I don’t know about you, but this video just blew my mind. If you haven’t watched it already -- spoiler alert! -- Chevrolet->ke199 had issues with the new Z/28 braking and cornering so hard, it would literally spin the tires around the rims. Originally, the development team though the rotation was only occurring by a few degrees, but after marking the tire’s location on the wheel, they found it rotated nearly 360 degrees while lapping the test track.
To solve the issue, Chevrolet tried several ways of locking the tire’s bead to the wheel, including coating the inner wheels with abrasive paint. Nothing stopped the problem, so the team took a media blaster to the inside of the wheel. The tiny grains of sand ate away at the smooth surface and created a slightly pitted, coarse surface for the Pirelli P Zero Trofeo R tires to grip. It’s an ingenious solution to a hidden problem that negatively affects lap times and braking performance.
When the top-dog Camaro Z/28 hits dealers this spring, it will arrive with 505 horsepower and 481 pound-feet of torque coming from its naturally-aspirated 7.0-liter, LS7 V-8. Through the Camaro ZL1 makes more power at 580 horses and 556 pound-feet, the Z/28 is a faster track car, thanks in large part to its reduction in weight. Heavy use of carbon fiber and lightweight glass, along with a lack of many creature comforts, the Z/28 drops some 300 pounds from the ZL1’s curb weight.
Video and more about the Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 after the jump.
The Camaro Z/28 will fill the top slot in the Camaro lineup with the ZL1, SS, and base cars trickling down. Built specifically as a track car, the Z/28 forgoes numerous creature comforts such as standard air conditioning, stereo system, and sound deadening to create the lightest Camaro possible. Compared to the 4,120-pound ZL1, the Z/28 is a full 300 pounds lighter.
Power comes from an LS7 -- similar to what the Corvette C6 Z06 used -- making 505 horsepower and 481 pound-feet of torque from its 7.0-liters of naturally aspirated masculinity. Carbon-ceramic rotors are clamped by Brembo calipers to bring the car to a stop. Unique aerodynamic parts add extra downforce to the car as it speeds along at a top speed of around 170 mph.