2015 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 VIDEO REVIEW

2015 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 VIDEO REVIEW BY AUTO CRITIC STEVE HAMMES

Before you set your sights solely on the soon to be released all-new sixth generation Camaro, the outgoing model says don’t forget about me just yet. Especially when the car in question is the iconic Z/28 – designed to be the most track capable Camaro ever.

It’s been about 3 years since I’ve driven the supercharged Camaro ZL1 – the most powerful production Camaro ever; a perfect blend of obtainable high performance and obliging practicality. But that car isn’t hardcore enough for those with frequent racetrack intentions. So Chevy has revived the Z/28 moniker to put a bow on the highly successful run of the 5^th gen Camaro. Having lapped the Nürburgring road course 4 seconds faster than the ZL1, the Z/28 is a street-capable track car, with a laser focus on taking this large, heavy coupe to new levels of grip, handling, aerodynamics, and ultimately, faster lap times. It’s down 300 pounds from the ZL1, possesses obvious downforce enhancers, sports some of the widest, stickiest and priciest rubber I’ve ever tested, brakes with up to 1.5g of deceleration with carbon ceramic Brembos and last but not least, triggers with the brute force of Chevy’s 427 – a naturally aspirated, small block 7.0-liter V8 which previously saw time in the 6^th gen Corvette Z06. Just like then, it produces 505-horsepower and 481 pound-feet of torque and comes only with a 6-speed manual. If it’s not mandated by the government or doesn’t contribute to getting the car through faster, then it was left out.

Taking pity on us journalists, Chevy fitted this car with the optional Air Conditioning and Audio Package, resulting in an MSRP of $76,150 – that includes a $1,700 Gas Guzzler tax, which by the way, my weekly average of 12mpg on premium is the worst I can ever recall. But you don’t go Z/28 to save gas – you get it because you want the most purpose-built, finely tuned Camaro available. GM invited me to drive it at my favorite track down in Monticello, NY but a soaking rain disallowed it. So my review is biased to those of you who are considering a Z/28 as a weekend warrior that’ll live more on your favorite roads than your favorite road course. And much to my surprise, I discovered a Camaro that is much more off-track friendly than I ever would have guessed. With that in mind I called up a buddy of mine who has wrenched on and competed in Z/28s to share his perspective.

Let me introduce you to a good friend of mine. This is Lance Lane. Lance is a former Camaro Z/28 owner and has also acted as a technical advisor over the years for Drive Time and I thought it would be a great opportunity, Lance, to come out with me in this new Z/28 and see what you think.

Well Steve, I can’t wait to get behind the wheel of this. It looks like a beast already. It looks like something that wants to go out and tame the roads. Let’s go for a ride!

One way this Z/28 takes the Camaro into the future is through the Performance Traction Management system – not new to the car but even more advanced here with something GM calls “flying car” logic – a feature for track use only that helps maintain the car’s full power and momentum even when the tires lose contact with the ground. With 5 modes, each one taking your talents a bit further, PTM allows you to do things like mash the throttle at the exit of corner without losing the rear end. And with race car inspired spool valve dampers and other comprehensive chassis and suspension changes, the Z/28 is firm but not at all punishing and allows the car to follow a line dutifully. The super wide Pirelli P Zero Trofeo Rs are near slicks and follow any groove in the road they can find. Driving in the rain should be avoided and replacing them will set you back about $600 per, but they are an essential element to the Z/28’s glued to the pavement persona. Dry sump lubrication, expertly honed steering precision, a right where you want it intended it to go short throw shifter, a dual stage exhaust system and the best brake feel I’ve ever experienced are all standard. It’s an easy car to drive and far more agreeable to the driver than you’d expect.

So that was an exhilarating ride.

I tell you Steve, that car is fun-to-drive. It has all of the comforts of a racecar. You feel like you’re cocooned in and you take off and it’s holding you in your place. And the gears…when you go through the gears the sound of that 505-horsepower motor is incredible.

Yeah, it really is. And it looks like you’re driving a race car on the road so the heads that it turns when you drive by just adds to the coolness factor.

I just want to take some vinyl letters and throw a number on the side and my name up on the roof because it would be even more impressive pulling in with your name and number on the sides. People would think you’re literally pulling-off the track.

Well, let’s talk about your racing days. Tell me a little bit about your history with the Z/28.

Well, I had some…I grew-up with cars with my family and I was always a diehard Bowtie guy. I loved Chevys and I had a Camaro when I was in high school. I went through many modifications with it. You would change the engine you would change the rear end. You would change everything you could to make it faster and meaner. I did some SCCA auto-crossing. I had a blast with that car. I tell ‘ya; nowadays you can buy something like this. It has everything I put hours of sweat into it and it’s just beautiful.

You can get it right from the factory backed with a factory warranty. That’s pretty cool, right?

That is very cool. There’s no beating the fenders to get the tires to fit underneath. There’s no pulling engines out. It’s all right here.

So what do you think? Tell me a little bit about the differences between what you can remember from your ’78 to something like this. I mean, what are the biggest differences really?

Well, there are a lot of differences and similarities, right. It’s got that look and a lot of reminisces of the old Camaros. And that’s what’s really cool. The differences are everything is right there ready for you. You get in the car. You’ve already got the Recaro seats. You get into it, you put the seatbelt on. The 6-speed transmission is fabulous. 505 horsepower of growling power…and the tires and the wheels and the way it adjusts to the road is just amazing.

Do you feel like you have more control over the car than you did then?

I did. Because back then even though it was a high performance car when you got finished with it, changing the springs and everything, it still felt like a big, heavy car. These things with the different settings you can choose on the fly, tightens the steering up, it doesn’t feel like a big car anymore that you’re throwing through the corners.

Where’s your checkbook?

My checkbook is at home and I think my wife has control of it right now.

There’s almost a $20,000 price premium here over the ZL1 but it’s money well spent for the driver in need of a no-excuses Camaro that’s far happier than expected even when simply driving by the track.