Callaway slams down 445kW Camaro

In a few months Callaway Cars starts production of its 445kW Callaway Camaro SC600.

When it arrives in showrooms, it will be the most powerful emission-legal Camaro ever to be sold through Chevrolet’s North American dealer network, with peak power easily exceeding that of the current 6.2-litre Camaro SS by more than 100kW.

Its 600hp output is also 120kW less than Callaway's previous Corvette Z06 SC757 (757hp), suggesting it has plenty of power in reserve. There's no word regarding the supercharged V8 engine’s peak torque but the figure should exceed 760Nm when Callaway finishes calibration.

Here’s the back half of the story. Callaway is pricing the Camaro SC600 at a very enticing $US54,290 ($A78,000), including the purchase of the donor Camaro SS – less than the price of Chev's previous-generation Camaro ZL1.

Callaway will offer the Camaro SC600 as coupe or convertible with six-speed manual or eight-speed automatic, and it will be available through selected Chevy dealers in the US.

Callaway doesn’t do subtle but the transformation from a standard Camaro SS into the Camaro SC600 is straightforward. Callaway takes a lot of the same engine technology engineered for its street-legal 564kW Corvette Z06 SC and drops it into the Camaro SC600.

In a corporate statement managing director at Callaway Cars Mike Zoner said: “Our Gen Three supercharger is the heart of the Camaro SC600. The TVS 2300cc based supercharger rises prominently through the hood, staying cool as it produces serious horsepower, run after run and lap after lap.”

TVS superchargers are commonly used by car-makers and performance tuners because the design produces consistent intake boost pressure without a lot of noise and vibration.

In fact, Roush fits a TVS supercharger to its highly fettled 500kW Stage 3 Mustang, which is under development to meet Australian standards for use in Ford's locally delivered 5.0-litre V8-powered Mustang GT.

However, unlike Ford's new Mustang, the Chevy's new Camaro – and therefore all Callaway versions thereof – will not be produced in right-hand drive or officially sold in Australia.

Callaway engineers did some smart things to ensure the Camaro SC600’s supercharged engine meets emission standards, durability targets and output targets – including more power than any standard Camaro, including the upcoming 2017 Camaro ZL1.

The engine’s intake air temps are kept in check by a unique three-element air-to-liquid intercooler designed by Callaway. Of course, the big hole in the bonnet gives the supercharger headroom, better cooling and visual drama, which should appeal to all of us with a little Max Mad in our memories.