Australian Camaro Sales Assured

GYMPIE, AUSTALIA – March 12, 2010: The availability of right-hand drive Chevrolet Camaros for Australian buyers is assured despite news Holden has abandoned its plans to import the acclaimed muscle car.

Specialist importer Performax International says any Holden decision will not affect its current program of importing and engineering the world's first RHD Camaros.

The Queensland company launched the first Camaros for sale in Australia last month and already has taken 12 orders.

A new top-of-the-range Camaro 2SS model, ready to register and with Australian Design Rule certification and full factory warranty, is priced at $135,000 plus on-road charges.

Holden has been reported to be considering importing the striking V8 coupe, which it helped to design and develop on the VE Commodore platform for its parent company General Motors.

But at the Geneva motor show last week, GM product boss Bob Lutz was quoted as saying the factory RHD Camaro project had been sidelined so the manufacturer could focus on developing hybrid and electric cars.

Performax International General Manager Glenn Soper said the Australian market offered good potential for the Camaro.

"Media and customer interest in the Performax-engineered RHD Camaro has been tremendous since we launched it recently," Mr Soper said.

"Performax International was first in Australia with the Camaro and we have achieved factory-standard engineering and finish quality in producing right-hand drive versions.

"Whatever any other importer decides to do or not do, Performax is proud to have the first and best RHD Camaros and we expect plenty will be finding their way to owners around Australia."

Re-engineering the new Camaro from left-hand drive to right-hand drive requires more than 250 hours in the workshop, making modifications and fitting new components designed and manufactured by Performax International to ISO-accredited standards.

The work involves changes to steering, emissions equipment, lighting, air-conditioning and ventilation and body.

Performax uses three-dimensional scanners, CAD-CAM design and 3D printers to prototype new components such as the dashboard, wiper cowl, door linings and centre console with factory-quality functionality, fit and finish. These are then reproduced by plastic injection-moulding.

"It's a major job achieved with the benefit of Performax International's 20 years' experience in the industry and our use of the latest computer-aided processes," Mr Soper said.

"The Camaro is our best product yet and achieved its ADR certification with flying colours. Our goal was to produce a right-hand drive Camaro that drives and looks as it would at home in the United States, and we've certainly achieved that."

The Camaro 2SS package features a 318 kiloWatt GM LS3 alloy V8 engine, Tremec six-speed manual transmission, StabiliTrak Electronic Stability Control with Traction Control, high-performance Brembo brakes with four-piston aluminium calipers, cruise control, Bluetooth, tilt and telescopic steering wheel, Boston Acoustic 245 Watt stereo system with nine speakers and auxiliary/USB input jacks, leather seats, steering wheel and shift knob and front, side and head-curtain airbags.

Performax International is Australia's largest and most experienced independent importer of American motor vehicles.

Established in 1989 as Corvette Queensland, it has delivered thousands of right- hand drive cars, pick-ups and off-road vehicles from its factory at Gympie on the northern Sunshine Coast of Queensland.

In addition to the new Chevy Camaro, Performax International also currently imports new from the US, engineers to RHD and sells the Corvette ZR1, Z06 and C6, Ford Mustang GT and Shelby GT500, Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra sports trucks and Hummer H2 SUV. It also undertakes customer-ordered conversions.

All vehicles carry full Australian Design Rule compliance, with work performed in-house to certified ISO Quality Assurance standards.