7.0-litre Camaro wows SEMA show

The annual SEMA (Specialty Equipment Market Association) show in Las Vegas is unofficially the musclecar Mecca of motor shows, and Chevy ensured this year's instalment is no different.

The bowtie brand wheeled out no less than four Camaro concepts, spearheaded by the 'LS7 Concept'. As the name suggests, the musclebound Chev is powered by the same 7.0-litre LS7 V8 that propels the Corvette Z06 -- not to mention our own HSV W427.

Chev says the LS7 Concept is "designed to highlight the capability of the new Camaro as a weekend bracket warrior" via its LS7 'crate engine' (available to anyone in the US via GM's Performance Parts division).

Its creator says the concept's crate engine and bolt-on upgrades are intended to rekindle the spirit of the legendary COPO (Central Office Production Order) Camaros made famous by Chevy dealers like Don Yenko and Fred Gibb in the late 1960s.

The COPO cars were ordered for one thing: drag racing. They were quickly outfitted after delivery with the requisite tyres, safety equipment and other accessories necessary for competition in popular Stock-class drag racing series.

As such, the LS7 Concept honours the COPO ethos with features such as drag strip-ready rubber on the rear rims -- and unlike many of the stripped-down racers from 40 years ago, this strip-ready competitor serves "double duty as both a racecar and a daily driver", says Chev.

The powerplant isn't a stock LS7 either, as a high-performance replacement camshaft, headers and air intake system from GM Performance Parts crank up the intensity to the tune of 410kW (compared with 375kW for the HSV W427).

The Camaro LS7 also scores a wet-sump oiling system (the production engine features a dry-sump system that requires an external oil tank).

Backing the LS7 engine is a production Tremec 6060 six-speed manual with a GM Performance Parts Hurst shifter.

Complementing the extra oomph is a Brembo brake package, lowered ride height, custom 20-inch wheels and a GM Performance Parts exhaust system

The Camaro LS7 concept is painted Victory Red, with matte black accents on the bonnet and tail-lamp panel. And there are LS7 logos on the flanks and tail to deter any try-hards at the traffic lights.

It's all business in the spartan interior, too, with base trim and few accessories to minimise overall mass for ass-whoopin' quarter-mile times.

Although the Camaro LS7 Concept is just that -- a concept -- Chev says enterprising enthusiasts and racers can create their own by ordering the crate engine package, which includes a fully assembled production version of the engine, complete from the intake manifold to oil pan.

In addition to the concept Camaros, Chevrolet is using the SEMA show to display a production 2010 model with a range of performance and convenience accessories that will be available when the car hits US dealerships early next year.

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