Wednesday 11th May 2016

New Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 spied?

The Mustang GT350R has a new rival!

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While they aren't offered in the UK, the current selection of super American muscle cars are very intriguing to enthusiasts over here. Flat-plane cranks, Trofeo tyres and carbon wheels have taken muscle cars to a new range of enthusiasts, with new (and very exciting) models like the GT350R Mustang, Corvette Z06 and Dodge Viper ACR.

Now, following the regular models and the 1LE, the new Camaro appears to be rejoining that group with an updated Z/28. You'll remember the outgoing car made quite a name for itself with 305-section tyres at each corner, a 7.0-litre V8 pushing out more than 500hp and one of the moodiest silhouettes ever seen on a production car.

If this test mule is indeed the next Z/28, it looks to be taken that even further still. See for example the front aero flics and chunky rear wing, those supplemented by what appears to be an even deeper front grille. Peer really closely and you can see a Sparco passenger seat, plus those wheels have to be at least 20-inch diameter.

There aren't any technical details yet, but you'd have to hope not too much changes. Although with the Mustang at 520hp and the Camaro currently languishing at 505hp, surely a little more power wouldn't go amiss. Perhaps some wider tyres could be added, just to deal with the increase... More details soon!

[Photos: S. Baldauf/SB-Medien]

[big_rob_sydney]

Just looking at it, I'm wondering what it will weigh. I'm betting it'll be a fat fker.

[kambites]

The standard V8 model is about 1700kg which is roughly the same as a C63 and RS5; a bit heavier than an M4.

[lamby]

The last z28 was incredibly well sorted...Probably quite porky, but had a ring time of 7:37.47. Pretty impressive, adaptive suspension etc. A far cry from the cattletruck suspension!! Of the muscle cars this is my choice... Why not strap a Supercharger to the 7.0 litre and see what happens!

[Turquoise]

This generation is lighter than the previous one FWIW.

[Ozzie Osmond]

The slit windows kill it for me, must be like driving round in a letter box.

Somehow the Mustang just about gets away with being "UK sized" but Camaro/Charger/Challenger don't - IMO.

[73RS]

Not my cup of tea, but fair play to Chevrolet for putting something so out there...err...out there.

[Barchettaman]

Ozzie Osmond said:

The slit windows kill it for me, must be like driving round in a letter box.

Somehow the Mustang just about gets away with being "UK sized" but Camaro/Charger/Challenger don't - IMO.

I´ve seen any number of the Camaro/charger/Challengers being driven round Frankfurt and they don´t look out of place, size-wise.

If one´s commute were to include, say, North Cornwall country lanes, then it would be a bit big, otherwise I reckon it´s Euro-sized IYKWIM.

[C.A.R.]

That massive grille isn't very Camaro-like. It's very European-looking in that respect, like a big gulping Audi or some such. I know the grille got big and square on the 70s Camaro, but it looked nothing like this.

The Mustang is a better proportioned car I reckon.

[300bhp/ton]

big_rob_sydney said:

Just looking at it, I'm wondering what it will weigh. I'm betting it'll be a fat fker.

Do you ever have anything nice to say? You seem to be the first, or almost the first to post on all of these threads. And always then bhing and moaning about how they are too big, too heavy and can't be used on UK roads.

Bet you've never even been in anything like them have you.




EDIT:

big_rob_sydney said:

Every time I see abominations like this, I just laugh. I mean, why stop there? Why not go out and buy a tank? Good luck parking this in any normal sized parking station without either banging doors, or coming back to find your own doors having been dinged by someone else futilely trying to get out next to you.

Putting aside all discussions of selfishness of road space taken, you realise that the UK is not exactly like the US in terms of width of roads, and narrow country lanes will not suit these kinds of cars, especially if another one is coming in the opposite direction.

Its a bit ironic, because for all intents and purposes, practicality is supposed to be what these lifestyle vehicles are about. When they get so bloated, I wonder just how practical they really are.

big_rob_sydney said:

Considering how simple / agricultural it is, I dont understand why its so heavy. Surely dropping 200kg or so would make it a much more serious weapon.

As for the Monaros and VXR8s of the world, I hated them back in Aus, where petrol was cheap and roads were wide. What hope does anything similar have here in the UK?

Too big, too fat, too loud. Typical american.

big_rob_sydney said:

Overpriced and overweight tat.

Look at offerings from other manufacturers when they go the extra mile to produce something special. They strip their cars down, almost to the bone. This should be 1350kg or less.

And the price. What a giraffe.

Edited by 300bhp/ton on Wednesday 11th May 12:06

[Tom1312]

Looks awesome.

The Americans seem to be nailing the whole throw back modern look.

So much better than the euro attempts at referencing the 'good old days.'

[996TT02]

Barchettaman said:

Ozzie Osmond said:

The slit windows kill it for me, must be like driving round in a letter box.

Somehow the Mustang just about gets away with being "UK sized" but Camaro/Charger/Challenger don't - IMO.

I´ve seen any number of the Camaro/charger/Challengers being driven round Frankfurt and they don´t look out of place, size-wise.

If one´s commute were to include, say, North Cornwall country lanes, then it would be a bit big, otherwise I reckon it´s Euro-sized IYKWIM.

I had a related experience on my recent visit to the US. Full of rental Mustangs, so when I stopped by the side of the road to take in a view, in my peripheral vision another car parked up right beside me, and the quickest of sideways glances indicated Mustang. Only it wasn't. It was a BMW420 i.e. a coupe 3 series. At that moment I realised that the 3/4 series were really practically Mustang sized. Mustangs (and Camaros, etc) have not gotten any smaller, but Euros (and euro-sized cars generally) have grown very substantially in size.

So the big "American" car is really almost a thing of the past, all cars are big nowadays. Except pickups...

[willisit]

Along with the new ZL1, this is ruddy fantastic. Smaller and lighter than the old car, and brutally quick. Yes, all the yes.

[Chafford1]

Ozzie Osmond said:

The slit windows kill it for me, must be like driving round in a letter box.

Somehow the Mustang just about gets away with being "UK sized" but Camaro/Charger/Challenger don't - IMO.

The new Camaro is the same length as the Mustang, 1 inch narrower and almost 2 inches lower. The Camaro's wheelbase is almost 4 inches longer than the Mustang. According to Motor Trend - Camaro SS curb weight is 3,672 lb compare to 3,825 lb for the Mustang GT. So it's lighter as well.

The Charger and Challenger are much bigger, heavier cars.

Given that Chevrolet have already announced the 640hp ZL1, I'm not sure where this Z28 is going to fit in the lineup.

Edited by Chafford1 on Wednesday 11th May 12:25

[996TT02]

Intrigued, I looked up sizes.

BMW 420, 4.64m
Mustang 2016, 4.77m

Use a ruler, or your fingers, to appreciate just how little a 13cm difference actually is. And the 420 is "compact" in terms of the BMW range.

[300bhp/ton]

I guess I'm in a minority here. But I don't really like how these new age muscle and pony cars look. The Challenger and Charger look good. But not keen on the new Mustang or the 5th Gen and newer Camaro's. Not even really taken with the C7 Vette.


Visually I much prefer this:

[skyrover]

Ozzie Osmond said:

The slit windows kill it for me, must be like driving round in a letter box.

Somehow the Mustang just about gets away with being "UK sized" but Camaro/Charger/Challenger don't - IMO.

You do realize it's smaller than the mustang?

Mustang

Length: 188.3 in (4,784 mm)
Width: 75.4 in (1,916 mm)
Weight: 3,520–3,800 lb (1,600–1,720 kg)

Camaro

Length: 188.3 in (4,780 mm)
Width: 74.7 in (1,900 mm)
Weight: 3,339-3,760 lb (1,515-1,710 kg)

The Challenger is indeed larger and the Charger is a 4 door saloon car based on the 300C and not comparable at all.

[unpc]

300bhp/ton said:

I guess I'm in a minority here. But I don't really like how these new age muscle and pony cars look. The Challenger and Charger look good. But not keen on the new Mustang or the 5th Gen and newer Camaro's. Not even really taken with the C7 Vette.


Visually I much prefer this:

Yep, definitely a minority

[budgie smuggler]

skyrover said:

Ozzie Osmond said:

The slit windows kill it for me, must be like driving round in a letter box.

Somehow the Mustang just about gets away with being "UK sized" but Camaro/Charger/Challenger don't - IMO.

You do realize it's smaller than the mustang?

Mustang

Length: 188.3 in (4,784 mm)
Width: 75.4 in (1,916 mm)
Weight: 3,520–3,800 lb (1,600–1,720 kg)

Camaro

Length: 188.3 in (4,780 mm)
Width: 74.7 in (1,900 mm)
Weight: 3,339-3,760 lb (1,515-1,710 kg)

The Challenger is indeed larger and the Charger is a 4 door saloon car based on the 300C and not comparable at all.

I see a Camaro near me, and I couldn't believe the numbers Parkers had for it.

I assume they are correct but f me they *look* huge in the flesh. I would have guessed it to be significantly larger than a current 5 series, in actual fact slightly smaller. Maybe it's the high lines at the rear of the car.

[GranCab]

300bhp/ton said:

I guess I'm in a minority here. But I don't really like how these new age muscle and pony cars look. The Challenger and Charger look good. But not keen on the new Mustang or the 5th Gen and newer Camaro's. Not even really taken with the C7 Vette.


Visually I much prefer this:

That is truly revolting ... it looks like a body-kitted Ford Probe

[300bhp/ton]

GranCab said:

That is truly revolting ... it looks like a body-kitted Ford Probe

Well no it doesn't. But it doesn't surprise me one bit that you had to chime in with a derogatory and insulting comment.