2013 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 7l V8 6MT (500 HP)

Vehicle Overview

Chevrolet refreshed the Camaro lineup for the 2014 model year, and along with the updated version, it also started production for the Z/28 version, which amazed the audience with its 500 hp naturally aspirated engine.

The first time GM put a Z28 badge on the Camaro was in 1967 when it produced that version to be homologated in the Trans-Am racing series. Since there were several technical limitations, including the engine displacement, Chevrolet modified the already existing 327 ci powerplant and transformed it into a 302 ci by using various components from its parts bin. Since that moment, the Z28 became a famous version of this pony car, and the 2014 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 was no exception. There is no mistake; the automaker added the slash (/) between the letter and the number so that the car couldn’t be mistaken for something else. This version was track-focused, and even though it wasn’t the most powerful among its stablemates, it was light on its feet and fast around a track. Furthermore, its chassis was developed around the famous Nürburgring Nordschleife race track in Germany, just like the ZL1, but unlike its brother, it was powered by a big-block naturally-aspirated engine.

The car’s front sported the same changes as the rest of the 2014 Chevrolet Camaro range, which was a refresh for the fifth generation of this nameplate. However, it sported a few significant details that made it stand out. Up front, the HID headlights were narrower and looked meaner. They flanked a black mesh grille adorned by the Z/28 badge and the carmaker’s bow-tie emblem. On the lower side of the bumper, the automaker installed a wide and tall trapezoidal black grille flanked by vertical side scoops that housed the fog lamps and served as vents for the front brakes. Another significant detail was the extended chin spoiler that increased downforce. GM also placed a cowl induction hood with a center carbon fiber section featuring a set of louvers.

Thanks to the improved suspension, the car sat lower to the ground than its stablemates. A set of Z/28 badges adorned the front fenders, whereas other versions sported the Camaro nameplate. However, the low-slung greenhouse with its raked windshield was kept intact, but the aerodynamically-profiled door mirrors were new. On the lower side, the side skirts were designed to reduce the ground effect and improve the car’s cornering abilities. Out back, a carbon fiber spoiler was designed specifically to improve traction on the rear axle on high-speed cornering. Finally, on the lower side of the rear bumper, the automaker added a quad exhaust system with round pipes that flanked the diffuser.

Chevrolet didn’t bother to dramatically improve the cabin of the Z/28, which sported the same flat dashboard design as the rest of its siblings. The three-spoke steering wheel featuring buttons for the media and cruise control functions framed the instrument panel. There, the 2014 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 had rectangular-shaped clusters for the speedometer and tachometer that flanked an LCD that was used for the infotainment system and the navigation as well. Between the high-bolstered bucket seats at the front, Chevrolet installed a center console that housed the gear stick. Surprisingly, the already traditional four-gauge layout was no longer available.

However, those who bought the Z/28 didn’t get it to use it as a boulevard cruiser. The car could compete in various kinds of races thanks to its naturally aspirated seven-liter V8 engine under the hood that produced 500 hp (505 PS). A six-speed manual was the only option since the automaker considered that it was the best option for a track-oriented vehicle. The 2014 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 could sprint from naught to 60 mph (0-97 kph) in under four seconds, while to stop it, the automaker worked closely with the brake manufacturer Brembo, who installed carbo-ceramic rotors in all corners.