Skip to main content
HOME   |   ABOUT   |   NEWS   |   TECH ARTICLES   |   AT THE TRACK   |   REVIEWS   |   VIDEOS   |   CONTACT ME

The Camaro Z/28 is back!




The refreshed look of the Camaro that's supposed to keep it hot until the next generation is good for sales. The car looks sharper and the rear ends digs deep into Chevy's heritage - the 1967 Chevrolet Impala.. but what's bound to get a lot of people talking is the beast of a machine that is the Camaro Z/28. Chevy means business with this car. No matter how you look at it, this car screams track-ready performance.

On the outside, a larger front splitter and rear spoiler replace the ones used on the run-of-the-mill SS. Flared wheel arches with nearly flush wheels show that the front and rear tracks have been widened. Lightweight 19" wheels are wrapped in massive 305-series tires and larger brake rotors and callipers are clearly visible. But there are even more changes under all the visible upgrades.




There has been rumours towards the end of last year that the 7.0 litre LS7 V8 used in the Corvette Z06 will find its way under the hood of a Camaro. "Leaked" data showed that the engine seems to actually be an option on the Camaro spec sheet.. but it wasn't confirmed until the reveal of the Z/28. The car will come equipped with the LS7 V8 producing "at least" 500 hp and 470 lb-ft of torque. The engine will be mated to a 6-speed Tremec TR6060 manual transmission and I doubt it will be offered with an automatic like the ZL1.

The engine is hand-assembled from top end parts including:

- Titanium intake valves and connecting rods
- Sodium filled exhaust valves for better heat dissipation
- CNC-ported aluminum cylinder heads
- Forged steel crankshaft and main bearing caps
- High-lift camshaft
- Hydroformed exhaust headers
- 10.5-quart dry sump oiling system

All of this allows the engine to use a high 11.0:1 compression ratio and revs up to a 7,000 rpm redline, which is very impressive for a 7.0 litre V8.

While the added power is nothing to sneeze at, Chevy also dropped weight via lightweight wheels, brakes, thinner rear panel glass and more. Full details about the upgrades haven't been revealed but what is confirmed is that the Z/28 will be about 300 lb. lighter than the supercharged Camaro ZL1. This should mean that it weighs about the same as a base manual Camaro SS, despite having larger brakes, wheels, and tires, aero enhancements and (no doubt) larger radiator and cooling for the transmission and differential.




On the inside, excellent Recaro seats await the driver and a meaty flat-bottom steering wheel that looks to be wrapped in suede. Air conditioning has been made a stand alone option so that those who just want to save as much weight as possible and focus on track performance can keep it out.




To help put the power down, huge 305/30ZR19 ultra high performance Pirelli PZero Trofeo R tires (first on a production car) wrap the 19" lightweight forged wheels. That size tire is also believed to be the widest used on the front of any production car. Behind the wheels and tires sit massive brakes front and back to shed off speed when needed. On the front, 394 x 36 mm brembo Carbon Ceramic Matrix™ rotors are matched with 6 piston callipers. On the back, 390 x 32 mm fixed monoblock callipers and 4 piston callipers are utilized. This setup saves about 28 lb. compared to 2-piece steel rotors. Other chassis and suspension revisions have been made which achieve impressive feats such as 1.05 g lateral acceleration around corners and 1.50 g deceleration (that's high!) along with consistent brake feel and performance.




All of the upgrades result in the Z/28 being a whole 3-seconds quicker than the ZL1 on average, according to Chevrolet. In Car and Driver's Lightning Lap 2013, the Camaro ZL1 posted a lap time of 2:57.5. If the 3-second lead holds true on VIR (the track that Car and Driver holds Lightning Lap tests at), the Z/28 could post a lap time of 2:54.5 - that would make it quicker than cars like the 2011 Porsche 911 GT3 RS, Lexus LFA and Ferrari 430 Scuderia all of which are several hundred pounds lighter and have better power-to-weight ratios with the Lexus LFA actually have more gross power. Now that would earn some serious bragging rights..

This is what the Camaro lineup needed all along. Although the Camaro SS 1LE has already posted better lap times than the Boss 302 Laguna Seca, it didn't seem to have grabbed as much interest or improved the image of the Camaro lineup as much as the Boss 302 did. It could be because the Boss 302 was first to the party as the very quick naturally aspirated car. It could be that the Boss 302 was more track focused and got its own engine while the Camaro had to do with only suspension upgrades (which were very effective). It could even be as simple as more effective advertising by Ford. Whatever the case may be, the Camaro Z/28 is very different from the SS 1LE and should do the same to the Camaro lineup as did the Boss 302 to the Mustang lineup. Will Ford and Chrysler (SRT) have an answer to this? I doubt they will let this go without a competitor. This is a great time to be a car enthusiast!

Source: Slash Gear and Chevrolet

Comments

  1. The Camaro is stylish and presents a new look. I like the wheels which offers high performance, quality and just a glimpse makes me want to try this ride. The unique designs perfect and suitable for this Camaro. For a new design in the market this is awesome work.

    ReplyDelete
  2. 2014 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28. He's emblematic with improved aerodynamic performance and stability at high speeds.

    Chevrolet unveiled the redesigned 2014 Camaro line at the Auto Show New York, including the return of the Z/28, the flagship model of Camaro history.

    2014 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 presents a revised exterior design that integrates high performance aerodynamics for a more efficient cooling and stability at high speeds.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment







Does An Aftermarket Grille Really Increase Airflow?
I put a Saleen S281 grille to the test to answer that question.

Stock Suspension S197 Mustang With Square 305/30/19's
What you need to fit a proper size square tire setup.

How Limited Slip Diffs Make You Faster on Track
What you need to know about how they put power down and pros and cons.

Can Telemetry Explain Schumacher's Talent?
A comparison between Schumacher's and then team mate Herbert's data.






Cayman GT4 Track Review
The first Cayman with proper (911-challenging) power.

Is an EcoBoost Mustang any good on Track?
Two days at the track in a Mustang short 4 cylinders.

2016 BMW M4 DCT Track Review
It's quick (properly quick). But is it fun?

Can a stock Golf Diesel handle a Track Day?
Not your every day track beater.




🔥 Most Visited This Week

Falken Azenis RT615k+ Street and Track Review

Last year, I picked up a 2009 Lancer Ralliart to do a long term test with it as a dual duty track/daily. One of the first things I knew I was going to do was put a decent set of tires on it. The car came without OEM wheels which was actually good because I didn't have to hesitate about getting a good set of aftermarket wheels to support going wider. Thankfully, my friends at YST Auto Halifax  set me up with a great set of Superspeed RF03RR wheels. The Wheels I had never even heard of Superspeed but I trusted the good folk at YST Auto who mentioned some customer cars running on track with them. These wheels are rotary forged which is basically a prerequisite to be taken seriously in this market populated by companies like TSW and Fast Wheels. The wheels looked like a high quality, well finished wheel and each had a "QC" check sticker on. Just for appearances? Maybe, but I found no defects. The wheels seemed easy to balance (didn't need many weights) and at 18.1 lb. f

Michelin Pilot Super Sports vs Firestone Firehawk Indy 500 - Street Review

I've been a huge fan of Michelin PSS tires and exclusively bought them for the Mustang over the last four years. So how did I end up here? This year, I was hugely interested in trying an "R-comp" tire. I had my eyes set on Bridgestone Potenza RE-71R's for two simple reasons: price and reputation. Although not a true "R-comp" tire on paper, it performs like one by the account of every single test and review I've read (down to wear rates...). They seem like they're easily the most affordable (from a big brand) R-comp tire and combine that with a reputation for having tons of grip, it was an easy top contender. I had my concerns, though. For one, I'm told and have read that they are an autox tire, not really designed for high speed, pressure, and temps associated with open track. For another, the Mustang is a heavy car (as far as track cars are concerned) being roughly 3,800 lb. (including driver), which will amplify the unwanted open track load

GTR vs Evo X vs STI: which has the best AWD system?

A few weeks ago, I made a post explaining  mainstream AWD system types and how they compare , pros and cons, etc. including some simple diagrams to show where the power goes and how much. As promised, this post will focus on specific cars and what AWD systems they use, especially ones that that have more or less been defined by their AWD systems, and the best place to start may be with a bombshell; the Nissan GT-R. Nissan GT-R (R35) The GT-R has built a reputation around having monster traction and very approachable performance, thanks to its AWD system - Advanced Total Traction Engineering System for All-Terrain (ATTESA) - and what it can do for you. But the GT-R doesn't actually use the most mechanically sophisticated type of AWD systems discussed in the previous article, namely a "true" AWD with a centre differential. Instead, it uses a clutch pack to transfer power. RWD-based clutch-type AWD schematic - Rams Eye The Track Guy © The R32, R33, and R34 Sky

Winter Car Maintenance Tips

It's this time of the year again and I thought I would share a few winter maintenance tips that can be overlooked but they can keep a vehicle running better and more safely. 1- Tires They're the only components that connect your vehicle to the road. Regardless of the capability of a vehicle's drivetrain and suspension or how strong the brakes are, they will handle only as well as the tires allow them to. Always get snow tires and not summer or all season tires if snow stays on the ground. If you only get rain but no snow where you live, all season tires are a great choice. Check tread regularly to make sure the grooves are deep enough. Tires have wear bars which indicate  when the amount of tread left is unsafe for driving. Snow tires have two wear bars; one for dry/wet driving and one for snow driving. If the tread is at the taller wear bar (the snow wear bar), the tires are not safe for snow driving but may still be used in the rain or dry. If the tread reaches the