Chevrolet’s Z/28 is the Most Track-Worthy Camaro to Date

Could it be the best production track car, ever?

Chevrolet wants drivers to be ready to drop that $75,000 with confidence when the time arrives for the new year models to roll off the dealer lots, so they have been very generous with this details of the Z/28. The automaker even spelled it all out with their list of 28 reasons why you should want to drive the new Z/28; within this list, it is easy to spot the four major areas of the design’s focus — improved aerodynamics, weight reduction, power, and a well tuned chassis & suspension to handle high speeds. Basically, GM wants to make the Z/28 the most trackable Camaro so far.

It all starts with the very front of the Z/28 — given the amount of wind pushing on the car at high speeds, GM designed a front splitter that can handle 250 lbs of downforce, and a belly pan that will decrease lift. The car’s modified NACA ducts are made to direct the air to the underbody tunnel area where it will cool the components effected by the heat of the exhaust.

Then there’s the weight savings — the Z/28 was shaved of unnecessary mass both inside and out. The Z/28 will actually be 300 pounds lighter than the ZL1 model. GM took many components into consideration, including carbon-ceramic brakes that cut the weight by 21 pounds over steel rotors. Included are also lighter wheels and tires that add up to an addition 48 pounds. The rear window glass is even lighter than that on other trim level. If you’re really die-hard about weight savings, you can opt out of the air conditioning system for another few pounds of weight savings.

Now add the 505 horsepower 7.0L V8 from the last-gen Z06, and this Camaro is going to be very swift. Under the engine is a dry-sump oiling system to keep pressure high during high-load cornering. Even the fuel system is optimized for the track — it is made to feed the pump reservoir during aggressive maneuvers. Backing the powerful engine is a Tremec 6-speed with short throw shifter with a 5.1 ratio.

Of course, it will need help using that power, and that’s why GM beefed up the chassis and suspension. A zero-preload limited slip differential will help the Z/28 power through turns, have better traction overall, and greater handling. A integral heat exchanger drops the temperature of the differential by 100 degrees to prevent it from cooking itself.

The Multimatic’s Dynamic Suspensions Spool Valve has almost 2-times the stiffness of the SS 1LE’s dampers. Updated springs and smaller stabilizer bars help the car grip the road in various conditions.

Here’s an abbreviated list of the 28 features GM is bragging about:

Rear spoiler with wickerbill helps to increase downforce and a small vertical tab helps to reduce lift.
Front fascia replaces fog lights, air dam, and upper grille with lighter items and also allows for better brake cooling.
The Z/28’s front splitter provides downforce at the nose and enhances stability.
Hood heat extractors allow hot air to leave the engine bay to keep it cooler.
Rocker moldings and wheel flare moldings add style and increase downforce.
The front wheelhouse liners work with underbody pans to direct airflow.
A belly pan helps to reduce lift while increasing cooling.
Thinner window glass saves 400 grams of weight.
Lighter rear seats saves around 10 pounds.
Lightweight wheels and tires reduce mass and spin inertia.
Carbon ceramic rotors reduce unsprung weight.
The absence of A/C means that power-robbing ac compressors are deleted, and weight savings is increased.
Dry-sump LS7 has forged crank, lightweight rods, high flow cylinders, and titanium valves.
Air intake is an open-air box system with reusable K&N filter.
The fuel system keeps the pump full under hard cornering for better track capabilities.
Exhaust has a active dual mode system and high flow catalytic converter.
The Tremec 6-speed has double and tripe cone synchronizers on all gears.
Short throw shifter has a 5.1 ration for more precise gear changes.
Chassis is stiffened by a strut tower brace to reduce flex.
Zero-preload limited-slip differential has concentric helical gear and allows for continuous torque biasing between the drive wheels.
An integrated heat exchanger helps to keep the differential cooler by more than 100 degrees.
Lower control arm ride link bushing offers 50% more stiffness for improve steering feel and brake force deflection steer.
P-bracket bushing for rear upper control arms improves lateral stiffness during hard cornering.
Higher-rate coil spring and smaller stabilizer bars reduce body movement under load.
DSSV damper technology provides nearly double the damper stiffness of the 1LE.
Performance traction management allows the driver to floor it at the end of corners and the car will automatically adjust power output to maintain traction.
19-inch wheels and Pirelli tires are lighter and stiffer than the SS setup.
Brembo carbon ceramic brakes save about 20 pounds from the stock style and decrease stopping distance at 60 mph to 120 feet — rotors are more than 15 inches in diameter.