camaro rs vs camaro ss

Camaro RS vs SS (Which One is Faster?)

In this article, I am going to be doing a Camaro RS vs SS comparison. I will be looking at the main differences and similarities between the two vehicles. I aim to, hopefully, supply you with information that will help you get a better understanding of these two trims.

Dubbed the “Poor Man’s Sports Car” The Camaro is one of those iconic American vehicles that scream “muscle car!” when you think of or see it. Though it has long been removed from its muscle car roots, it is still a beast that packs a heck of a punch.

In short, the main difference between Chevy Camaro RS and SS is that the Camaro SS has 455 Horsepower and can do 0-60 Miles in 4 seconds whereas the RS produces 335 Horsepower and can do 0-60 Miles in 6 seconds. 

What Do RS and SS Stand For on a Camaro?

The SS on a Camaro stands for “Super Sport” while the RS stands for “Rally Sport”. The new Camaro SS can do 0-60Mph in just 4 seconds. Thanks to its 455 horsepower. Unfortunately, Chevy stopped making the Camaro RS. The RS packs 335 horsepower and could do 0-60 in about six seconds.

It is quite an impressive car itself. The SS is significantly faster than the RS. Even the older generation of the SS could outperform the RS. Horsepower ranged between 420-and 450 while the RS ranged between 310-and 335. Let us look at the key differences between the RS and the SS

What Is The Difference Between the SS and the RS?

SS is the performance option that is featured on the Camaro. The SS gives you improved aesthetics, suspension, and power. RS stands for Rally Sport and you can basically get it on all the trims. One of its unique features is the hideaway lights as well as other aesthetics.

The SS has a special badge and trim and there is a choice of a performance V8. The RS on the other hand has an appearance package only with a special grille treatment.

This includes hidden and different headlights from the standard Camaro. It also has a special RS badging just like the SS with a special chrome and blackout trim. The Camaro RS has a 3.6-liter V6 engine.

The Camaro SS on the other hand comes with a 6.2 V8 engine. So the main difference engine-wise is just the number of cylinders and the displacement.

What Does Camaro RS Package Include?

Being an appearance package, the Camaro RS comes with the following:

  1. Projector headlights with LED daylights
  2. 20-inch wheels
  3. Leather interior RS Badge
  4. 3.6L V6 Engine 21mpg combined, 18mpg city, and 27mpg highway

Although the RS is somewhat looked down upon because it’s a V6, this engine is not at all tame by any means. It does 0-60 in an impressive 4.9 seconds. It does not fall short in that respect and will give you the ultimate Camaro experience. It’s not just about style.

What Does Camaro SS Package Include?

The Camaro SS on the other hand features:

  1. Vents on the hood
  2. 4 piston Brembo brakes
  3. 20-inch wheels
  4. Projector headlamps with LED daylights
  5. Leather interior
  6. SS Badge
  7. 6.2L LT1 V8 Engine 18mpg combined, 15mpg city and 24mpg highway

History of the Camaro Trims

The Camaro was first introduced by Chevrolet in 1966 as a model for 1967. The first Camaro was rear-wheel powered. You would get it as a two-door and it could carry four people.

This first version was a hardtop and it was convertible. It was on the F-body platform which was the same as on the Pontiac Firebird. While the V8 was an available option, a 230 cu was standard in a Chevrolet straight-six. The 1969 model year is when the first-generation Camaro was built.

Back then there were three main packages available on the Camaro models. RS – This was an appearance package and was available on any model. It featured hidden headlights and revised taillights that had backup lights under the rear bumper.

It also had the RS badging and the exterior bright trim. SS – This was a performance package that came with 350 cu in (5.7L) or 396 cu in (6.5L) V8 and it had chassis upgrades for improved handling to deal with the additional power. The SS also had air inlets(non-functional) on the hood. It would also come with special striping and SS badging.

Z/28 – This was also a performance package. It was meant to compete with the SCCA Trans-Am Series. It had 302 cu in (4.9L) V8, a four-speed transmission, power disc brakes, and two stripes on the hood and trunk lid.

Chevrolet produced all these different models to cater to different customers in the personal car market with the V6 being the entry-level and the high-performing V8s on the high end. In 1967 it was possible to order both the RS and SS features on a single Camaro. You would basically have an RS/SS and enjoy features from both packages on one car.

How Can You Tell if a Camaro is an RS or SS?

For the modern RS and SS, there are a few physical features to help you tell the two apart. With older models, you may have to do a closer inspection like checking the trim tag codes or checking the VIN.

Fortunately for the newer ones, one of the simplest ways to tell which one is which is by looking at the hood and inside the wheels. The SS trim has vents on the hood while the RS does not. A disclaimer here is that this only applies to the stock models.

Modifies Camaro RS can have a supercharger and the vents installed as an aftermarket addon. The other difference is that the SS comes with Brembo brakes which are very visible from the outside. The final thing is that both will have the relevant badge on them. Other than that, there really isn’t much else to separate them merely from looking alone.

Which One is Faster RS or SS Camaro?

The Camaro SS is the faster of the two. It packs a bigger 6.2 V8 engine that is capable of producing up to 450 horsepower while the RS is capable of producing 335 horsepower with its 3.6L V6 engine. The difference in terms of speed is quite noticeable. That being said, the 3.6L V6 Camaro is still a very fast car.

Conclusion

So, there you have it. These are the differences between the Camaro Rs vs the SS. Hopefully, this post leaves you better informed on the differences and similarities between the two

Sources:

https://www.caranddriver.com/features/g15382545/chevrolet-camaro-generations-body-styles/