[WATCH] 2014 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 takes Nürburgring
by Canadian Manufacturing Daily Staff
Lap time of 7:37.40 on par with Porsche's 911 Carrera S, Lexus LFA supercar
DETROIT—The reborn Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 put up respectable numbers on Germany’s famed Nürburgring Nordschleife road course, posting a best lap time of 7:37.40.
“One of the challenges of testing at the ‘Ring is that the track is so long that conditions can change radically in a single lap,” Camaro chief engineer Al Oppenheiser said in a release of the official lap time.
According to Chevrolet, the Z/28’s lap was completed “on less-than-ideal conditions, with damp pavement and pouring rain near the end of the run.”
Oppenheiser said he and his team are confident the latest rendition of the iconic muscle car could “be as much as six seconds faster on a dry track.”
That would put the track-ready Camaro in the territory of the Ferrari 458 Italia.
Pushing the Z/28 is Chevy’s 7.0-litre LS7 engine.
The LS7 uses lightweight, race-proven components like titanium intake valves and connecting rods, CNC-ported aluminum cylinder heads and a forged-steel crankshaft to help produce 505-horsepower and 481 lb.-ft. of torque.
A close-ratio six-speed manual transmission is the only transmission offered and power is distributed to the rear wheels via a limited-slip differential featuring a helical gear set, rather than traditional clutch packs.
The naturally aspirated Z/28 weighs 300 lbs. less than the supercharged Camaro ZL1, thanks to lightweight wheels and thinner rear-window glass.
In the true spirit of track racing, air-conditioning is available, but only as an option.
