Fanboys and girls in the U.S. have to wait another day or two to get their first look at “Transformers: Dark of the Moon” in theaters, but they can start salivating over Chevrolet’s latest Bumblebee-look Camaro today.
The appearance package includes black rally stripes that run the length of the car, a unique rear spoiler, black 20-inch wheels with Autobot logos and Autobot shields on the front fenders. The interior features yellow-stitched leather upholstery with logos on the front headrests and center console.
The special edition is only available on top of the line 2012 2LT six-cylinder and 2SS eight-cylinder versions of the Camaro, and its $3,000 price includes the RS appearance package, which currently costs $1,600 as a standalone package on V6 models, $1,300 on V8s. Upgraded 21-inch wheels and a black ground effects package will also be available as dealer-installed options.
Chevrolet’s relationship with the Transformers franchise began with the release of the first film in the series in 2007, which featured a concept version of the Camaro in the role of Bumblebee, two years before the car entered production. The automaker first offered a Transformers edition Camaro in 2009 in concert with the release of “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen,” the same year that the fifth-generation of the model went on sale after a seven-year hiatus.
Orders for the new special edition Camaro begin in July, with initial deliveries slated for September. The renderings released of the car show a suede-like trim on the face of the dashboard not seen on today's car, visual confirmation that the interior of the Camaro will be upgraded for the 2012 model year. The high-performance Camaro ZL1 concept introduced at this year's Chicago Auto Show featured the same trim. That car is slated to go on sale in January of 2012 with a 550 hp supercharged V8 engine and advanced active suspension system.
No word yet if Bumblebee will be getting the same upgrades for a fourth film.