The Sixth gen Chevrolet Camaro has become one of the best muscle cars on the American market. From the base Camaro to the range-topping ZL1, all variants are wonderful cars to own and drive. The current alpha platform is such a capable chassis that adds to the capability of the vehicle, add the 1LE package and it transforms the Camaro into one of the best-handling muscle cars in the world.

When the Camaro was revived in 2010 it received massive reception since the last Camaro was made in 2002. This generation saw the introduction of the 1LE handling package which transformed the way the Camaro drove. This package was offered with the ZL1 and the most track-focused Z/28 model. It was the very best fifth-gen Camaro, and we might see it return for the sixth generation.

The Chevrolet Camaro is about to be discontinued once again after its revival. But there are rumors that Chevy might make a Z/28 version as the final send-off to the Camaro lineup. The last time Chevy made a Z/28 was in 2014, it wasn’t the fastest straight-line Camaro, but it was the most track-focused and the lightest Camaro at the time. If Chevy makes the new Z/28, we expect it to follow the same ethos as the previous car and the information so far is getting us excited.

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Aggressive Design And Aero Package

The previous gen Z/28 didn’t have radical changes like a big wing or aero scoops. It had all the updates from the 2014 Camaro but looked very similar to the 2012 Camaro ZL1 with a few exterior changes. The wheel arches were slightly wider to accommodate the wider tires, the fog lights were deleted and it had a slightly bigger spoiler.

The New Z/28 may take inspiration from the sixth generation which got a facelift for the 2019 model year but with bits from the ZL1 1LE trim. This means new headlights and taillight design but with the aero package and flared body similar to the ZL1 1LE. This may include:

• A bigger front splitter
• Front Dive planes/Canards
• Lighter carbon hood
• New lightweight wheels
• Fog light delete
• Big rear wing
• More lightweight components

A new aggressive design and aerodynamic package would help this car achieve the grip and handling capabilities needed for it to turn fast laps on a track. This is a characteristic of high-performance cars at this level and the Z/28 should be no different. There should be scoops, air channels, and downforce elements on a much lighter Camaro which will result in faster times on the track.

A Focus On Being Lightweight

The previous gen Camaro had a priority on weight saving with a host of standard features removed to make the car as light as it could be. This took weight savings to the level of manufacturers like Porsche. The American muscle car formula has always been to add more power but the Z/28 didn’t just want to add more power, it wanted to handle well too. Some of the weight savings came from:

• Lighter battery
• Radio delete
• Recaro racing seats
• Thinner rear glass
• Less sound deadening
• AC delete
• Fog light delete
• New 19-inch lightweight wheels

The new Z/28 may delete some of these comfort features but maybe not to the extent of the old car. The current ZL1 1LE is 60 pounds lighter than the regular ZL1 which means the Z/28 is expected to be lighter than the current ZL1 1LE. We also do expect to see similar mechanical parts used on the Z/28.

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A V-8 Engine From The Corvette Z06

Rumor has it that the Z/28 might get the 5.5 liter naturally aspirated V-8 from the C8 Z06. This would be a mega engine to fit into a car like the Camaro and this is feasible since the track-focused Camaros have shared parts with its Corvette sibling in the past. The previous Z/28 featured a 7.0 liter naturally aspirated V-8 which made 505 Horsepower and 481 pound feet of torque.

Engine Specifications

The most powerful Camaro engine is the 6.2 liter supercharged V-8 with 650 horsepower and 650 pound-feet of torque. But instead of this engine it might get the C8 Z06's engine. There is one concern here, the C8 is dual clutch only and the former Z28 was only offered with manual transmission. If the Camaro gets this engine, it may not come with a manual transmission and may also get slightly less power than the C8 Z06.

We do expect it to share most of the race-oriented mechanical parts from the ZL1 1LE. It should get the manually adjustable Multimatic spool-valve shocks, Carbon ceramic brakes, and wide Goodyear Eagle F1 Supercar tires. With this engine combination, lightweight components, and mechanical setup, this car will be an absolute weapon on the track.

Performance Benchmarks For The Camaro Z28

The old Z/28 was a very capable track-focused car that stood up to some of the best performance cars of its time. It was so good that it won MotorTrend’s Best Driver’s Car in 2014. It competed with some of the best performance cars at the time which included:

• Alfa Romeo 4C
• BMW i8
• BMW M4 Jaguar F-Type R Coupe
• Nissan GT-R Nismo
• Porsche 911 Turbo S
• Subaru STI
• And A Porsche 918 Spyder

The sixth-gen Camaro has been praised for its incredible handling just the way the old Z/28 received high praise. A new Z/28 would combine the very best part of the current Camaro lineup with the 1LE handling package and the very fine-tuned Alpha chassis, it would be a weapon on the track. Its current competition would be newer versions of the previous competition which now include

• Porsche 992 GT3
• Huracan STO
• Dodge Challengers
• Ford Mustang Dark Horse
• Porsche GT4RS

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Camaro Z/28: Expected Price And Release Date

Unlike its bigger Corvette brother which has been confirmed to arrive soon, the Z/28 remains a rumor at this point. There isn’t much information out there and no test cars have been spotted anywhere which leads us to believe it might take a while for us to get one if it will ever be made. But it would be a no-brainer to make one for the sendoff of the Camaro before moving on with plans of electrification.

Although we have no timeline, we do expect to see a new Camaro in the latter part of 2024. Prices for a new Z/28 could be around $80,000 with a limited run of around 1000 units or maybe as much as they can sell. We do hope they make this and make it the ultimate Camaro of this generation.