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, 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 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.







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 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 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 (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.

 

The GT500 stands ready (and has stood ready for quite a few years now).

 

Price will be high and ADMs will be rampent. I'm sure Ford has an answer for this already waiting.

 

This is good news. Competition improves the breed

 

is this the edmunds article from a couple weeks back?

 

I still won't buy one, but I like it.

 

Moving to 'General Vehicle Discussion,' but will leave a link for a couple of days . . . .

 

Poor GM, always one step behind. I'm sure by the time this thing actually sees the light of day, a 5.0TT will be in the GT500. They don't have a chance!

 

Bring it on! Let's see what 2 tons+ looks like.

 

GT-500 will have a 550+ hp aluminum 5.4 and will weight about as much as the Camaro SS (or less) thanks to the switch from Fe to Al. In a car which, despite the live axle, is considered by many to have a superior ride already. I like our chances.

 

that looks pretty darned good
can't wait to see these on the road

 

I agree, unfortunately it doesn't transalte quite as well into actual steel. The Bumblebee Camaro used in the seond Transformers movie is the 'in the flesh' realization of that sketch, and the front fascia on the movie car is awful. I suppose this is another nod to your argument that keep concept sketched 'real' in terms of dimension helps to avoid heartbreak when you see the real thing.

 

Cool !! About time !

 

Funny thing the Z-28 does not interest me at all, I don't even care about it. So many things about the Camaro don't impress me at all. The older F-bodies had my interest but something about this new Camaro just turns me off.

 

GT 500 needs wider tires to better harness the power... So, if GM is doing well enough to green light these, can the American people have their money back? Now!?

 

I feel the same way.

 

meh....

 

Too bad I cant opt for one without all the added cladding. That big hood scoop is a bit much for me. Now if GM would actually confirm it I'd go ahead and start making preparations to get one . Just wish the **** LSA had forged pistons instead of the hypereutectic junk. I won't be able to turn up the boost much .

 

And according to a report on gminsidernews.com posted today, the Z/28 is off again. I'm sure things could change - again though.

I wonder if this was any sort of factor in Henderson leaving? As far as differing opinions in company direction anyway.

 

Well, let's look at the product announcements during his tenure. Limited-volume Wagon and Coupe versions of the CTS, police-only Caprice, and a Buick nobody cares about. I was at an auto show last week where the Camaro and Corvette had small crowds, the CTS had a smaller crowd, and the rest of GM was a ghost town. Ford's display looked like a Mosh Pit. The LAST thing GM needs is a Z28 Camaro, unless it's going to sell a million units.