Chevy Turns Up the Heat

One of the more meaningful new model intros at the 2013 New York Auto Show was the 2014 Camaro Z28

A legend is born

Back in 1970 a fraternity brother of mine, Ed, somehow managed to own a 1967 Camaro Z28. It was painted in "arrest me" red (not the official GM name, but appropriate none the less) with white racing stripes painted down the hood and deck lid.

The windows of the frat house shook whenever he started it up in the back parking lot and it eventually ended up scaring the hell out of me during a day trip to the Lake Michigan shore that spring.

You see, Ed, myself and two other brothers were headed west on I-94 when a Chevelle packing a 396 under the hood passed us. Not to be upstaged (and goaded by the three of us), Ed dumped it into third, mashed the throttle and, in no time, we blew by the Chevelle like it was standing still. I still remember glancing down at the speedo as the Camaro, hustling down the road on its narrow radials, registered something north of 120 mph.

It may have been the first time in my life that I glimpsed my own mortality.

Around and under the hood

That 1967 Camaro came with the "1967 RPO Z28" with an extra cost of $358.10 and included dual exhaust, special front and rear suspension, heavy-duty radiator, quick ratio steering, 15x6 wheels, 7.35x15 nylon "red stripe" tires, a 3.73:1 ratio axle and those "special paint stripes" on hood and rear deck. Picking this option also required a 4-speed close ratio transmission, power brakes, front disc brakes or heavy-duty front disc brakes with metallic rear brakes. A positraction rear differential was recommended and it was available as a Sport Coupe V8 only.

Options included the RS equipment package (with hidden headlights) and a D-80 rear decklid spoiler (Ed's, bless him, had both).

Speaking of V8s, the engine was a 302-cid and horsepower depended on a number of things including which intake and exhaust manifolds were chosen as well as the carburetor setup. While Chevy never released any official figures, 350 horsepower seems to be a fair estimate.

It was all heady stuff at the time.

The legend returns

Nearly a week ago at the New York Auto Show, I witnessed the rebirth of the Z28 and I must say that the new one more than lives up to its legendary name.

"As the ultimate track-capable Camaro, this car restores the mission of the original Z/28, and serves as a testament to the expertise of Chevrolet as the best-selling brand of performance cars," said Mark Reuss, president, GM North America. "The build sheet is the wish list of any racer: lightweight, high-revving, dry-sump LS7 engine; carbon-ceramic brakes; integrated coolers for track use; true aerodynamic downforce, and a significant reduction in curb weight. This car could only come from Chevrolet, and could only be called the Z/28."

Chevy states that "While the new Camaro Z/28 is not intended to compete in a specific race series, it is solely focused on track capability. In initial testing, the Camaro Z/28 is three seconds faster per lap than the Camaro ZL1."

That extra speed comes from three areas:

• Increased grip: The Z/28 is capable of 1.05 g in cornering acceleration, due to chassis revisions
• Increased stopping power: the Z/28 features Brembo carbon-ceramic brakes capable of 1.5 g in deceleration
• Reduced curb weight: The naturally aspirated Z/28 weighs 300 pounds less than the supercharged Camaro ZL1, with changes that include lightweight wheels and thinner rear-window glass

Like the original, the 2014 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 is offered only with a manual transmission. In a nod to modern convenience, air-conditioning is available, but only as an option.

2014 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 Preliminary Specifications

Overview

Model: 2014 Chevrolet Camaro Z28
Body styles / driveline: Four-passenger, front-engine, rear-drive coupe
Construction: Unitized body frame, one- and two-sided galvanized steel
Manufacturing location: Oshawa, Ontario, Canada

Engine

LS7 7.0L V-8

Displacement (cu in / cc): 427 / 7008
Bore & stroke (in / mm): 4.125 x 4.00 / 104.8 x 101.6
Block material: cast aluminum
Cylinder head material: cast aluminum
Valvetrain: overhead valve, two valves per cylinder
Fuel delivery: sequential fuel injection
Compression ratio: 11.0:1
Horsepower / kW: 500 / 373 (est.)
Torque (lb-ft / Nm): 470 / 637 (est.)

Transmission

Tremec TR6060 six-speed manual

Gear ratios (:1):

First: 2.66
Second: 1.78
Third: 1.30
Fourth: 1.00
Fifth: 0.74
Sixth: 0.50
Reverse: 2.90
Final drive ratio: 3.91

Chassis / Suspension

Front: double-ball-joint, multi-link strut; direct-acting stabilizer bar; progressive-rate coil springs; inverted monotube shock absorber
Rear: 4.5-link independent; progressive-rate coil springs over monotube shock absorbers; stabilizer bar;
Traction control: StabiliTrak, electronic stability control

Brakes

Type: Power-assisted, Carbon Ceramic Matrix front and rear discs; six-piston fixed front, and four-piston rear calipers
Rotor diameter x thickness: Front: 15.5 x 1.4 in (394 x 36 mm) Rear: 15.3 x 1.3 in (390 x 32 mm)

Wheels / Tires

Wheel size: front: 19-inch x 11-inch rear: 19-inch x 11.5-inch
Tires: Pirelli PZero Trofeo R front: P305/30ZR19 rear: P305/30ZR19

Exterior dimensions

Wheelbase (in / mm): 112.3 / 2,852
Overall length (in / mm): 192.3 / 4,884
Overall width (in / mm): 76.9 / 1,953
Overall height (in / mm): 52.4 / 1,330
Track, front (in / mm): 66.14 / 1,680
Track, rear (in / mm): 64.65 / 1,642