GM Design posted a rather peculiar image of a Chevrolet Camaro today, and it’s done more than perk our attention. At first glance, one may assume it’s just a Camaro ZL1 1LE, but that front clip is no ZL1 1LE. Note the fanged openings on each side, which would be perfect for feeding fresh air to the brakes. A more aggressive front splitter and grille pattern also dominate the front end, while a hood cutout works as an air extractor at high speeds. And there’s also the updated headlights, which the Camaro ZL1 1LE does not have. Folks, it feels like we’re looking at a sixth-generation Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 here.
Unfortunately, it’s all a gigantic tease.
Camaro ZL1 1LE. Image via Chevrolet.## Sixth-Generation Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 Canceled
What was going to be the sixth-generation Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 was canceled in 2018 during GM’s biggest restructuring since its 2009 bankruptcy. The wake left multiple plants mothballed, over ten thousand job cuts, and several vehicle programs either furloughed or downsized. One of those vehicles was a new Camaro Z/28, although there was also a body-on-frame midsize SUV program that would have had GMC taking the fight to the Toyota 4Runner. What would have been the seventh-generation Camaro was also canned.
MC&T was first to report all of these details back in 2019.
Now, the skinny on the stillborn Camaro Z/28 is this: its single mission was to pass the already high performance bar set by the Camaro ZL1 1LE. And it was going to do so with a unique engine: a 6.6L pushrod V8 engine that was part of the Gen V small block family. This motor, which we believe to have been called LT3, would have essentially been the LS7 reincarnate, with a monstrous displacement, a 7,000+ RPM redline, and 500+ horsepower. Based on our network of proven sources, it was not the 5.5L DOHC V8 that’s destined for the C8 Corvette Z06, despite the allegations. That would have been cool, though.
Output of the sixth-gen Camaro Z/28 would have been significantly down from the 650 hp we see in the Camaro ZL1 1LE, which would have meant that engineers would have to once again get extremely creative in making the Z/28 quick in order to improve the power:weight ratio. That would amount to various weight-reducing techniques, such as removing rear seats, thinning glass, pulling out sound insulation, wiring and audio systems, eviscerating the HVAC system, serving-tray-sized brakes, a barely-legal camber setup utilizing thinly spoked wheels, and finding the most adhesive tires imaginable to wrap around them.
Would it have really been able to beat the Camaro ZL1 1LE’s 7:16.04 lap time around the ‘Ring? Unfortunately, we’ll never truly know.
