Hard to tell exactly with all the camouflage and snow, but it appears as though this could be the long-awaited 2011 Chevrolet Camaro Z28. We reported that this supercharged Camaro was back on track late last year and this picture appears to confirm that story.
You can clearly see the raised hood on this prototype, a feature necessary to clear the 6.2-liter supercharged V8 sitting in the engine bay. That engine delivers 556-horsepower in the Cadillac CTS-V, so the Camaro Z28 will have at least that much.
Also note the ultra low-profile tires on this test mule. They suggest a serious tire/wheel upgrade which would seem appropriate for a car of the Z's capabilities. A revised front end is probably part of the package too as that big V8 needs plenty of air to make all that horsepower.
Then again, maybe this is just some new body kit and wheel package they're testing out.
IL News: It's Back: Supercharged Chevrolet Camaro Z28 Is Back on Track
1487 says:
07:27 AM, 02/19/10
Hopefully this will be at NY show. 556hp plus 300 less lbs than CTS-V would equal stellar performance. Keep weight around 4000lbs and this thing will be a beast.
arumage says:
08:01 AM, 02/19/10
Yet it will still probably be 200lbs heavier than the new GT500. Should be quick as hell though.
jederino says:
09:18 AM, 02/19/10
What kind of tires do you think they're running? Winter performance?
felonious says:
09:52 AM, 02/19/10
"Then again, maybe this is just some new body kit and wheel package they're testing out."
I'll assume that was a joke, because I don't see why you'd need to cold-weather test an appearance package. :)
notabigdeal says:
11:16 AM, 02/19/10
I'm guessing this is in position to fight back at the Shelby Mustang. Would be a good fight to... the only problem that i have with this car is.... if this is gonna be priced around 50~55k.... what about the vette? the vette 3LT trim is 53k....
1487 says:
11:34 AM, 02/19/10
this car will never be $55k. Where did you come up with that? Base price will probably be $40k-$45k. They do not want this car to step into CTS-V territory.
stovt001 says:
12:47 PM, 02/19/10
Cool, but the Z28 nameplate makes absolutely no sense in this application. The Z28 should have been a lighter, tighter track-oriented model.
lmbvette says:
12:48 PM, 02/19/10
I predict the price on this car will start right around 46k, which is exactly where the Shelby begins ($46,725).
fuhteng says:
12:55 PM, 02/19/10
If by beast, you mean understeers like a fat-chick on skates, then yes, you are probably right.
1487 says:
01:18 PM, 02/19/10
LOL! You are hilarious! I bet the Z28 will handle EXACTLY like the regular camaro much in the way the Cobalt SS handles exactly like the base model. Good point fuhteng!
herrstreet says:
05:21 PM, 02/19/10
I would MUCH rather see them come up with a turbocharged version of the DI 6 cylinder. At a similar hp/liter to the 2.0 turbo that was in a $23,000 Cobalt that would be 460 hp in a car that isn't so noseheavy and doesn't have a gas guzzler tax. It should also be cheaper to produce, if only slightly but the motor would have a future in the next generation CTS. This car just seems dumb. And while they are at it, fix the damn dash.
kingisback350 says:
05:56 PM, 02/19/10
I just wish the camaro would loose like 200-300 pounds...
tonkatoytruck says:
06:06 PM, 02/19/10
I think it would be premature to assume that the Z28 will get 556HP.
Remember, Chevrolet still wants to sell base Corvettes and the new Sport version.
It starts to get real messy once you start having HP wars with yourself.
Not sure how GM is going to handle this but I can not see the Z28 outperform a base Corvette unless it is going to cost significantly more.
estreka says:
11:57 PM, 02/19/10
Yeah, I'm not convinced the Z28 will get 556 either. Frankly, I'd be rather shocked. Any Z28 is bound to exceed the 'Vette in HP, though.
kubota07 says:
05:08 AM, 02/20/10
Is it me or is GM dropping the ball on the Z06? No major updates, still at 505hp and the cadillacs and camaros are about to pass the hp numbers of the Z06. So sad!
zjev says:
05:17 AM, 02/20/10
1487, this car's base will never be $40-$45k, "Where did you come up with that?" Its base will probably start at $48k-$50k. They don't care if it steps into CTS-V territory since it's in a different class all together.
1487 says:
01:52 PM, 02/20/10
"I just wish the camaro would loose like 200-300 pounds..."
Maybe it will around the time the E550, 650 and S5 lose 200-300lbs. The Mustang is the only V8 powered coupe with rear seats that weighs less than 3700lbs.
"Not sure how GM is going to handle this but I can not see the Z28 outperform a base Corvette unless it is going to cost significantly more."
The Z28 may be as fast as the Vette but that doesn't mean it will handle as well. The Vette weighs about 3300lbs which gives it a significant advantage.
"1487, this car's base will never be $40-$45k, "Where did you come up with that?" Its base will probably start at $48k-$50k. They don't care if it steps into CTS-V territory since it's in a different class all together"
I said "base price", not typically equipped price. Remember, the SS starts at $31k but most that have been tested sticker closer to $36k. I could see this with a $45k start price before options.
"Is it me or is GM dropping the ball on the Z06? No major updates, still at 505hp and the cadillacs and camaros are about to pass the hp numbers of the Z06. So sad!"
Z06's power to weight ratio is MUCH better than that of the CTS-V or potentially the Z28. I don't know if any V8 powered car outside of a Ferrari like the Scuderia have a similar power to weight figure.
paulvincent1 says:
07:27 AM, 02/21/10
And to think that my '78 Z28 was developing 165 flywheel hp. Those were the days! None-the-less, I loved that car.
paulvincent1 says:
07:39 AM, 02/21/10
So let's say it comes with 500-525 h.p., but it can be modified to xxx h.p. for $xxx, and instead of matching CTS-V factory h.p., perhaps it will match CTS-V handling. Is this a possibility? After all, what good is 556 h.p. if it isn't functional.
nicked says:
08:17 AM, 02/21/10
Who cares about weight/handling on a Camaro Z28? This is one bad-ass muscle car for smoking your neighbor on every drag race.
camaro84 says:
10:37 AM, 02/21/10
Do any of you ACTUALLY own a Camaro because I do and I can tell you, the understeer comments are out of line. This car handles very well, not to the point of my s2000 but for its weight, there isn't really any understeer. It just takes a moment to adjust to the different kind of body roll/stiffness which feels a little weird.
Personally, the extra power in the z28 will be unusable on the street. So unless you're tracking the car, at least in the Northeast, all this extra power is just unusable. I'll stick to my 1SS and call it a day, perfect blend of street performance IMO.
paulvincent1 says:
10:43 AM, 02/21/10
nicked, Well, there was a time (first generation) that the Z28 and Boss 302 fought it out in TransAm not to mention the IROC series. Also, I grew up when muscle cars had no handling, and too many people die because of that (I went to school with a kid who had won the IL State Science Competition, went on to the Ivy League and died crashing his RoadRunner. So I guess only somebody with someone or something to lose cares about handling.
cah11705 says:
11:13 AM, 02/21/10
I don't see the point of buying this over a Corvette. The only usability advantage is the tiny backseats which aren't actually usable. And personally, I think the Vette is better looking, and the removable top is a nice bonus. But I'm still glad chevy still wants to compete with the mustang on all levels.
stovt001 says:
04:36 PM, 02/21/10
I don't see why this should overlap with the Corvette. One is a sports car and the other is a Grand Tourer.
paulvincent1 says:
06:08 PM, 02/21/10
Of course the Vette better looking; it's a case of beauty and the beast.
lt1boy says:
07:38 PM, 02/21/10
The Camaro and the Vette will never compete with each other. They're two totally different cars. The CTS-V makes way more power than the base Vette, costs about the same, but you don't see them competing with each other.
Having said that, I wouldn't be surprised if the Camaro Z28 came out with 600hp to beat the GT500.
scottyscooter says:
04:24 AM, 02/22/10
Sweet!
I guess the 12.9 second Camaro SS wasn't fast enough. It’s pretty unbelievable how fast cars are getting now days.
iskch says:
09:57 AM, 02/22/10
We all love powerful cars but in the end we are traveling in congested streets doing no more than 40 MPH all the time.
paulvincent1 says:
11:27 AM, 02/22/10
By 2020, I'll be surprised if Cadillac doesn't have a vehicle with more h.p. and torque than Chevy's Corvette even if it is 500 pounds heavier.
fordgt1000 says:
12:35 PM, 02/22/10
But still the gt500 is going to kick is giant ass
charlesb says:
03:44 PM, 02/27/10
This car will be right on $50K when it hits dealer lots. I don't think too many people will be interested at that price.
tx8 says:
07:11 AM, 04/24/10
well did the photographer hear a supercharger whine or not? it should be clear if this is just a new body package or the new z28.