Try to imagine the perfect driver for the 2018 Chevrolet Camaro 2SS Hot Wheels Edition.
I think the target customer is a 60-year-old man in Kingsport, Tennessee, who just sold his family dry-cleaning business for a high six-figure amount to his third cousin from Strawberry Plains, Tennessee. Although not a graduate of the state university, he is a passionate Tennessee Vols fan. The combination of the Crush (orange) exterior and his nostalgia for the Hot Wheels toy cars of his childhood, make this Camaro nearly irresistible.
The interior of a special edition Hot Wheels Camaro is shown at Coolidge Park on Wednesday, Aug. 29, 2018, in Chattanooga, Tenn.FAST FACTS
* Model: Camaro 2SS Coupe Hot Wheels Edition* Exterior color: Crush (Orange)* Interior color: Jet Black/Orange* Engine: 6.2-liter, V-8* Horsepower: 455* Transmission: eight-speed automatic* Fuel economy: 27 mpg highway, 17 mpg city* Local Dealer: Integrity Chevrolet, Mountain View Chevrolet* Price (as tested): $52,570
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As a present to himself for 40 years of hard work, he buys this car which he enjoys driving to get hot dogs and tater tots from Sonic and to the monthly Saturday-morning town-square car show in a neighboring county. In the fall, he'll take the Camaro to Vols football games where he will park in a remote Food City lot to avoid door dings.
It's not often that you see a childhood toy come to life, and the bight-orange Camaro looks like it would be right at home flying down a orange plastic track with a 360-degree loop at the bottom. Instead, it's a full scale Camaro in 2SS trim, which means it comes equipped with a 6.2-liter V-8 engine that makes 455 horsepower, which will not do loops but will certainly do doughnuts.
WHAT IS IT? The Camaro 2SS Coupe Hot Wheels edition is a special issue automobile that commemorates both the 50th anniversary of the Camaro brand (2017) and the the 50th anniversary of die-cast Hot Wheels cars. The Hot Wheels package is cosmetic and includes graphite racing stripes, 20-inch forged aluminum wheels, 50th Anniversary Hot Wheels fender badges, orange brake calipers, jet black interior with orange inserts, illuminated door sills and too many badges and emblems to mention.
WHAT DOES IT COST? The MSRP on our tester is $52,570, but that includes nearly $10,000 in options, including the $4,995 Hot Wheels package. A Magnetic Ride Control suspension is $1,695 and an eight-speed automatic transmission is $1,495. Our tester also includes a performance exhaust system ($895) and an audio/navigation upgrade mated to an eight-inch touch-screen ($495).
WHAT WE LIKED: The throaty exhaust note, terrific throttle response, cool virtual gauges, the uncluttered dash, the shocking Crush exterior color, the bolstered seats with orange leather inserts, and the Bose stereo system.
YOU'LL LEARN TO LIVE WITH: The high trunk lift-over height, pinched visibility, small rear seats, limited center stack storage options and the hard arm rests.
FUEL ECONOMY: Opting for the 6.2-liter V-8 means you won't be prioritizing fuel economy. Still, the Camaro 2SS gets a respectable 27 mpg highway and 17 mpg city.
IS IT A GOOD MOUNTAIN CAR? You certainly won't have any trouble climbing mountains unless you encounter ice or snow. Then, the Camaro's summer tires and low stance will presents some problems. For most buyers, though, this will be a second or third car, reserved for fair weather cruising.
BOTTOM LINE: If you are a younger baby boomer, all these Hot Wheels badges will trigger pleasant memories. And because it's a special edition, it's likely to hold its value better than other muscle cars. If you can live without the glow-in-the-dark paint, you can purchase an identically-performing Camaro 2SS for thousands less.
Contact Mark Kennedy at mkennedy@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6645. Follow him on Twitter @TFPCOLUMNIST. Subscribe to his Facebook updates at www.facebook.com/mkennedycolumnist.
A special edition Hot Wheels Camaro is shown at Coolidge Park on Wednesday, Aug. 29, 2018, in Chattanooga, Tenn.