The Last Gas

As the historic nameplate sunsets, rumors of an electric Camaro persist.

Chevrolet's iconic muscle car, the Camaro, is going away and we are sad about it. Whether or not the nameplate will return is still up in the air, as rumors about an electric offshoot persist. But its internal-combustion legacy isn't over just yet, as Chevrolet is releasing a handful of final-edition Camaros to the buying public.

The design is hardcore, with an entirely murdered-out color scheme and aggressive body panels. Chevy calls this color Panther Black Metallic Tintcoat with Satin Black accent stripes and 20-inch Satin Black Forged Wheels, while the front splitter from the 1LE and rear spoiler from the ZL1 package are fitted to all Collector's Edition models. These special touches will be available in LT/RS, LT1, and SS trims, though a limited run of 350 ZL1 Collector's Edition units will be offered as well.

That means you can get a Collector's Edition with a 3.6-liter V6, though we're always inclined toward a V8 if one is available. No matter the engine you choose, these final Camaros will feature one commonality—a unique front fender script badging that integrates a panther into the "R" and a panther on the steering wheel badge. Two commemorative posters and custom floor mats are also included, for the diehard Camaro fans among us.

"We found it fitting for this Collector's Edition Camaro to officially recognize the significance of the original code name and share it with Camaro enthusiasts," said Rich Scheer, design director of Chevrolet Performance. "Of course, the name 'Panther' influenced the colors used—Panther Black Metallic for SS and Panther Matte Black for ZL1."

Beyond this special edition, Chevrolet is shaking up the final model year offering by killing the 275-hp, 2.0-liter turbocharged inline four-cylinder powerplant. Only the V6 and LT4 V8 engines remain, meaning the base price of a Camaro has now risen to $32,495. That's $4700 more than the previous starting price of $27,795.

The move to thin out the Camaro product line before its demise makes sense, but Camaro fans shouldn't fully mourn just yet. Earlier this year, Chevrolet executives ensured fans that the end of the Camaro's legacy is nowhere near, pointing to its continuing racing career and the potential for future models.

"While we are not announcing an immediate successor today, rest assured, this is not the end of Camaro's story," said Chevrolet Global Vice President Scott Bell. And there is wide speculation about what that will mean for Chevrolet and the historic nameplate.

Our friends at Car and Driver have it on reliable authority that a Chevrolet Camaro EV crossover is in the works, following a Corvette crossover concept. Similar to the incoming Blazer EV, the Camaro crossover is likely to feature a broad stance, with a strong possibility of the model being a two-door. If successful for General Motors, this move would increase EV market share and potentially cut into Ford's Mustang Mach-E sales, too. That is, if Chevrolet can pull off an electric, crossover Camaro as successfully as Ford, minus the inevitable bunch of angry purists.

Would you buy a two-door, battery-electric Camaro crossover? Or is that sacrilegious? Please share your thoughts below.

A New York transplant hailing from the Pacific Northwest, Emmet White has a passion for anything that goes: cars, bicycles, planes, and motorcycles. After learning to ride at 17, Emmet worked in the motorcycle industry before joining Autoweek in 2022. The woes of alternate side parking have kept his fleet moderate, with a 2014 Volkswagen Jetta GLI and a 2003 Honda Nighthawk 750 street parked in his South Brooklyn community.

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