SEMA: Chevy reveals new Camaro dragster

Chevrolet used this week’s SEMA automotive trade show in Las Vegas to reveal a new limited-edition 2014 Camaro drag racer, which will be available to US customers with the choice of four engines including an improved 7.0-litre V8.

As was the case in 2012 and 2013, Chevy Performance will next year produce just 69 versions of the COPO Camaro, specifically for NHRA drag racing in the US.

COPO stands for Central Office Production Order and is the way ‘special’ vehicles are ordered with options not available to the average GM customer.

For the third year of limited-edition factory-produced race cars, the 2014 COPO Camaro brings updated styling including new front and rear bumpers from the MY14 showroom model, new racing seats, updated graphics, new optional wheels and two new race engine choices.

Topping the powertrain choices are a revised version of GM’s naturally aspirated 427 cubic-inch (7.0-litre) V8 and a supercharged version of the 350ci (5.7-litre) engine introduced last year, featuring a 2.9-litre Whipple screw-type supercharger.

New naturally aspirated 350 and 396 engines, also produced at GM’s Wixom race engine shop in Michigan, will also available, with customers selecting engines based on their intended NHRA racing class (NHRA Stock Eliminator or Super Stock competition), although all four engines will be available in crate form for racers building their own Camaro race cars.

Each COPO Camaro race car is built by hand starting with a regular-production Camaro coupe, which is made at the General Motors Oshawa plant in Ontario, Canada and based on the same large rear-drive Zeta platform as Holden’s Commodore.

Body-in-white shells from the same plant are also available to purchase in the US from Chevrolet Performance, which will donate the first 2014 COPO Camaro it produces to charity.

Serial number one 2014 COPO Camaro – the only one to be painted Ice Blue Metallic – will be auctioned at Barrett-Jackson’s annual January event in Scottsdale, Arizona, with proceeds benefitting the Achilles Freedom Team of Wounded Veterans.

Each car is fitted with an NHRA-approved roll cage and other safety equipment, along with racing chassis and suspension components – including a unique solid rear axle system in place of a regular-production Camaro’s independent rear axle.

“The COPO is helping sportsman racers around the country put the Chevrolet bowtie in the winner’s circle and the 2014 cars will be even more competitive with the new engines,” said Jim Campbell, GM US Vice-President of Performance Vehicles and Motorsports.

“But the only way to get one of the new race cars is get your name on the COPO mailing list at chevroletperformance.com.”

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