro look and feel (some may disagree with us on this point). Staying true to its concept form introduced in 2006, the 2010 Camaro has an outright muscular stance.

A closer look will reveal many Corvette influenced features. On the top, you’ll notice that GM designers threw in a little Corvette design and sculpted twin cockpits across the roof, giving the vehicle a distinctive Chevrolet presence. The B-pillar is designed to provide increased structural rigidity to the Camaro. The rear wheel arches feature a “V” design reminiscent of the Corvette as well. Other design cues include the cosmetic “Gills” located in the front of the rear quarter panel and a cosmetic air intake located on the hood of the SS models.

An RS appearance package is available on the LT and SS models and includes HID headlamps with integrated halo rings, 20-inch wheels with a Midnight Silver finish, and a rear spoiler on the LT, as the SS comes stock with a rear spoiler. Also available to buyers are racing stripes, and the all new Transformers Special Edition Package, priced at $470 and $995 respectively.

Interior:

Located just below the A/C controls and in front of the shifter are the traction control switch, power outlet, and gauges that report voltage, oil pressure, transmission temperature, and oil temperature. Though this is a rather odd location for gauges, the efficient design prevents the gauges from being hindered by the shift knob and the AC controls. The dramatically designed A/C controls, located just below the radio, sport two large knobs with the climate control switches, on either side of the power door lock and hazard light switches. The retro styled radio with blue-lit display and silver buttons pops dramatically from the dash, contributing to a sharper designed dash.

The gauge cluster is split into three parts; two large silver squares on either side housing the tachometer and speedometer, within which are smaller coolant temperature and fuel gauges, and between the squares is a multifunctional screen that displays statistics such as; odometer reading, trip computer, average MPG, outside temperature, transmission mode/gear, etc. The steering wheel keeps the interior’s retro theme quite nicely with its black leather wrap, silver accents, and red stitching, the wheel mounted cruise control buttons and radio controls are brilliantly designed and much appreciated. The interior door panels are also sleek in their design, with comfortable armrests to match the center console, large red plastic inserts with ambient red lighting that flows onto the dashboard, and hidden-from-view chrome handles.

Although we generally were impressed by the interior, it was not by any means, without flaw, after all, this is a $30,000 muscle car. The excessively long doors hinder entry and exit when parked along side another object, the unusable, small rear seats can not justifiably be for any purpose other than securing a lower insurance rate, and the dashboard and rear side panels sound hollow, an indication of low quality materials. The black cloth covered ceiling is a beautiful touch, but the front dome-light/Homelink unit is poorly set in place, as it seems to be held by poorly designed clips. All things considered however, the interior of the 2010 Camaro blows away that of the competition.

Performance:

The 2010 Chevrolet Camaro is available in three different-trim levels. Entry level models include the LS and LT which are powered by a 3.6 liter direct-injected V6 which gives 300-hp and 273 lb-ft of torque. 0 to 60 mph comes in just 6.1 seconds, with top speed electronically limited at 155 mph. Even with those performance figures, the V6 Camaro returns an EPA rated 29 mpg on the highway (we’ll be testing that in the near future).

Our test car, the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS, was powered by a 6.2L LS3 V8 mated to a 6-speed automatic which provided a whopping 400-hp and maximum torque of 395 lb-ft. Opting for the manual will increase those figures to 422-hp and 408 lb-ft. 0 to 60 is clocked at 4.6 seconds.

Underpinning the 2010 Camaro is GM’s global rear-wheel-drive platform (from the Pontiac G8) which has been stretched out to a 112.3-inch wheelbase, with an overall length of 190.4 inches. The front track is a wide 63.7 inches (1,618 mm) for all models, while the rear track on SS model is 63.7 inches. The new independent rear suspension is a first for the Camaro. It’s a 4.5-link system that includes a unique, L-shaped upper control arm that attaches to the knuckle at one end and incorporates a ride bushing in the rear. Two suspension packages are offered but our 2010 Camaro SS test-car was based on an FE3 performance package, which is a little stiffer than its V6 counterpart. The result is a very sporty yet refined driving experience for the Camaro.

Stopping power for the SS models comes from a Brembo braking system with 355 mm x 32 mm vented rotors and four-piston aluminum calipers. Semi-metallic brake linings are used for superior fade resistance and pedal feel. The four piston caliper rear brakes are vented Brembos measuring 365 mm x 28 mm. In layman’s terms, that means outstanding braking power, which will leave you smiling every time you go from 60 to 0 mph in just 105 feet.

Overall:

When it comes to getting the most value for your money, the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS is the clear winner. With great looks, outstanding performance, and sharp driving dynamics, the 2010 Camaro is priced affordably to compete strong against its other pony car rivals. Prices for the 305-hp 2010 Chevrolet Camaro LS (the base model) start at $22,245. Compare that to a 210-hp 2010 Mustang which starts at $20,995 or a 250-hp Dodge Challenger SE – and you begin to see the picture.

Things become even clearer when you start comparing the 2010 Camaro SS as to the 2010 Mustang GT or the Challenger RT. The 426-hp 2010 Camaro SS starts at $30,245, while the 315-hp 2010 Mustang GT and the 375-hp 2009 Dodge Challenger RT start at $27,995 and $30,945 respectively.

Of course, for those looking to compete in the high-performance muscle car segment, Ford offers the 540-hp 2010 Shelby GT500 while Dodge offers the 425-hp Challenger SRT8. The Camaro Z28 is reported to be launched in 2011. Power is expected to come from the same 556-hp 6.2L LSA V8 supercharged engine from the Cadillac CTS-V. A convertible variant is also due out in 2011.

If anyone were to ask us which muscle car they should purchase in 2009 – our answer would emphatically be; the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro.

Reviewed: 2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS:

-By Stephen Calogera and Ari Klots

- All Photos Copyright ©2009 Omar Rana – egmCarTech.

Today at Comic-con in San Diego, GM announced the release of the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro Transformers Special Edition allowing us Autobot fans a chance to become Sam Witwicky and have our very own Bumblebee parked in our garage.

“When the first TRANSFORMERS movie was setting box office records, we had countless customers asking to purchase the ‘BUMBLEBEE’ Camaro,” said Karen Rafferty, product marketing director, Chevrolet. “Now, they can buy one with the new Camaro TRANSFORMERS Special Edition. Streets all over North America will be buzzing in no time.”

The 2010 Chevrolet Camaro TRANSFORMERS Special Edition includes the following:

- AUTOBOT® shield on the driver and passenger side panels
- AUTOBOT® shield on each of the four wheel’s center cap
- AUTOBOT® shield embroidered on interior center console
- “TRANSFORMERS” logo on driver and passenger doors’ sill plates
- “TRANSFORMERS” logo embedded into the hood rally stripes
- High-gloss black center rally stripe package
- Manufacturer’s suggested retail price of package: $995

The Transformers Special Edition Package is available on both versions of the Camaro: 304-hp V6 and the V8 Camaro SS. Dealers are now taking orders for the car.

2010 Chevrolet Camaro Transformers Special Edition:

- By: Omar Rana

Last week, Camaro5 forum members reported a glitch with the 6-speed transmissions on the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS models. According to GM spokesman Adam Denison, the problem has now been fixed, but the company is keeping it a secret.

“I think they want to keep that one pretty close to their chest,” Denison said.

He said that the failures of the output shaft occurred during standing-start, hard acceleration, with the engine at 5,000 to 6,000 revolutions per minute. About a dozen Camaro SS owners with a Termec 6-speed manual transmission reported the problem.

“It has been a very limited number,” he said. “It is not widespread.” As such, a recall was not necessary.

2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS:

- By: The Daily Auto Editor

Source: NYTimes Wheels

As we put together our review of the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS that we had last week, we realize how much we fell in love with the little sucker. We have yet to test a car that turned that many heads and earned us that much respect. Either way, we decided to include some pictures of our burnout session with the Camaro SS in today’s Miscellaneous Thoughts post.

2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS burnout pictures:

New Bugatti teased in party invitation: Bugatti has been talking about a new model for a while now, which is expected to make its debut in September. A new blurry picture is floating around the internet today and is said to be the first teaser of the new supercar from an invitation to a Bugatti party. – Jalopnik

- By: Omar Rana

You know the routine – it’s time for us to gather up some of our random findings in our daily Miscellaneous Thoughts post.

1993 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 parked next to 2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS: We’re enjoying our last couple of days with the 2010 Camaro SS.  Today we came out and found a 1993 Camaro Z28 parked next to our 2010 Camaro SS. Another day – another Camaro fan drooling over the new-generation. We’ll be taking pictures of both together for our final review.

Congress may extend ‘Cash for Guzzlers’: According to Dave McCurdy, president of the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, Congress could begin to debate an extension of the approved cash-for-guzzlers program as early as this fall if the current program proves to be a success. – Automotive News

GM to get final $20 billion in government loans: Steve Rattner, top advisor to Obama’s auto task force, said that General Motors will get the remaining $20 billion in government bankruptcy financing over the rest of this year and could be ready to launch an initial public stock offering in early 2010. – Reuters

- By: Stephen Calogera

Update: We finally made it to Washington D.C. We’re going to take a little break for now and will update you on our total fuel-economy, average speed and other things shortly. Stay tuned.

It’s July 4th and we have an all-American icon hanging out in our garage – that’s right – the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS that we’re going to be test-driving all week. We figured what better way to celebrate July 4th than to take a mini road-trip in the new 2010 Camaro to our nation’s Capital City – Washington, D.C.

We’ve filled up the tank, reseted our mpg reading and the distance until empty reads 254 miles. Washington, D.C. is about 3 hours and 32 minutes away from our home-base in New Jersey (a total of 200 miles or so). So what are we going to do for the next 3 hours and 32 minutes? We’re going to enjoy the great American highways and provide you live updates during our trip. My friend Mac (from PocketBerry.com) and I will be hitting the road very shortly.

You can follow all the updates via Twitter – but for those of you that hate the Twitter updates, I’ll be posting live updates here.

Join us here and ask us as many question as you want about the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS.

Happy Independence Day everyone.

Click through to view updates.

Update no.1:

2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS cup  holders:

Body-color interior trim panels make for an attractive touch inside:

Update no.2:

Oil Press, Battery Volts, Oil Temp, Trans Temp – 4 things you probably normally wouldn’t care about on your daily drive.

We absolutely love the limited visibility (sarcasm intended):

Update no 3:

Door handle is actually a little further than we would like:

Rear-view mirror is on the Camaro is pretty small – but understandable because of the small windshield:

Update no. 4:

Okay so we’ve travelled a total of 116.4 miles so far and we’ve been averaging a fuel-economy of 18.6 mpg and an average vehicle speed of 60.7 mph.

No navigation system? No problem. Thanks to Mac and PocketBerry.com we are using the BlackBerry Bold 9000 and the TeleNav application.

Side-profile of the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS:

Update no.5:

The cops in D.C. have been very helpful in letting us park in the middle of the street to take pictures of the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS in front of landmarks… as long as we let them check out the car and sit inside it.

Update no.7: A BMW 3-Series Coupe actually has a motorized arm that hands you your seatbelt. The 2010 Camaro has a little strap and button to keep your seatbelt in reach.

Update no.8:

So we’re almost back home, but we’ve been messing around with some gadgets on the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS. Mac (from PocketBerry.com) figured out how to connect his BlackBerry Bold 9000 through the Bluetooth Music Device connection. It worked seamlessly without any glitches and we are now pumping some 80′s tunes from his BlackBerry.

Update no 9:

We just pulled into a service area to use the restrooms so I thought I’d take a pic of the Camaro in the dark.

Update no 10:

We’ve finally made it back to Jersey. Final average fuel-economy came in at 17.6 mpg (ouch) and it took us two tanks to get from D.C. and back. Hope you guys had a good weekend (we definitely did) and we’ll see you tomorrow morning. Goodnight.

- By: Omar Rana

I must say, it is very difficult to sit here and blog while I stare at the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS parked outside. Nonetheless, the show must go on and we must update you on all the automotive news out there. As we do everyday, it is time for some Miscellaneous findings from around the web along with some updates on our 2010 Camaro SS drive.

2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS test-drive updates: I decided to take a bunch of pictures with a digital SLR to give you guys some high-res photos of our Camaro SS test-vehicle. As you can see, we’ve gotten really comfortable with the car and have added our ESCORT radar-detector and my nephew’s Recaro car-seat. Make sure you guys ask me all the questions you want – I’ll be answering as many questions as I can.  GMfan87 – we will definitely get you pictures of some tires getting lit up on the final review.

Wife crashes into husband’s new Corvette Z06 with her Hyundai Genesis: A member of GenesisOwners, who owns a Hyundai Genesis sedan, picked up a brand new Corvette Z06 with her husband. Unfortunately the couple ended up getting into an accident with each other causing over $26,000 worth of damage ($16,000 worth of damages to the Genesis and $10,000 to the Corvette Z06). – GenesisOwners (via Jalopnik)

- By: Omar Rana

As you already know by now, we took delivery of the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS yesterday. We’ve been out test-driving and having fun in it and it is now time to provide you with some updates along with some random findings we’ve come across on the Internet.

2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS: Unfortunately, the 2010 Camaro SS we took delivery of yesterday is an automatic. As enthusiasts, we prefer a manual transmission; nonetheless, we’re getting pretty used to the paddle-shifting that is offered with the automatic transmission. To answer some questions we’ve received from you guys so far:

Pat: Can you tell us the number of people that have come up to you to check it out?

As far as we can remember, we’ve had at least 12 people ask us questions. One man even asked us to pull over and take a look on the inside.

Ivan Gutierrez: No love for the Mustang GT?

As of right now we’re at an all time 2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS high. Our review for the 2010 Ford Mustang GT is coming up on Monday – stay tuned (maybe even tomorrow).

RT: really want to know how it makes u feel driving it? I don’t care much about handling since its not meant to be driven that way, but is it a rewarding car when u put ur foot down, is it memorable, special?

You almost feel like Sam Witwicky driving the 2010 Camaro. It feels totally amazing driving the car; not to mention handling is very much on par with European performance cars. Putting your foot down and feeling the 426-hp push you back is one of the best feelings about this car.

On a side note: We noticed today that the hood vent on the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro is totally cosmetic and serves no purpose on cooling the engine.

11 Cars you’ll see on the roads by 2014: Forbes has just put together a list of 11 cars you’ll be driving in 2014. The list includes the Alfa Romeo MiTo, BMW X1, Fiat 500, Cadillac Converj (don’t bet on that one), Ford C-Max, Honda CR-Z, MINI E and Mini Crossman and the Volkswagen BlueSport. – CNNMoney

- By: Omar Rana

We just took delivery of the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS and I will be driving it around for the next 10 days (honestly, I can’t get myself to get away from it). I’ll be posting live updates throughout my test drive so you can follow me on Twitter and I’ll be sure to post live updates right here every single day. Make sure you ask all the questions you want – I’ll be sure to answer as many as I can.

- By: Omar Rana

General Motors, which is hoping to come out of bankruptcy by August, is struggling to keep up with the demand for the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro. According to GM spokesman Terry Rhadigam, the automaker has filled about half of the 25,000 2010 Camaro orders taken.

GM began producing the 2010 Camaro in March and sold a total of 5,463 units in May.

According to a report form Kelley Blue Book, the 2010 Camaro is being sold with no incentives with prices starting at $22,995 for the V6 model and $30,995 for the V8 Camaro SS.

“It is actually commanding a premium right now, as it is selling slightly above MSRP,” said Kelley Blue Book spokeswoman Joanna McNally. “Camaros are currently selling for nearly $500 above MSRP.

2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS:

2010 Chevrolet Camaro:

- By: Omar Rana

Source: Bloomberg

Hennessey has given us plenty of reasons to fall more in love with the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro. After introducing its HPE550 package that gives the 2010 Camaro an outstanding 562-hp, Hennessey engineers are working on the HPE700.

The HPE700 package throws in the LS9 Supercharged V8 that is found in the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1, boosting output to 705-hp with a maximum torque of 717 lb-ft.

Today, Hennessey released pictures of HPE700 engine swamp and we have to say, it fits quite nicely. The LS9 upgrade will cost you a whopping $39,500 over the initial price-tag of your Camaro. Hennessey says that it already has 13 orders for the HPE700. It will only offer 24 packages.

Hennessey is also working on an 850-hp and a 1,000-hp twin-turbo upgrade for $54,500 and $59,500, respectively.

Hennessey HPE700 2010 Chevrolet Camaro:

- By: Omar Rana

Alright, so to change the pace a little with our ‘Miscellaneous Thoughts’ posts, we thought we’d put together a full video edition. So here you go…

Ferrari F430 catches fire after accident: A Ferrari F430 went up in flames after an accident in Sibiu, Romania. No one was seriously injured but the car was a total loss. – WCF

Tesla Roadster Rally: Tesla Motors hosted a road rally this past weekend to commemorate the company’s 500th Roadster delivery and the one-year anniversary of its first retail store. You can check out photos from the rally over at Speed and Motion.

Edmunds drives the Hennessey Camaro HPE550: The folks over at Edmunds took a spin in the 562-hp Hennessey Camaro HPE550. Check out the video after the jump. – Edmunds

- By: Mo Eladawy

Ever wonder how the new muscle car generation compares to their classic predecessors? So did these people that decided to drag race a 2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS against a 1968 Camaro SS. Both models have the RS packages.

However, the 1968 Camaro SS is not stock. It has a 406 cubic inch V8 with a 5-speed manual and a 3.73:1 posi rear end. The 2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS is stock with some nice looking GM Performance Parts accessories.

There is also a video of the 2010 Camaro SS racing against a 1972 Chevelle big block and a Mustang GT500. 

Oh, and did we mention that all these races take place on a bridge? Very daring.

Click through for the videos.

2010 Camaro SS vs. 1968 Camaro SS:

2010 Camaro SS vs. 1972 Chevelle:

2010 Camaro SS vs. Ford Shelby GT500:

- By: Kap Shah

Source: YouTube (via Camaro5)

If you watched the Indy 500 over the weekend, then you most likely saw the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS Pace Car take the track. The Indy 500 is no new territory for the Camaro – the model has paced the race give times since its introduction in 1967.

Although, for the first time, GM will not offer a Indy Camaro Pace Car replica for the street model. Each previous model of the Camaro has seen anywhere between 100 to 6,000 replicas of the Indy Camaro Pace Car for collectors.

“The new Camaro has and will pace a lot of races including Indy and Daytona,” Chevrolet spokesman Terry Rhadigan told Inside Line. “In order to keep special editions special, we can’t go to that well too often. Plus, sales of the new car are phenomenal.”

Indy 500 2010 Chevrolet Camaro Pace Car:

- By: The Daily Auto Editor

Source: Inside Line

Earlier this year, there were reports about the Chevrolet Camaro Convertible being canceled due to supplier trouble. After that, we heard reports that GM finally worked out its supplier problems and that the Camaro Convertible was back in the product plans and will arrive in early 2010.

Well, 2010 may be too soon. GM spokesman Terry Rhadigan confirmed today that the Camaro Convertible will go into production in early 2011.

“The convertible was never canceled. It was retimed. It will be the first quarter of 2011 for the start of production,” Rhadigan told Automotive News.

Rhadigan said that GM originally planned to introduce the convertible in early 2010. He confirmed that both V6 and V8 models will feature a fabric top.

- By: Omar Rana

Jason Drees of Symdon Chevrolet-Pontiac in Wisconsin has just confirmed that GM will be offering a limited-edition 2010 Chevrolet Camaro Bumblebee package, which will be available to order starting June 1. Production of the limited-edition Bumblebee 2010 Camaro will run from June 24 to December.

The package will be available on LT and SS models and will feature the Rally Yellow with black Bumblebee stripes and Transformers badging on wheel centers, sill plates and embroidered console lid.

Transformers 2 Bumblebee 2010 Chevrolet Camaro:

- By: Omar Rana

Source: Camaro5

Here are some of today’s random findings from the editor’s desk here at egmCarTech.

Is the 2010 Camaro’s popularity causing GM headaches? Apparently, the popularity of the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro is causing GM executives some headaches. There is no doubt that the return of the muscle car has generated a huge fan base. GM has taken 18,000 firm orders for the Camaro and has even added a Saturday shift to Oshawa, Ontario, plant where the car is built. Nonetheless, the Camaro is raising some serious questions in Washington about GM’s product development plans. – Financial Times

Saab confirms three bidders, confident it will get more time to restructure: Saab said today that it is certain that the Swedish courts will give it more time to restructure. It confirmed it has narrowed its list of ten bidders to three. It said that one of the potential remaining bidders will acquire the brand by early summer.

Chevrolet Cruze Safety Car causes crash at FIA WTTC: During a race, safety cars are responsible to slow the pace of racers during a crash. However, at this weekend’s FIA WTTC race in Pau, France, the Chevrolet Cruze Safety Car was responsible for causing a crash; either way, it did slow down the pace of racers.

Click through to watch the video of the crash.

- By: Omar Rana