2014 Camaro Z/28

[willtel]

I'm a Ford guy but good lord this thing is unreal.

NEW YORK (AP) -- The dream car of every 1970s teenage boy is making a comeback.
Chevrolet is reviving the Z/28 Camaro as a lighter, high-performance version of the muscle car. The Z/28, which debuted in 1967 and was last sold in 2002, has been reengineered for 2014 at 3,800 pounds, about 100 pounds lighter than a standard Camaro. It's designed so that it can hit the racetrack, with the Corvette's powerful V-8 engine and bigger brakes. To shed weight, it forgoes some standard comforts, coming with a one-speaker radio, stiffer seats and manual transmission only.
"We really wanted to try to get rid of some of the mass and make it a real enthusiasts' car to be able to use for spirited driving on the street and open track days," said Mark Stielow, performance engineering manager for the Z/28.
Air conditioning is optional and there's less sound insulation. Brake rotors are made of carbon and ceramics instead of heavier steel. It's more aerodynamic than a standard Camaro, and the suspension is even stiffer than the ZL1, another high-performance version.
"The whole car has been just kind of tauted up. It's kind of a more performance style car," Stielow said.
Even with the changes, he says the car still handles bumpy roads well, though not as well as a standard Camaro.
Engineers also freshened up the Camaro's profile for 2014, reshaping the front and rear to make it more modern and athletic looking.
Alan Batey, General Motors' U.S. sales chief, said the company doesn't expect to sell a lot of Z/28s, but the car does bring back some of the brand's heritage from days when it dominated U.S. roads.
"You don't do this because of how many you're going to sell. You do this because of the statement it can make and the way it can build the brand," he said.
Here are some highlights of the 2014 Z/28:

UNDER THE HOOD: 7-liter (427-cubic-inch) V-8 from the Corvette that puts out more than 500 horsepower. GM wouldn't reveal a zero to 60 mph time. Six-speed manual transmission with close gear range.

OUTSIDE: Fender flares over the wheels to reduce wind drag. Extended panels at the bottom of the doors and a rear spoiler also improve aerodynamics.

INSIDE: New matte-metallic finish on the trim. Flat-bottomed steering wheel, standard Recaro seats that are more supportive for the race track. Front seats don't have power adjustments in order to save weight. Rear seats also were modified to cut pounds.

FUEL ECONOMY: Not disclosed. Likely to be less than the current Camaro with a manual transmission and 6.2-liter V-8, which gets 14 mpg in the city and 19 on the highway.

PRICE: Also not released. Available late in 2013. Current Camaro SS with a V-8 starts at $31,635.
CHEERS: Harkens back to the glory days of Chevrolet. Will be fast and fun to drive.
JEERS: Ride likely will be harsher and noisier than the standard Camaro.

[matt711]

Hate to admit it but that isnt too bad looking...

[onewhippedpuppy]

Nice! Simplify and add lightness. The "one speaker radio" is a nice touch, though I think a simple radio block plate would be even better.

[mikeferg75]

I'm a Mustang guy through and though, but that's the first model that would get me to cross shop.

[Jim Richards]

3800 lbs?

[911boost]

I like what I am reading, but what is GM's fascination with the windows on the hood, if that is what that is....

Bill

[tharbert]

One speaker radio but a satellite antenna?

Does look great!

[Ronbo]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

Nice! Simplify and add lightness. The "one speaker radio" is a nice touch, though I think a simple radio block plate would be even better.

The speaker was required for the door chimes, warning buzzers, etc.

[pwd72s]

Originally Posted by Ronbo

The speaker was required for the door chimes, warning buzzers, etc.

Yet it comes with a satellite radio antenna? Oh well...I suspect built to compete with the Boss 302 Mustang, since the GT 500 is way ahead in raw horsepower.

It'll be interesting to read the magazine test reports.

[scottmandue]

Originally Posted by willtel

I'm a Ford guy but good lord this thing is unreal.

I'm a Chevy guy and...

[Jim Bremner]

Please tell me that it comes in ORANGE!

[URY914]

Hugger Orange.

[intakexhaust]

Beastly. Not to be the nitty here but had some time in a 2011. The outward visibilty is crappy and takes adjustment. Curious if it's worse on the 2014.

[BlueSkyJaunte]

Awesome. I've also come up with an idea that will help them reduce visibility even further in the next revision.

[dw1]

Jeeze - they say "lighter" and it is still within 5% of two tons.

Still too f'ing heavy!

My '67 327 Camaro was 3200 lbs. I know, I know...a lot has changed since then, but high-strength Aluminum alloys and carbon fiber weren't around then either.

Oh, and btw, my '87 911 3.2 is about 2700 lbs. ;-)

[dw1]

Also btw, according to the car mags, there is a major redesign in the works for 2015.

This 2014 Z/28 model is just a way to continue to generate sales off of the current platform.

[aigel]

The car is just flat out too big and too heavy to get my heart rate up on something that's going to go to the track or act as a "sports car". I don't understand why all cars are so bloated these days. Is it because people are bigger (aka fatter)?

G

[Jim Richards]

The original Z/28 had a 302ci V8. This car has a 427ci, must need it to move 3800 lbs of car.

[pksystems]

WOW.... lightness ..... yeah..... right.


They trimmed a little weight off one of the heaviest cars made? haha

[aigel]

This is just ridiculous:


Porsche is guilty too:


Pictures are from this fun thread:
http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/grm/car-overlays/42557/page1/

G