Third Generation Camaro (1982 - 1992)
By 1982, General Motors began to release the third generation of Chevrolet Camaro. The automobile manufacturer knew how to keep up with the emerging trends very well. This era marked the introduction of certain advanced features such as electronic fuel injection systems, five speed transmissions (those who liked automatic transmissions could now enjoy the four speed systems that came with the car) and 16-inch wheels. Anyway, this brief section contains certain other interesting snippets into the third iteration of Camaros ever released by the company.
The inclusion of the four cylinder engines into the Camaro was one of the best aspects of this time. The fuel prices were on the rise, and the company had to provide something or the other to keep up with the expectations of the consumers according to The Automotive Update. The four cylinder engines with came with electronic fuel injection mechanisms ensured top notch performance levels without making a dent into the hard earned savings of the average American. Another major introduction was the hatchback style into the Camaro. It helped in maintaining that sleek yet aggressive look for the car.
Five offerings were available from General Motors when it came to powerhouse engines. The base model included a 2.5L engine. The consumers had the option to select from either one of the 2.8L or 5.0L engines - if they wanted raw performance levels. Back then, three models of Camaros that was available; they were the Sports Coupe, the Berlinetta and the Z28. The Z28 managed to generate much attraction and was even crowned the Car of the Year 1982. Ironically, people never seemed to stop comparing the Camaro and the Mustang (of that time). It is needless to state that the car gained much flank from the critics who complained about the shoddy handling of the all-new Camaro.
The manufacturer came up with innovative plans to revamp the interiors, especially the instrument panel in the Berlinetta. This paved the way for the newer all-electronic instrumentation (which according to some sources was inspired by the then popular Star Wars series). The company started to fine-tune their offers after considering the complaints regarding the difficulty in handling the vehicle at high speeds. By 1984, it even managed to obtain the Best Handling Car Award! The Camaro IROC-Z gained much attention during the 1985, as it was reminiscent of racing cars developed during the time.
Power ratings of the Camaro's engines began to decrease in the oncoming years - a trend which continued until 1992. Augmented changes included into the core structure of the engine along with the use of high performance accessories ensured a safe spot for the Chevrolet Camaro in the minds of Americans. The inclusion of the third braking light (a norm commonly found in almost all the cars of this era) was yet another milestone attained by General Motors. During the latter years, especially towards 1992, the company began to modify the existing models to cater for the requirements of drag racers (such as reducing the overall weight of the car).