The New Z/28...

[ktownkid]

Something happened to me along the way......have no desire to go that fast....ever.

ktownkid [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/beers.gif[/img]

[Charley Lillard]

Press release:

Track-capable Camaro Z/28 Validated at Nürburgring
· Z/28 undergoes 10 hours or 1,000 miles of testing at Nordschleife
· Fastest lap completed in 7:37.40 in rainy conditions

DETROIT – Chevrolet today revealed a video of the all-new, 2014 Camaro Z/28 lapping Germany’s challenging Nürburgring road course in 7:37.40, a time comparable with some of the world’s most prestigious sports cars.

The Z/28’s lap is four seconds faster than the Camaro ZL1, and beats published times for the Porsche 911 Carrera S and the Lamborghini Murcielago LP640. The Z/28’slap was completed on less-than-ideal conditions, with damp pavement and pouring rain near the end of the run.

&quot;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,&quot; said Al Oppenheiser, Camaro chief engineer. &quot;Adam Dean, the development driver for Z/28, did a heroic job driving in deteriorating conditions. Based on telemetry data from our test sessions, we know the Z/28 can be as much as six seconds faster on a dry track.&quot;

In terms of lap times, the Z/28’s improved speed came from three areas:

· Increased grip: The Z/28 is capable of 1.08 g in cornering acceleration, due to comprehensive chassis revisions
· Increased stopping power: The Z/28 features Brembo carbon-ceramic brakes capable of 1.5 g in deceleration, and consistent brake feel lap after lap
· Reduced curb weight: The naturally aspirated Z/28 weighs 300 pounds less than the supercharged Camaro ZL1, with changes ranging from lightweight wheels to thinner rear-window glass.

The heart of the Z/28 is the 7.0L LS7 engine. The LS7 uses lightweight, racing-proven, high-performance components, such as titanium intake valves and connecting rods, CNC-ported aluminum cylinder heads and a forged-steel crankshaft to help produce an SAE-certified 505 horsepower (376 kW) and 481 lb-ft of torque (652 Nm). Air-conditioning is available, but only as an option.

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 new design enables the driver to apply more power and get through corners faster, by making the most of the capability of individual-wheel antilock brake function during corner entry braking, mid-corner speed and corner-exit traction.

The team spent a week at the Nürburgringas part of the Z/28's performance-validation regimen, accumulating a total of 10 hours and nearly 1,000 miles on the track. Each lap took less than eight minutes to complete, despite having to overtake slower traffic at times. These hours are part of the grueling 24-Hour Test, which simulates a full year's worth of track use of track days or amateur-level competition at the hands of an owner.

“Passing the 24-Hour Test is a requirement for all cars we call 'track capable,’” said Wayne McConnell, director of global vehicle performance. &quot;The test pushes the car at 10/10ths on the track for a total of 24 hours. During the test the only mechanical changes allowed are replacing the brakes and tires.”

The 24-Hour Test is broken into a number of segments over the course of several days – and even at different tracks – to evaluate performance in precisely measured and carefully monitored increments. Crucially, each valid test lap must be run within 2 percent of a target lap speed to count toward the 24-hour total.

The 24-Hour Test was first used in the early 1990s for the fourth-generation Corvette. Back then, the 300-horsepower Corvette was Chevrolet’s most powerful vehicle, and the 24-Hour Test measured 15 channels of data. Today, the 2014 Camaro LS offers a 323-horsepower V-6, while the Camaro Z/28’s racing-proven LS7 7.0L small-block V-8 delivers 505 horsepower, and the 24-Hour Test measures 130 channels of data.

“Our cars' performance and capability have advanced tremendously in the past 20 years, which required us to continually improve the parameters of the 24-Hour Test,&quot; said McConnell.

&quot;Today’s test pushes the car harder than the vast majority of customers ever will. As a result, when we call a car ‘track capable’ we are confident that it will perform reliably and consistently for our customers.”

[Tenney]

http://fastestlaps.com/tracks/nordschleife.html

[Lynn]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: mockingbird812</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><span style="font-size: 17pt">Sounds <span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-style: italic">terrific</span></span>. And what a lap! Lacking in the looks department though (am an expert as I own a '62 Plymouth [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/naughty.gif[/img] [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/wink.gif[/img] [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/whistle.gif[/img] )</span> </div></div>

Sam, I realize this is tongue in cheek. But seriously, looking at a 62 Plymouth (hell, ANY 62 Mopar product is ugly as sin) has affected your vision.
Yes, looks are subjective. There is a reason we say &quot;beauty is in the eye of the beholder&quot;, but the Camaro looks have really grown on me.

I think it looks great.

[mockingbird812]

My point Lynn, is that when you start throwing plastic wheel well extensions on this car, it stops <span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-style: italic"><span style="text-decoration: underline">visually</span></span></span> being an integrated purpose built car, but sort of an after thought to stuffing bigger wheels/tires in the wells. If you consider the standard Corvette vs. Z06 - I think it would look strange if they just put fender extenders on the Z06 rather than a new integrated wider quarter panel. Of course it costs a lot more to put new quarter panels on but the integrated look is bold, functional, and terrific looking!

[Stefano]

Especially when you consider that the wider tires/wheels will fit both front and rear and properly tuck into the wheel wells.

Here is more on the Z28.

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[mockingbird812]

Wonder if you can delete the wheel well extensions?

[Lynn]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: mockingbird812</div><div class="ubbcode-body">My point Lynn, is that when you start throwing plastic wheel well extensions on this car, it stops <span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-style: italic"><span style="text-decoration: underline">visually</span></span></span> being an integrated purpose built car, but sort of an after thought to stuffing bigger wheels/tires in the wells. If you consider the standard Corvette vs. Z06 - I think it would look strange if they just put fender extenders on the Z06 rather than a new integrated wider quarter panel. Of course it costs a lot more to put new quarter panels on but the integrated look is bold, functional, and terrific looking! </div></div>

Point well taken. Actually, I <span style="font-weight: bold">agree</span> it looks <span style="font-weight: bold">better</span> without the extensions. My wife's MRoadster certainly would look crappy if BMW just put extensions on the regular body rather than using the wider body.
They just aren't enough to run me off on the Camaro.
Hey, if it is a hit, maybe they will integrate it in a future model. They will need to do something to improve it to keep sales up. Personally, I think it will be a sales flop, which is what will make it collectable in 30 years.

Sam, I think we should fight over this until we can no longer be friends. I drew first blood by insulting your Plymouth.

[mockingbird812]

<span style="font-size: 14pt">&quot;Insult&quot;? I took that as a compliment re my Plymouth!!!!! (BTW, always been my wife's favorite car [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/dunno.gif[/img])</span>

P.S. I am intrigued by your challenge to &quot;...<span style="font-style: italic">fight over this until we can no longer be friends.</span>&quot; Let me give that some thot and get back to you! [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/wink.gif[/img]

P.S.S. What's not to love? (notice there are no plastic wheel well extensions.... [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/grin.gif[/img])

[XXXGoldL34M20]

That car is not Fugly
It is COOL [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif[/img]