The launch of the revised 2014 Chevrolet Camaro also marked the return of the Z/28 nomenclature. The Z/28 name was initially used back in 1967 when a special Camaro->ke248 was designed to compete in the Sports Car->ke506 Club of America's Trans-Am 2 class. Now, for the 2014 model year, the Z/28 nomenclature is applied to the most capable and fastest Camaro currently available on the market.

The new Camaro Z/28 was not built to compete in a specific race series, but it features track-focused capabilities. When compared to the ZL1, it is significantly lighter and, even though it is no more powerful, it is around three seconds faster around Chevy->ke199’s testing track than the Camaro ZL1. Also, as a tribute to the original Camaro Z/28, the new generation is only offered with a manual gearbox.

Updated 02/25/2014: Chevrolet unveiled a new video, explaining how the Performance Traction Management system helps the new Camaro Z/28 delivering faster laps on the race track.

Hit the jump to read more about the 2014 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28.

2014 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28

Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: 2014 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28
  • Engine/Motor: V8
  • Horsepower: 505
  • Torque: 481
  • Transmission: Tremec TR6060 manual
  • [do not use] Vehicle Model: Array
Pros
Cons

Update History

Updated 01/03/2014: Chevrolet officially announced prices for the Camaro Z/28 will go on sale this spring. The model will be priced from $75,000, including a $995 destination charge, but excluding tax, title, license and dealer fees and there is only one package available priced at $1,150 and including air conditioning and a six-speaker audio system.

Updated 02/10/2014: Chevrolet unveiled a new set of images for the Camaro Z/28 sports car and we have to admit it looks great in red! Check the image gallery for the new images!

Exterior

When compared to the standard Camaro, the new Z/28 version features a full aerodynamic package that helps reduce downforce at high speeds. This package includes a large splitter up front, fender flares over the front and rear wheels and extended rocker panels. At the rear Chevrolet installed an aggressive rear spoiler and a functional diffuser.

To help save weight in this model, GM thinned the rear window to only 3.2 mm (0.125 inches) from the standard 3.5 mm (0.138 inches), and deleted the HID headlights and fog lights. In total, the Z/28 weighs 300 pounds less than the ZL1 and 100 pounds less than the SS model -- not too shabby.

Exterior Dimensions

Wheelbase (in / mm)

112.3 / 2,852

Overall length (in / mm)

192.3 / 4,884

Overall width (in / mm)

76.9 / 1,953

Overall height (in / mm)

52.4 / 1,330

Track, front (in / mm)

66.14 / 1,680

Track, rear (in / mm)

64.65 / 1,642


Interior

For the interior, Chevrolet will offer a distinctive trim in matte-metallic Octane finish, a ZL1 flat-bottomed steering wheel and standard Recaro seats with microfiber suede inserts. These new seats are offered with seat cutouts inspired by the five-point harnesses found on racing seats.

In order to save weight, for the rear seats Chevrolet eliminated the seat-back pass through. For the same purpose the air-conditioning is available only as a stand-alone option and the audio system has just one speaker -- buyers can add A/C and six speakers for $1,150.

Drivetrain

While the original Z/28 was offered with a 302-cubic-inch V-8 engine with an output of 290 horsepower, the new-generation Z/28 has the same naturally aspirated 7.0L LS7 first introduced in the Corvette Z06.

Even if it does not deliver the same output level as the ZL1, the new Z/28 is equally impressive at 505 horsepower and 481 pound-feet of torque. To boot, it circled GM’s testing track 3 seconds faster than the Camaro ZL1.

Also, as a tribute to the original Z/28, the new model is only offered with a Tremec TR6060 manual transmission that sends the engine's power to the rear wheels. The power travels through a limited-slip differential featuring a helical gear set, rather than traditional clutch packs and a 3.91-to-1 gear ratio.

Drivetrain Specifications

Base Engine

LS7 7.0L V-8

Displacement (cu in / cc)

427 / 7008

Bore & stroke (in / mm)

4.125 x 4.00 / 104.8 x 101.6

Block material

cast aluminum

Cylinder head material

cast aluminum

Valvetrain

overhead valve, two valves per cylinder

Fuel delivery

sequential fuel injection

Compression ratio

11.0:1

Horsepower

505

Torque (LB-FT)

481


Suspension and Brakes

The new Z/28 will be offered with 19-inch wheels that help drop a total weight of 42 pounds. These rims also drop the Camaro’s ride height by 33 mm (1.29 inches), which helps improve the car's handling. The new wheels are wrapped in massive Pirelli PZero Trofeo R 305/30ZR19 tires - the first use of this kind of tires on a production car. All of this adds up to the Z/28 hanging tough in the corners at up to 1.05 g – besting the ZL1 by .05 g and blowing our minds in the process.

In order to keep the Z/28 on its best behavior – if you so desire – Chevrolet also installed Brembo Carbon Ceramic Matrix rotors that measure 394-by-36 mm (15.51-by-1.41 inches) up front and 390-by-32 mm (15.35-by-1.25 inches) on the rear. The front rotors are squeezed by a set of fixed monoblock six-piston calipers and the rears feature four-piston calipers. The rotors themselves save the Camaro a whopping 28 pounds when compared to two-piece steel units.

The new Z/28 is also the first production car to offer race-proven, spool-valve dampers that allow four-way adjustment to precisely tune both bump and rebound settings for high-speed and low-speed wheel motions.

Chassis / 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;

Traction control

StabiliTrak, electronic stability control


Brakes

Type

Power-assisted, Carbon Ceramic Matrix front and rear discs; six-piston fixed front, and four-piston rear calipers

Rotor diameter x thickness:

Front: 15.5 x 1.4 in (394 x 36 mm)
Rear: 15.3 x 1.3 in (390 x 32 mm)

Rear rotor (in / mm)


Wheels / Tires

Wheel size

front: 19-inch x 11-inch
rear: 19-inch x 11.5-inch

Tires

Pirelli PZero Trofeo R
front: P305/30ZR19
rear: P305/30ZR19


Driving Impression

Jay Leno took a cruise in the show-prepped Z/28 -- the one we all saw at the 2013 New York Auto Show -- and released the above episode of his show for all of us to drool over. Jay notes that the Z/28 is a "hard but compliant" ride, so it certainly offers enough comfort to keep true muscle car enthusiasts happy. He also noted that it felt great on the highway and barely clocked 2,000 rpm at 80 mph. Unfortunately, this is still a show car, so GM did not allow Jay to push it or to do his traditional show-ending burn out.

Prices

The new Camaro Z/28 will be put on sale in the spring of 2014 at a price of $75,000, including a $995 destination charge, but excluding tax, title, license and dealer fees. The model can be ordered in five exterior colors – Red Hot, Black, Silver Ice Metallic, Ashen Gray Metallic and Summit White.

There is also a single optional package priced at $1,150 that adds air conditioning and a six-speaker audio system.

Competition

When it comes to muscle cars, the biggest competitor for the Chevrolet Camaro is the Ford Mustang. For the Z/28, however, Ford doesn’t really have an answer, except the Mustang Boss 302, which is gone after the 2013 model year.

Ford Mustang Boss 302

The Mustang model is powered by a 5.0-liter V-8 engine that produces 444 horsepower and 380 pound-feet of torque. Ford model however has a big disadvantage, as it does not offer a 2+2 configuration like the new Z/28. Additionally, you’ll be hard pressed to find a Boss 302 by time the Z/28 hits the market.

Conclusion

It has been rumored for quite some time now that Chevrolet will finally decide to bring back the Z/28 nomenclature, so today's announcement wasn't such a big surprise. Still, it made us very happy.

Update History

Updated 04/12/2013: Chevrolet has unveiled a new video featuring Camaro Marketing Manager John Fitzpatrick whom is giving an exclusive walkaround of the track-inspired 2014 Camaro Z/28.

Updated 10/16/2013: Chevrolet unveiled a new set of high res images for the 2014 Camaro Z28 taken during the recent 7:37.40 Nurburgring run. Check the picture gallery to see the new pictures!