Report: Chevrolet Camaro Z28 Back On Production Path

By Viknesh Vijayenthiran

Viknesh Vijayenthiran

Editor BIO

Vik is an Editor at High Gear Media and contributor for a number of sites within the High Gear Media network. He was a co-founder of Motor Authority... More

LATEST ARTICLE
BMW Pininfarina Gran Lusso Coupe Revealed
This weekend is the prestigious Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este in Northern Italy and... Read More

• #1LEADERBOARD RANK
• 9148ARTICLES CONTRIBUTED
• 127COMMENTS POSTED

16 18,514 views Sep 21, 2009

Follow Viknesh

Add to circle

2010 Chevrolet Camaro 2LT -- Run to the Sun

Enlarge Photo

When General Motors' financial situation turned from serious to bankruptcy-bound, two of the first models to get pushed back or canceled were the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro Convertible and the high-performance Z28 variant. Just a couple of months ago, talk of the Z28's revival was looking grim, but a new report has GM's Vice President for global design, Ed Welburn, talking positively about it.

According to Welburn, the Z28 is back in the product plan and is set for production. He went on to explain that the modified Camaro body is complete but that there was still some calibration work needed on the powertrain--work that will likely last at least a year.

Distinguishing features will be a unique bodykit, a slightly raised hood to accommodate the supercharger and intercooler assembly, a new rear spoiler, and custom wheels.

Under the hood is likely to be the Cadillac CTS-V’s supercharged 6.2-liter LSA V-8, complete with six-speed manual (or optional automatic) and 556 horsepower output. In the 4,300lb CTS-V, this combination is good for a 0-60 mph sprint of just 4.1 seconds and a 12.3 second quarter mile time. Factor in the Camaro’s 200 to 300lb lighter kerb weight and the Z28 would likely be completing the 0-60 mph benchmark in less than four seconds and passing the quarter in the very low 12 second bracket.

Combine these performance numbers with the Camaro’s fully independent suspension and stability control, as well as a completely modern chassis based on the Zeta rear-wheel drive architecture, and the modern-day Z28 may be the first Camaro to outgun rival sports cars from Japan and Europe. That is if GM ever builds one.

The story doesn’t end there as there are whispers that GM is also working on a higher-performance version of the base V-6 Camaro (pictured) aimed at the non-V-8 crowd.

[Inside Line]