NEW YORK MOTOR SHOW: Chevrolet Camaro Z/28

General Motors' headline act at the New York motor show was the Chevrolet Camaro Z/28, a high-revving, lightweight race track special that resurrects the bowtie brand's famous 1967 model of the same name.

Powered by Chevrolet's naturally aspirated 'LS7' 7.0-litre V8 worth at least 373kW/640Nm, the new model is said to be at least 136kg lighter than the 1869kg supercharged Camaro ZL1 and is being touted as an Ariel Atom killer on the race track.

This car is so serious about nailing hot laps says Mark Reuss, President of GM North America, that no other Pony car will be able to match it.

"There's two cars in this airspace [that compete] on a track time basis and neither one of them are Pony cars. One of them is an Ariel Atom," said Reuss, referring to the ultra-light weight exoskeletal British super car.

The Camaro Z/28 is "a phenomenal car," says Reuss, who was Managing Director of Holden in Australia during 2008 and 2009.

No price mentioned, no 0-100km/h time posted, not even a Nurburgring lap time has been predicted, but Reuss said the Z/28 will be tested on the famous 22km German road circuit "when the summer weather breaks".

Like the 1967 version, the new 2014 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28's weight savings were achieved by ditching creature comforts, such as air conditioning (it is now optional). Rear window glass is thinner, forged alloy wheels are lighter, and smaller rear seats help drop the car's kerb weight, as does the inclusion of just one audio speaker.

Big Brembo calipers - six- and four-piston - wrap around massive carbon ceramic brakes measuring 394mm front and 390mm rear, delivering a scary 1.5g of deceleration, and Chevrolet touts the Camaro Z/28 as one of the best handling cars it's ever built.

New spool-valve dampers have been installed that are claimed to "dramatically increase the damper stiffness" while spring rates and suspension bushings are stiffer too.

The American car maker also claims a world first with the "widest front tyre on any production car". Huge 305/30 ZR19 Pirelli PZero Trofeo R tyres sit at all four corners.

Chevrolet's designers worked to improve the car's aerodynamics (particularly downforce levels), as evidenced in a large front splitter, front underbody panel, flared wheel arches with front aero spats, deep side skirts and a rear spoiler and diffuser.

Inside, manually adjusted Recaro seats are used to save weight and the car can only be ordered with a six-speed manual transmission.

"The build sheet is the wish list of any racer," says Reuss: "lightweight, high-revving, dry-sump LS7 engine; carbon-ceramic brakes; integrated coolers for track use; true aerodynamic downforce, and a significant reduction in curb weight".

General Motors originally tasked Holden to develop and engineer the chassis of the Camaro back in 2006 when the car was confirmed for production, but Mark Reuss says Holden was not involved in the development of the Z/28.

Another vehicle on display in Detroit was the new Chevrolet Corvette, first shown at the 2013 Detroit motor show earlier in the year, as was the VF Commodore-based Chevrolet SS.

Because it's based on the same Zeta platform as the Camaro, the Holden-developed Chevrolet SS could be surgically altered to a similar state of tune as the world-beating Z/28 says Mark Reuss, complete with its lightweight, tricked-up track pack.

Asked if General Motors could give the Chevrolet SS the same treatment as the Z/28, Reuss responded "Yeah we can".

However he stated that it's unlikely to happen.

"Someone might think that's a good idea, but it's not."

For the latest New York motor show news at motoring.com.au

Photo gallery of 2013 New York motor show at motoring.com.au

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