Camaro Z-28 @ Nurburgring Options

[carr914]

I want to buy a Camaro!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qj1h75vA1Jw

[Type 47]

Gotta love that LS7 HP and getting air @ 135 mph. The big Brembos and factory tuned suspension aren't bad either.

I wonder what the lap time would have been if the track wasn't wet?

[carr914]

Topped out at 159 MPH, I've seen Videos of Hans Stuck at over 180 in a BMW V8.

Still impressive

[SLITS]

161

[Randal]

Pretty fast driving in the rain. Looks like a fun car.

[Elliot Cannon]

Was that a showroom car or was it uuum, "tweeked"?

[messix]

that was one loose ride!

definitely traction challenged.

[bulitt]

Topped out at 159 MPH, I've seen Videos of Hans Stuck at over 180 in a BMW V8.

Still impressive

Very high gearing.

[Rleog]

Driver?

[ThePaintedMan]

I wonder if it was Jim Mero again. He was the engineer working on the Corvette that decided to take it to the track back in 2011 and set the record (at the time). Didn't ask Chevy's permission, just went and did it.

[914forme]

The Z28 is a redesigned version for SCCA Trans-Am 2 class. It has better aero, less weight, revised suspension settings, shocks, springs and antiroll bars. The nice thing is it has a proven itself to be fastest Camaro in current production on the track. On the street, it might not be the best choice. But who gives a crap about a few 10ths on the street. GM Milford proving grounds it laps 3 seconds faster than its next of kin.

Now It set the fastest time at Nürburgring for any American Production muscle car. So its not a slouch by any means, being damp, means more time is to be had.

Way to go Chevy, bringing back product people might actually want to buy. Now please give us a mid-size RWD or AWD (not based on FWD platform) coupe or sedan. Great handling, a shifter, and the third pedal, know as a clutch. Decent fuel mileage in the low 40s, you guys can do it, so just do it already.

[worn]

Now please give us a mid-size RWD or AWD (not based on FWD platform) coupe or sedan. Great handling, a shifter, and the third pedal, know as a clutch. Decent fuel mileage in the low 40s, you guys can do it, so just do it already.

No. Instead they will spend 100s of millions in advertising telling you what you should want, and it wont have a stick and it won't get good mileage. Detroit, especially GM, has never seemed to grasp the concept of filling needs. They seem to think it is our job to want the product. With all that said, I would buy an American car any day. But the 94 Escort I bought new still gets me around in winter, so I don't have to...yet.

[Type 47]

Topped out at 159 MPH, I've seen Videos of Hans Stuck at over 180 in a BMW V8.

Still impressive

The BMW not in a street production car

Was that a showroom car or was it uuum, "tweeked"?

manufactures use the ring as a development track and one the they can benchmark against other makes. if it was "tweeked" they couldn't use the lap times as a marketing tool so no not "tweeked" and also on the tires it will leave the showroom with.

that was one loose ride!

definitely traction challenged.

a...it was raining and on street tires

I wonder if it was Jim Mero again. He was the engineer working on the Corvette that decided to take it to the track back in 2011 and set the record (at the time). Didn't ask Chevy's permission, just went and did it.

no it was Adam Dean

Now please give us a mid-size RWD or AWD (not based on FWD platform) coupe or sedan. Great handling, a shifter, and the third pedal, know as a clutch. Decent fuel mileage in the low 40s, you guys can do it, so just do it already.

No. Instead they will spend 100s of millions in advertising telling you what you should want, and it wont have a stick and it won't get good mileage. Detroit, especially GM, has never seemed to grasp the concept of filling needs. They seem to think it is our job to want the product. With all that said, I would buy an American car any day. But the 94 Escort I bought new still gets me around in winter, so I don't have to...yet.

really. really. GM builds a track demon version of the Camaro and you state "GM, has never seemed to grasp the concept of filling needs." That's got to be one of the most crazy statements I've heard in a long time. GM provides the Camaro in a base V6, SS, 1LE, the supercharged ZL1, and now the track Z28. the Camaro is not for everyone but for people who do like it, they have a lot of choices...err needs filled.

BTW: my LS7 Vette gets 28 MPG on the highway.

[billh1963]

Topped out at 159 MPH, I've seen Videos of Hans Stuck at over 180 in a BMW V8.

Still impressive

The BMW not in a street production car

Was that a showroom car or was it uuum, "tweeked"?

manufactures use the ring as a development track and one the they can benchmark against other makes. if it was "tweeked" they couldn't use the lap times as a marketing tool so no not "tweeked" and also on the tires it will leave the showroom with.

that was one loose ride!

definitely traction challenged.

a...it was raining and on street tires

I wonder if it was Jim Mero again. He was the engineer working on the Corvette that decided to take it to the track back in 2011 and set the record (at the time). Didn't ask Chevy's permission, just went and did it.

no it was Adam Dean

Now please give us a mid-size RWD or AWD (not based on FWD platform) coupe or sedan. Great handling, a shifter, and the third pedal, know as a clutch. Decent fuel mileage in the low 40s, you guys can do it, so just do it already.

No. Instead they will spend 100s of millions in advertising telling you what you should want, and it wont have a stick and it won't get good mileage. Detroit, especially GM, has never seemed to grasp the concept of filling needs. They seem to think it is our job to want the product. With all that said, I would buy an American car any day. But the 94 Escort I bought new still gets me around in winter, so I don't have to...yet.

really. really. GM builds a track demon version of the Camaro and you state "GM, has never seemed to grasp the concept of filling needs." That's got to be one of the most crazy statements I've heard in a long time. GM provides the Camaro in a base V6, SS, 1LE, the supercharged ZL1, and now the track Z28. the Camaro is not for everyone but for people who do like it, they have a lot of choices...err needs filled.

BTW: my LS7 Vette gets 28 MPG on the highway.

Nice reply. I have never been a GM fan; however, there is very little that can be said against the current crop of cars for the prices they sell for. Porsche is worried about the new C7...and they should be. Awesome performance for a fraction of the money. The new interior is finally at the quality level it should have been all along and the looks are comparable to any modern supercar.

[DBCooper]

GM and journalists are touting that Camaro as "faster than a Porsche 911" around the ring without mentioning that's a top of the line Camaro's time against a base 911's. That's true, but phrasing it just as "Camaro is faster than Porsche" without qualification is really dishonest. Unless of course GM intends to back up that claim with a FIA GT3 race effort. If the Camaro's are really faster that should be viable, even easy... right? Slam dunk GM? Ah, then the story's a little different, isn't it?

[Ferg]

As a Mustang lover, I just crapped my pants (IMG:style_emoticons/default/drooley.gif)

[billh1963]

GM and journalists are touting that Camaro as "faster than a Porsche 911" around the ring without mentioning that's a top of the line Camaro's time against a base 911's. That's true, but phrasing it just as "Camaro is faster than Porsche" without qualification is really dishonest. Unless of course GM intends to back up that claim with a FIA GT3 race effort. If the Camaro's are really faster that should be viable, even easy... right? Slam dunk GM? Ah, then the story's a little different, isn't it?

That base 911 is still probably close to twice the cost of that fully loaded Camaro.

I am NOT and have never BEEN a Camaro fan. However, sounds damn impressive to me....


The Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 is billed as the fastest street-legal Camaro ever built at the factory. Offered exclusively as a coupe, it is named after an iconic race-bound version of the first-gen Camaro that packed 290 horsepower, an impressive amount in the late 1960s.

Times sure have changed: The 21st century Z/28 packs 500 horsepower and 470 lb-ft. of torque thanks to a 7.0-liter LS7 V8 engine lifted straight from the Corvette parts bin. It is not the most powerful unit in the Chevrolet catalog, but it is ideal for track use because it is one of the lightest high-output mills.

Developed jointly with Corvette Racing, the all-aluminum V8 features a dry-sump oiling system, titanium valves and a high-lift cam. A cold air induction system, a K&N air filter and Z/28-specific intake and exhaust manifolds are part of the package.

The V8 transfers power to the rear wheels via a six-speed close-ratio manual transmission and a limited-slip differential. Upgraded carbon-ceramic brakes manufactured by Brembo and a track-tuned suspension help keep the 500 ponies in check on the track.

Ready to race
Outside, the track-bound Camaro features a full body kit that includes a front splitter that works with an underbody panel to reduce drag, fender flares, side skirts, a large trunk-mounted spoiler and a functional air diffuser integrated into the rear bumper.

19-inch forged aluminum wheels wrapped in Pirelli PZero tires finish off the look while reducing unsprung weight.

The Z/28's passenger compartment keeps the regular Camaro's 2+2 configuration but the rear bench is nine pounds lighter thanks in part to the use of a high-density foam. Recaro bucket seats with manual adjustments come standard, and the driver is treated to a flat-bottomed multi-function steering wheel.

The instrument cluster consists of four analog gauges separated in two pods and a TFT screen in between them. The car is designed to be as light as possible so there is no infotainment system to be found, but a simple AM/FM/CD audio unit connected to a single speaker is mounted on the center console. Bluetooth connectivity enables the driver to make hands-free calls.

The Z/28 is almost 300 pounds lighter than a Camaro ZL1 thanks to weight-saving modifications such as a thinner rear window and a smaller LN3 battery. The tire-inflator kit has been removed (except for cars sold in states where it is legally mandatory), HID headlights and fog lights are not available, and air-conditioning is only offered as an option.

Occupant safety
Like all Camaros, the Z/28 comes standard with six airbags, electronic traction control and stability control.

Driving aids such as blind-spot detection and active cruise control are not available, but the Z/28 packs a Performance Traction Management (PTM) function with five settings that gradually tone down the traction and stability control. PTM is designed primarily for track use.

Key competitors
The Z/28's main competitor is the Ford Mustang Boss 302, a 444-horsepower coupe based on the Mustang GT.

[pt_700]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1v3CzvQ9e_w

[DBCooper]

I never said that the Camaro isn't a dollar for dollar deal, what I said is that it's distasteful to take the result of one competition, where your top-of-the line product bested a competitor's bottom of the line product, and use that to infer your own product's "superiority."

In my view that's deceitful, but I'm more than willing to give GM the benefit of the doubt. If they really believe their own advertising then it would seem a very small step for them to enter, and win, other competitive events that count on the regular participation of Porsche vehicles. I myself can't wait to see the first Z28 show up at my local autocross track, and will certainly and gladly to to Sears Point or Laguna Seca to witness GM's performance head-to-head against the Porsche contingent.

For perspective I saw my very first TransAm race at Vernalis in 1967 with Mark Donahue and Peter Revson, pony cars head-to-head with 911's and even a Lotus-Cortina. Things have changed, and I'm pretty sure I know what to expect.

[carr914]

The weird thing is, if you ever saw the the front suspension of a Camaro, you would wonder how it even turns! No A-Arms, Two Tie-Rods, the Strut just kinda hangin! And no Aftermarket Fix!