HOTNESS
Chevy brings back the Z28

With Ford about to introduce a totally new Mustang, it was necessary for Chevy to bring out its trump card—i.e., the Camaro Z28. At the New York Auto Show, it did just that. "We set out to make the fastest road-racing Camaro possible that was still street-legal,” says Camaro Chief Engineer Al Oppenheiser. How fast is that? Chevy says it beat the supercharged ZL1 on its own lap by three seconds. The car company points to three factors for this speed. • Increased grip: Chevy says the Z/28 is capable of 1.05 g in cornering acceleration; • The Z/28 features Brembo carbon-ceramic brakes capable of 1.5 g in deceleration; and • 300 pounds less than the supercharged Camaro ZL1, featuring ultra-light wheels and thinner rear glass.

Like the first 1967 Camaro Z/28, the 2014 model will be offered only with a manual transmission. Unlike the first Z/28, the new one will be offered with air-conditioning, albeit only as an option. “Unlike the Ford Mustang Boss 302, we felt it was important to keep the 2+2 configuration of the Camaro Z/28 as Chevrolet already has a world-class two-seat sports car in the Corvette,” said Oppenheiser. “By modifying the construction of the rear seat, we were able to reduce the overall weight of the Z/28 while still preserving the flexibility of 2+2 seating.” Chevrolet says the new 2014 Camaro line will arrive at dealerships in late 2013. The Camaro Z/28 is set to arrive in the spring of 2014.

SPECIFICATIONS Name of vehicle: 2014 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 Price: TBA Engine: LS7 7.0 liter OHV two-valve per cylinder V8 with aluminum block and heads Horsepower: 500 Torque: 470 pound-feet Trnasmission: Tremec TR6060 six-speed manual 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; StabiliTrak, electronic stability control Brakes: Power-assisted, Carbon Ceramic Matrix front and rear discs; six-piston fixed front 15.5 x 1.4 in (394 x 36 mm); four-piston rear calipers rear: 15.3 x 1.3 in (390 x 32 mm) Wheels and tires: Front 19-inch x 11-inch and rear 19-inch x 11.5-inch wheels; Pirelli PZero Trofeo R P305/30ZR19 (front) and P305/30ZR19 (rear) tires Curb weight: “300 pounds less than the ZL1”