2014 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28: The Trans-Am Racer Returns!
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00:00 [MUSIC PLAYING]
00:11 [CAR ENGINE REVVING]
00:13 Woo!
00:14 [CAR ENGINE REVVING]
00:17 [LAUGHTER]
00:19 That's more like it.
00:21 That's how we do it in North Georgia, folks.
00:24 [CAR ENGINE REVVING]
00:26 [TIRES SCREECHING]
00:28 [LAUGHTER]
00:30 [CAR ENGINE REVVING]
00:32 [TIRES SCREECHING]
00:34 [GUNSHOTS]
00:36 [GUNSHOTS]
00:38 [GUNSHOTS]
00:39 [MUSIC PLAYING]
00:44 Perhaps the best way to understand the Camaro Z28
00:48 is to think of it as a homologation special
00:50 for a racing series that doesn't exist.
00:53 How else could you explain the massive splitter, huge wheels
00:57 and brakes, and high revving 7-liter V8?
00:59 [CAR ENGINE REVVING]
01:03 Underneath, we have the hand-assembled 7-liter dry sump
01:07 427 V8.
01:09 This thing is a monster.
01:10 505 horsepower at 6,100 RPM, a redline at 7,000 RPM.
01:16 It is a wonderful, wonderful engine.
01:19 K&N cold air induction system, as I mentioned,
01:22 the dry sump oiling system, and a really beefy six-speed
01:25 manual.
01:26 This thing has all the hardware to make
01:28 it a monster on the track.
01:29 We tried testing the Z28 in Alabama,
01:37 but the weather wasn't cooperating.
01:40 With near freezing temperatures, the surface
01:42 wouldn't provide enough grip.
01:44 Going for braking and handling data was pointless.
01:49 A month later, Chevy brought the Z28 to California
01:52 so we could test it on a better surface in normal weather.
01:55 [MUSIC PLAYING]
01:58 The Z28 isn't a drag racer, nor should you expect it to be.
02:07 But mind the clutch and the throttle,
02:09 and you'll get to 60 miles an hour in four seconds,
02:11 and a quarter mile in 12.3 seconds at 117.2 miles an hour.
02:16 [MUSIC PLAYING]
02:20 Where the Z28 specializes is braking and handling.
02:25 While our best stop took just 97 feet,
02:28 the Z28 stayed under 100 feet for the majority
02:31 of its braking runs, illustrating the system's
02:33 tolerance for high heat.
02:36 Around the figure eight, the Z28 ran a 23.6 second lap,
02:41 matching what we've recorded from the Ferrari 458.
02:45 The time might be faster, too, had second gear
02:48 been slightly longer, as the Z28 would just
02:51 get to the limiter before the braking zone.
02:54 As for outright lateral grip, we've
02:56 recorded an average lateral acceleration of 1.06 G.
03:02 We've been eager to drive this car ever since hearing
03:05 GM was actually making it.
03:07 So we were excited to meet Randy Popest at beautiful Barber
03:10 Motorsports Park in Alabama to finally drive it.
03:13 [MUSIC PLAYING]
03:17 [ENGINE REVVING]
03:20 We're at Barber Motorsports Park,
03:22 and I can hardly hear myself over the roar of this Camaro Z28.
03:26 But I love it.
03:27 It sounds good.
03:28 [ENGINE REVVING]
03:31 I'm on cold tires.
03:33 You notice?
03:34 [ENGINE REVVING]
03:37 There's a five mode stability control.
03:40 And I'm on three.
03:41 And I'm on four.
03:43 There's a five mode stability control.
03:46 And I'm on three.
03:47 Because these cold tires, the weather's so aggressive,
03:51 they're like a racing slick.
03:52 And that they need to be warmed up.
03:54 [ENGINE REVVING]
03:57 The best way to warm tires is braking.
04:00 Now I can start to feel the traction
04:02 control working on power.
04:05 Yeah, my foot's on the floor, but the computer
04:07 is deciding how much power to deliver.
04:10 And I'll tell you what, that's really kind of a--
04:12 it's kind of a comfort under these conditions.
04:16 The track's a little damp still.
04:20 And three, it's very aggressive to me.
04:23 Stability control and traction control, bit of a comfort,
04:27 but now it's starting to annoy me.
04:28 I've got too much comfort.
04:31 Up over the rise, we've got traction.
04:36 I'm going to go up a mode on the traction control.
04:38 We're up into four, which is sport two.
04:40 Down into turn one.
04:44 Into the brake zone.
04:46 Man, I broke too early.
04:48 This thing really stopped.
04:50 Really powerful brakes.
04:53 Very quick response.
04:55 Shock damping helps the Camaro over the many rises and jumps
04:58 here at Barber Motorsports Park.
05:02 Little trail brake.
05:04 The nose in, forward.
05:07 Power down to the fast gas.
05:10 We are generating some G-force with the Camaro
05:13 in all directions, acceleration, cornering.
05:18 It's taking a long time for these tires to get nice and warmed up,
05:21 but they're starting to feel really good now.
05:23 305 size tires all around.
05:31 That helps give that front a lot of grip, a lot of stick.
05:36 We are going.
05:37 Very satisfying car to drive fast, I must say.
05:41 Yeah, baby.
05:43 I love it.
05:47 Randy, you just ran a 1.36.1 here in the Z28 around Barber,
05:54 and that's a really fast time for this track.
05:57 But the morning felt a little different.
06:00 Walk me through the learning curve of this car.
06:02 It gets better.
06:03 I think it's got a broad power band.
06:05 You rev it up, and it gets better and better.
06:07 Yeah, it does.
06:08 And in cold temps, the tires will let go.
06:10 Yes.
06:11 In warm temps, the tires are amazing.
06:13 When they are on, they are really on.
06:15 Amazing.
06:16 Part of the speed of the Z28 is in the Trofeo R aggressive track tire.
06:20 There's that ridiculous grip.
06:22 Yeah, and it's huge.
06:23 The front tires are 305, just like the back.
06:27 I also can't think of a Mustang that would be as fast as this around Barber here.
06:30 This car is far quicker in straight line than even the Boss 302.
06:35 Absolutely.
06:36 It's got 100 and something more cubic inches, too.
06:39 Well, Randy, see you later.
06:40 [laughter]
06:41 Well, we're really praising it.
06:43 I almost feel like a Chevy commercial.
06:45 Maybe we should throw something out there.
06:46 I think they'll be pissed off about the Mustang helmet, so that's all right.
06:48 Oh, okay.
06:49 Okay, yeah.
06:50 But no, it really is very reminiscent of the Boss Laguna Seca.
06:53 Yeah.
06:54 It's faster, though.
06:55 Faster and really better, especially in the braking department.
06:59 But the Boss puts the power down better.
07:02 [music]
07:03 Jeff!
07:05 Come!
07:08 Stay high!
07:10 [music]
07:12 All right.
07:20 Stand still for like two seconds.
07:22 Try to stay warm while we go.
07:23 It's really cold.
07:24 Okay.
07:25 You want to be real still, and then it's cold.
07:27 Yeah.