2011 Z28

[DragginWagon]

Looks like GM got their head out of their ass and decided to make it!


GM design chief Ed Welburn confirmed to us at the Frankfurt Show that the Camaro Z28 program is back on track. As we reported back in April (http://www.motortrend.com/features/auto_news/2009/112_0904_chevrolet_camaro_z28_returns), the Z28 was basically completed, with the design signed off, but the final engineering and certification work was put on hold as GM's financial situation spun out of control.

With GM now out of bankruptcy, the Z28 program has been restarted. Why? Insiders say the Z28 business case now makes sense because the new UAW contracts have reduced the labor costs on the car (http://modernmuscleforum.com/#) to the point where GM feels it can price it competitively -- and far enough away from Corvette. That's the good news. The bad news is EPA certification and GM durability requirements mean the Z28 is unlikely to go on sale until late 2011.

http://image.motortrend.com/f/26325676+w750/chevrolet-camaro-z28-illustration.jpg


Our images are very close to the final signed-off design, based on photos of a scale clay model we've seen. Key details to note are the deeper front bumper fascia, with larger front aperture under the grille and the spotlights mounted in deep vents on either side. The Z28 also gets a different grille mesh compared with that of a standard Camaro.
At the rear is a taller lip spoiler that runs the full width of the car. A new rear-bumper fascia features a deeper section with integrated exhaust outlets. The wheels (http://modernmuscleforum.com/#) are 20-inchers with an aggressive "tuning-fork" five-spoke pattern.
A new hood features a large, forward-facing scoop. Underneath is the 6.2-liter supercharged LSA V-8 (http://modernmuscleforum.com/#) that also powers the Cadillac CTS-V. As we have already confirmed, this is quite a powerplant, delivering 556 horsepower at 6100 rpm and 551 pound-feet of torque at 3800 rpm.
The near-4300-pound CTS-V thunders from 0 to 60 mph in 4.1 seconds and nails the quarter mile in 12.3 seconds (automatic) or 12.4 seconds (manual). Top speed is limited to 175 mph in the auto (http://modernmuscleforum.com/#) (to preserve the tranny), but the manual will storm to an autobahn-melting 193 mph. As the Z/28 will weigh 200 to 300 pounds less than the CTS-V, it may nail 60 mph in 3.9 seconds and run the quarter in the very low 12s. This Z28 could be the fastest Chevy ponycar since the legendary ZL-1-powered COPO 9560 Camaros built 40 years ago.
The Z28 is likely to only be available with a six speed manual transmission, unless GM can piggyback some of the car's certification on work already done for the CTS-V to get the automatic into the range at low cost.

http://www.motortrend.com/auto_news/112_0909_chevrolet_camaro_z28_is_go/index.html

[budoboy]

Wow, I guess I need to start shopping for superchargers!

[Vinnysrt8]

Wow that camaro is hot

[paxton]

It's nice that its coming out eventually and will be a real threat for all of us with H/C/I. A supercharger or some spray will be needed to take these cars with some mods like Curtis just did with his V.

[StevoSRT]

am i the only one who still thinks its fucking stupid that the Z28 is the "top end" camaro now?

wasnt the "SS" supposta be the baddest of the bad (short of the "tuner models")....

[DragginWagon]

am i the only one who still thinks its fucking stupid that the Z28 is the "top end" camaro now?

wasnt the "SS" supposta be the baddest of the bad (short of the "tuner models")....

You can also look at it this way Stevo. Now that the GT500 and Z28 are going to be in overshadowing the performance of the SRT8 Challenger, Mopar/Fiat are going to have to step up their game to compete! Can you say SRT10 Challenger!!!

[StevoSRT]

You can also look at it this way Stevo. Now that the GT500 and Z28 are going to be in overshadowing the performance of the SRT8 Challenger, Mopar/Fiat are going to have to step up their game to compete! Can you say SRT10 Challenger!!!

100% you wont see an SRT10 Chally lol....

110% they wont try to compete at all (at least in a meaningful way)....

If you wanna compete with 600hp mustangs / Camaro's....your gonna have to go aftermarket.

[HEMISFEAR]

Nice whip, but I agree with Stevo...no way in hell will Fiat have anything to do with a V10. Sadly, I think this is where Chrysler will bow out of the competition. The only thing they could do is revise the 392 they already have to come close to those numbers. Now that would be awesome and not a far stretch...the cool thing is, it would be NA!

[1fastsedan]

If Fiat/Chrysler was smart, they would finalize the 392 and sell it with all forged internals ready for boost and be a LOT more friendly with aftermarket tuning companies. They get their competitive muscle car and we can slap on a blower and be on top again.

Anyone know how much boost the CTS-V and Z-28 do or will run? That 550 number I assume is at the crank and doesn't sound so hot for a 6.2L with boost, althought I'm sure that there is more available in the tune.

[DragginWagon]

Nice whip, but I agree with Stevo...no way in hell will Fiat have anything to do with a V10. Sadly, I think this is where Chrysler will bow out of the competition. The only thing they could do is revise the 392 they already have to come close to those numbers. Now that would be awesome and not a far stretch...the cool thing is, it would be NA!

You really think so? You do know that Fiat owns Ferrari and Maserati which use V10's and V12's. The Viper V10 actually has Italian roots, Not sure if You know this but the original Viper engine was produced by Lamborghini.

http://www.dodgeforum.com/articles/2009/08/1992-2006-dodge-viper-history-engine-performance-gts-r-and-srt-10.html

"Mr. Sjoberg chose 85 engineers, and this group was named "Team Viper". Their effort on this new muscle car began in March of 1989. The team began the design and fine tuning of the interior and body with the help of American automotive legend Carroll Shelby, and the engine design was actually done outside of the design team. The design instructions were to keep the car as close to the concept as possible, as to make the car perfectly street legal and lend itself to daily driving, without losing the race ready look and abilities. The body was completed by mid Fall, and by December of 1989 the design team had themselves a running, test-ready pre-production model. This completed Dodge (http://www.modernmuscleforum.com/#) Viper used a tubular steel frame wrapped in a resin transfer molding fiberglass body, and it tipped the scales at a modest 3280lbs.

While undergoing a great deal of the grueling pre-production testing, the "mule cars" (vehicles built which don't have street car items such as airbags, stereo, air conditioning, etc.) were fitted with eight cylinder engines, but the design team wanted something more; something that would add some extra personality to this new car. During this time in history, Chrysler Corporation had a subsidiary interest in Lamborghini, and considering Lamborghini's long standing reputation for ultra-high performance engines, they were commissioned with the task of designing the engine for this beast. They were given a V10 engine which had been developed for use in the new generation of the Dodge Ram (http://www.modernmuscleforum.com/#), which would be launched in 1994. This new V10 was based off of the LA Engine, and was basically a 5.9 L engine used in the trucks, with a slightly longer stroke and two extra cylinders, but more or less, the V10 was based off of the V8s of the time. The engineers at Lamborghini took the existing cast iron V10, and produced an aluminum version, altering the head design as well as some other internal features, and made significantly more power. They intended to also convert the 2 valve setup to a 4 valve setup, as they did not feel that they could reach the engines full potential with a 2 valve per cylinder setup, but due to the added cost, Chrysler management decided to stay away from the 4 valve design. When they were finished, this vicious new engine was capable of making 400 horsepower at 4600 rpm, and 450 lb-ft of torque at 3600 rpm. While providing a great deal of power, this engine also proved to offer about 21 miles per gallon (http://www.modernmuscleforum.com/#) when driven with a light foot.

The V8 was removed from the test vehicle in February of 1990 when the new all-aluminum V10 was ready, and only a few months later, in May of 1990, Chrysler Chairman Lee Iacocca gave Team Viper the official thumbs up to begin production of the Dodge Viper. The Viper was slated for a 1992 model year introduction, and to increase public awareness of this new American machine, Carroll Shelby drove the car as the pace car of the Indianapolis 500 in 1991. Early November of 1991 marked the first group of production 1992 Dodge Vipers, intended entirely for review and further testing, and just two months later, in early January of 1992, the first of the publicly ordered 1992 Dodge Viper RT/10s were delivered."

[StevoSRT]

You really think so? You do know that Fiat owns Ferrari and Maserati which use V10's and V12's. The Viper V10 actually has Italian roots, Not sure if You know this but the original Viper engine was produced by Lamborghini.

http://www.dodgeforum.com/articles/2009/08/1992-2006-dodge-viper-history-engine-performance-gts-r-and-srt-10.html

"Mr. Sjoberg chose 85 engineers, and this group was named "Team Viper". Their effort on this new muscle car began in March of 1989. The team began the design and fine tuning of the interior and body with the help of American automotive legend Carroll Shelby, and the engine design was actually done outside of the design team. The design instructions were to keep the car as close to the concept as possible, as to make the car perfectly street legal and lend itself to daily driving, without losing the race ready look and abilities. The body was completed by mid Fall, and by December of 1989 the design team had themselves a running, test-ready pre-production model. This completed Dodge (http://www.modernmuscleforum.com/#) Viper used a tubular steel frame wrapped in a resin transfer molding fiberglass body, and it tipped the scales at a modest 3280lbs.

While undergoing a great deal of the grueling pre-production testing, the "mule cars" (vehicles built which don't have street car items such as airbags, stereo, air conditioning, etc.) were fitted with eight cylinder engines, but the design team wanted something more; something that would add some extra personality to this new car. During this time in history, Chrysler Corporation had a subsidiary interest in Lamborghini, and considering Lamborghini's long standing reputation for ultra-high performance engines, they were commissioned with the task of designing the engine for this beast. They were given a V10 engine which had been developed for use in the new generation of the Dodge Ram (http://www.modernmuscleforum.com/#), which would be launched in 1994. This new V10 was based off of the LA Engine, and was basically a 5.9 L engine used in the trucks, with a slightly longer stroke and two extra cylinders, but more or less, the V10 was based off of the V8s of the time. The engineers at Lamborghini took the existing cast iron V10, and produced an aluminum version, altering the head design as well as some other internal features, and made significantly more power. They intended to also convert the 2 valve setup to a 4 valve setup, as they did not feel that they could reach the engines full potential with a 2 valve per cylinder setup, but due to the added cost, Chrysler management decided to stay away from the 4 valve design. When they were finished, this vicious new engine was capable of making 400 horsepower at 4600 rpm, and 450 lb-ft of torque at 3600 rpm. While providing a great deal of power, this engine also proved to offer about 21 miles per gallon (http://www.modernmuscleforum.com/#) when driven with a light foot.

The V8 was removed from the test vehicle in February of 1990 when the new all-aluminum V10 was ready, and only a few months later, in May of 1990, Chrysler Chairman Lee Iacocca gave Team Viper the official thumbs up to begin production of the Dodge Viper. The Viper was slated for a 1992 model year introduction, and to increase public awareness of this new American machine, Carroll Shelby drove the car as the pace car of the Indianapolis 500 in 1991. Early November of 1991 marked the first group of production 1992 Dodge Vipers, intended entirely for review and further testing, and just two months later, in early January of 1992, the first of the publicly ordered 1992 Dodge Viper RT/10s were delivered."

There is NO...ZERO chance...fiat uses any of its Ferrari stuff on chrysler products....ZEERO!!!!!

they MIGHT put some effort into the viper...but it wont be using Ferrari stuff....

[DragginWagon]

Why on earth would you buy a company if you're going to let its competition win? I never said they'd use Ferrari stuff in the Challenger, But if they plan on even competing with GM or Ford on that platform then they need to seriously do something.

[HEMISFEAR]

Why on earth would you buy a company if you're going to let its competition win? I never said they'd use Ferrari stuff in the Challenger, But if they plan on even competing with GM or Ford on that platform then they need to seriously do something.

I hear ya on that J...but take a look at Mopar Performance...waiting forever to release anything for late models until the aftermarket...well, take the market lol. GM and Ford have always been one step ahead on performance parts.

[DragginWagon]

I hear ya on that J...but take a look at Mopar Performance...waiting forever to release anything for late models until the aftermarket...well, take the market lol. GM and Ford have always been one step ahead on performance parts.

Parts yes, But look how long it took GM to bring back the Camaro. Also The new CEO of Chrysler didn't come from fuckin Home Depot.

[SRTDOUG]

I wouldn't count your eggs with the Z28. My sources still say this car is not going to happen. I REALLY wish they WOULD make the car though, but in stripped down version with bigger brakes, better suspension, less options making it more bare bones much like it was in the 69 Camaro. It wasn't the top dog but it was the best race car for the street. (BOSS 302 and T/A Challenger/Cuda accepted)

Hopefully I am wrong though. But the car will NOT be faster than a Corvette. EVER.

Car does look pretty good though. Although I still like the Challenger with the TA Style Scoop and matte black hood. And my thought on THAT car would be the 5.7 Hemi, SRT8 brakes/suspension, and no power windows/locks, no NAV, just awesome seats and a car that loses HUNDREDS of pounds...now THAT would be cool...

[StevoSRT]

Why on earth would you buy a company if you're going to let its competition win? I never said they'd use Ferrari stuff in the Challenger, But if they plan on even competing with GM or Ford on that platform then they need to seriously do something.

Their idea of how we are going to "beat" them is by "adjusting the lineup of vehciles to better suit the needs of the modern auto consumer"....

what that means is that they are going to be (and this is just my guess) working towards cars that people want to buy....

I know the charger and 300 are good sellers....

but we are getting pounded in the ass in the MPG race....we have NOTHING to compare to ford and chevy in that department...the caliber and the avenger cant touch the focus/cobalt and the fusion/mailbu

and oh by the way....if you want a mid sized car....the fusion (or the other ford brands) are the way to go as far as quality.

anything short of a SRT model in chrysler is at least 5 years behind every other car....

thats where fiat and Alpha can bring some goodness to our cars....some of the "alpha charm" on the interior....

my guess *and again this is just my guess*...if they are going to compete with the big boys....its going to be the viper vs the world...and i am concerned about that too...cause they dont want the viper to be a Ferrari killer....

Team SRT will probably die out in the next few years short of the flagship car *which was barely saved*....and if we want Mopar Performance...we are going to be buying used.....

again...just what I see coming....

hopefully

I am ASS wrong....they come out with a 440 challenger....600 N/A BHP....and it rocks their god damn faces off....

but thats just me lol

[DragginWagon]

Look at it this way Stevo, what was the very last concept Dodge made? What was the very first plant that got reopened? I'm not saying thats what they are planning, But I've yet to find anything saying that the car has no chance in hell of seeing production. Why waste the money on doing the concept if they have no plans of considering it?

[StevoSRT]

Look at it this way Stevo, what was the very last concept Dodge made? What was the very first plant that got reopened? I'm not saying thats what they are planning, But I've yet to find anything saying that the car has no chance in hell of seeing production. Why waste the money on doing the concept if they have no plans of considering it?

I am with ya that i hope they got something on the way....

*FINGERS CROSSED* haha

[DragginWagon]

I am with ya that i hope they got something on the way....

*FINGERS CROSSED* haha

With the exception of the SRT8's and the Viper, Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep has nothing that interest me at all in their current line up. Which is far more they I can say for GM or Ford!

[HEMISFEAR]

Yeah, reallyt fingers crossed all the way. I was raised in a GM/Mopar family...literally, but because my best friend is a chevy/pontiac guy...I'm hoping Chryco does do something substantial in the future.

[StevoSRT]

With the exception of the SRT8's and the Viper, Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep has nothing that interest me at all in their current line up. Which is far more they I can say for GM or Ford!

if i couldnt have my car or a mustang or a corvette....next on the list is the M3 or an AMG benz....

i woulda SAVED money if i got the amg lol...so long as i didnt mod it LOL

[DragginWagon]

I was raised mostly GM, but with some Mopar and Ford. To me it doesn't matter which ones makes it or how much power it has. You can make anything go fast its harder to take an ugly ass design and make it look good!

[StevoSRT]

I was raised mostly GM, but with some Mopar and Ford. To me it doesn't matter which ones makes it or how much power it has. You can make anything go fast its harder to take an ugly ass design and make it look good!

i was raised in a "whatever we feel like gettin ghouse"

went through too many shit nissans, lexus's, and all around trash vehicles to drive anything other than Ford, Chevy, Dodge, BMW, MB....

although i would make an exception for Aston Martins :)

[DRKNE55]

they will make it, my money is literally on it. i decided to keep the charger another year...