The fifth-generation Chevrolet Camaro receives the some substantial changes for 2014. The front fascia has a wider lower opening, and a narrower upper opening. This updates the iconic “halo ring” HID headlamps on the Camaro RS package. There is a functional hood vent to reduce heat and aerodynamic ift. At the rear, you have a new decklid, “fugly” new horizontal tail lamps and a diffuser.
A little bit of history…
The first Camaro Z/28 was introduced in 1967 to compete in the Sports Car Club of America’s Trans-Am 2 class. It had a relatively lighter 290 bhp 302-cubic-inch V-8, quick-ratio steering and a heavy-duty suspension for track use. It was not available with an automatic transmission or air conditioning. This engine was more suitable for road racing than the the most-powerful engine available at that time, the 375 bhp 396 cid V-8.
The Camaro Z/28 returns for 2014
If you were thinking of getting the ZL1 for track days for it, forget it. In initial testing, Z/28 registered three seconds faster laps than the Camaro ZL1. Now, that is going to change your mind.
The new Camaro Z/28 features a full aerodynamics package. At the front, a large splitter which is connected to an underbody panel that reduces lift. The Z/28 features fender flares over the front and rear wheels, and extended rocker panels. An aggressive rear spoiler and functional diffuser complete package.
On the insides, the Z/28 gets a matte-metallic finish named Octane, the ZL1 flat-bottomed steering wheel, and manually adjustable Recaro seats with microfiber suede inserts. “Unlike the Ford Mustang Boss 302, we felt it was important to keep the 2+2 configuration”, one Chevy personnel said.
Instead of using the ZL1’s supercharged 580 bhp 6.2-litre LSA, the Z/28 takes advantage of a lighter, naturally aspirated 7.0-litre LS7, first seen in the Corvette Z06. The hand-assembled 7.0-Litre (427 cid) was co-developed with Corvette Racing. Fancy stuff like cold-air induction system and K&N air filter, titanium intake valves and connecting rods, sodium-filled exhaust valves and forged-steel crankshaft make it to the parts list. The compression ratio is a high 11.0:1 compression ratio, and it red-lines at 7,000 rpm redline. It is capable of producing 500 bhp (373 kW) and 470 lb-ft of torque (637 Nm). Like the original, the Camaro Z/28 is exclusively offered with a manual transmission, a 6-speed Tremec TR6060; and no air-conditioning.
The Z/28 is lighter than the SS by 100 pounds (45 kilograms) and the ZL1 by 300 pounds (136 kilograms). They achieved this by eliminating the tyre-inflator kit (except for Rhode Island and New Hampshire, where it is required by law), removed interior sound deadener and trunk carpeting, replaced the standard LN4 battery with a smaller, lightweight, LN3 battery; used a thinner, 3.2-mm glass for the rear window, compared to 3.5-mm glass; and they have orphaned the HID headlamps and foglights.
The Z/28 also features Brembo Carbon Ceramic Matrix™ rotors, 394 mm dia. upfront rotors with 6-piston callipers and 390 mm rear rotors with 4–piston calipers at the rear.
At all four corners get massive Pirelli PZero Trofeo R 305/30ZR19 tires; the widest front tyre on any production car that wrap 19-inch wheels instead of 20-inch wheels. This lowers the centre of gravity by 33 mm and unsprung weight by 42 pounds (19 kilograms) per car.
The Camaro Z/28 can achieve up to 1.05g of lateral acceleration; increasing maximum grip from 1 to 1.05 g can cut up to four seconds per lap; it also achieves 1.5 g in deceleration. That’s going to get your eyes popping and your heart throbbing.
The 2014 Camaro line will arrive in showrooms later in 2013 and is expected to race events across the United States in spring 2014.
