Wink, Wink: GM officials reportedly coyly confirms Camaro Z28... but it isn't coming soon
According to the well-connected boys over at Camaro5, General Motors will indeed produce a Chevrolet Camaro Z28 after all... and they've even scored some details on the hi-po offering.
According to Camaro5 user Hiney1 who attended a special question and answer session at the Carlisle Nationals this weekend (seen above), a Z28 will arrive after the Camaro Convertible, itself expected in the spring of 2011.
The Z28 will reportedly make use of some sort of high-output LS-based engine (C'mon, guys! You're killing us!), and it will incorporate a hood similar to that of the Bumblebee edition, along with a unique grille, the usual spate of graphics and emblems, and perhaps even a tweaked rear-end. Thanks for the tip, Jay!
[Source: Camaro5]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
paul34 3:36PM (6/29/2009)
No offense to "hiney" (my ass? sorry for the lame joke), but if all we're going on is hearsay, then I guess I might as well say that my barber's cousin's sister's brother's father who knows the brother of the buddy of a GM janitor said that the G8 is coming back next week as an Impala SS super duper awesome with a V23 with 5,000 HP.
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Tyler 3:37PM (6/29/2009)
*Crosses Fingers* LS7! LS7! C'mon LS7
I know that the LS7 is poorly suited to this heafty car, but if you've ever heard an LS7 at redline, you know that the note befits a Camaro
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cdwrx 3:44PM (6/29/2009)
C'mon V-6, DI, twin-turbo, aluminum body panels...
Other Man 3:47PM (6/29/2009)
The LSA/LS9 would be the only way for them to get at the GT500 with its 540 hp.
Chase 4:07PM (6/29/2009)
LSA has my vote. 550 hp is a perfect upgrade.
Joe 5:19PM (6/29/2009)
Remember that the GT500 is only at 540 HP THIS year. Next year, with the arrival of the Coyote 5.0L and its associated 400 HP, I would think the GT500 will be more at the 600 HP threshold, and with the lightness of the Coyote mill (most definitely supercharged), the GT500 will blow the doors off a Z/28. Ditching the iron block and heads of the current MOD 5.4L will help big time when it comes to reducing the portliness of the GT500.
Art 3:47PM (6/29/2009)
A LOT of people's days have just been made.
GT500: consider yourself warned. Can anyone smell ford catching up in '12/'13 and swapping the 5.4L with something in the 6 range for teh GT500....
also: SRT8, consider yourself damn near useless...
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Fargus 4:53PM (6/29/2009)
SRT8 useless? Did you read the article? This is at LEAST 3 years off...
So how is the SRT useless? Unless you have access to some info on the specs of the 2012 SRT8
Chiefstang 5:50PM (6/29/2009)
Hey Fargus, it'll be pretty tricky to spec out a 2012 SRT8 since Chrysler is shuttering the SRT program, doncha' think?
Kinda makes it pretty worthless...
Joe 5:21PM (6/29/2009)
Like I said above, Ford's got the Coyote coming out next year with 400 HP in stock, N/A guise. A supercharged application of that will easily hit 600 HP. Or, they could just drop the Hurricane/Boss 6.2L in there with a supercharger, and be damn near in ZR-1 territory, as far as HP is concerned. The GT500 won't be able to keep up with the ZR-1 'vette because of sheer mass, but a supercharged Coyote or Boss will more than beat the Z/28. Ford's new motors are going to be like bringing a howitzer to a gun fight.
jerry lipke 3:51PM (6/29/2009)
It had to happen. The name Z28 is too valuable to let go and still has a very positive brand image.
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Stan Man 3:51PM (6/29/2009)
2 years to add a few new parts (Motor, Cladding, Grill, etc.) some things never change.
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Nick 3:58PM (6/29/2009)
Give it the LS7 (it's cheaper than the LSA, which in turn is cheaper than the LS9), give it some carbon bits a la Z06 (a hood, fenders, maybe a roof panel like the M3/M6), give it track-inspired suspension (don't worry about Detroit pot holes), lighter wheels, brakes, and tires.
Basically make it the Z06 of the Camaro lineup, as a Z/28 should be. The SS has the raw muscle, while the Z/28 is supposed to be about revs and carving up the track (one with curves, not a strip).
If they can't do it right, it shouldn't be done at all.
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LMBVette 4:33PM (6/29/2009)
Actually, the LSA/LS9 is cheaper to assemble because it is an LS3 (used in the G8 GXP, Camaro, Corvette, various trucks) w/ a supercharger on top (CTS-V and ZR-1), where the LS7 is built totally by hand (only 30 per day) and it's only used in the Z06.
http://www.corvettemuseum.com/specs/2006/LS7.shtml
Frank 7:44PM (6/29/2009)
Like the Z06 make the body wider with extensions of the inner frame and plastic panels to match . . . and the. . . wait, this is a steel body coupe like the cobalt. You can't make a silk purse from a sow's ear. Sorry this one is a duck, GM thought the Transformers movie would sell this crap ball. It is what it is.
Nick 1:43AM (6/30/2009)
LMBVette, then those supposed savings aren't being passed on to the consumer, because crate engine to crate engine, the LS7 is at least $1,000 cheaper than the LSA.
As far as produciton goes, there's no reason the Z/28 needs to be any higher production than say, the Z06. They have enough production capacity to churn out Z06s as well as crate engine LS7s, so I really doubt there would be any problem with stuffing some LS7s in some Camaros.
tuxchown 4:00PM (6/29/2009)
Sounds awesome, but I'd be happy to have just a regular ol' Camaro, which isn't all that regular. ;)
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Bigbuck17 4:16PM (6/29/2009)
GT500,Z28 and maybe a SRT-10 Challenger.
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Hike15 7:16PM (6/29/2009)
we'd get an srt10 challenger if everybody started buying sebrings and town&country's. AS nice as a 10 cylinder challenger would be, don't get your hopes up=[
Stow B 4:13PM (6/29/2009)
I think I'm w/ cdwrx on this. Go w/ the original idea of the Z28. Small (under 5 liters) high winding motor, Light weight, and good track suspension. That's what the Z28 was when it was created, and that's what it should be if it returns
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