Today's GM isn't the same company it was in the past. It's quite evident by what they've done that the Camaro team of today isn't just a couple of guys in the marketing department who's job is to come up with marketing names to squeeze more sales out of the market year after year.
The 5th gen Camaro wasn't just a retro remake; it was a brand new first class design and effort. The ZL1 wasn't just a regular Camaro with an "official" supercharger so they could market it with more horsepower; it was a serious technology rework of an SS but it was/is still a street car. The 1LE is a track pack option for an SS and it's a noteworthy upgrade in many areas you wouldn't expect; many heavy areas like transmission, coolers, differential, hubs, axles, etc. instead of just stiffer shocks and sway bars. It's clearly a great package for the weekend warrior who likes to run HPDE and autocross events and for the price it's unbeatable...but it's still not a race car.
The Camaro team has demonstrated a great deal of thought and "we get it" in the things they've done to each of those performance models. The fact the ZL1 was NOT labelled as a Z/28 shows they very much "get it" as to what the Z/28 needs to be. Another thing they have to keep in mind is whatever they do with the Z/28 it has to be able to meet cafe standards coming up; which means doing something different than what we've seen in the past.
The Z/28 is going to be a track car you can legally drive on the street; not a street car with some track upgrades... that's what the 1LE is and I don't see that being replaced by the Z/28. Based on the thought evident in the ZL1's technology and the heavy-duty component upgrades seen in the 1LE, I suspect they're working on a serious track car which will use technology as much as possible but still be legal for racing (i.e. no magnetic suspension). It will fit between the 1LE and the ZL1 price-wise; not have as much power as the ZL1 but out-perform it on the track. They've gone to school on the ZL1 and 1LE with the 5th gen and I think it almost has to be a 6th gen model due to the amount of "reworking" it would require on the 5th gen. I don't think it will use an LS7; most likely it will have the next generation V8 for emission and technology reasons.
Price: I see it at around $44,995 base model which for most people will be the one they buy; it will be the one for the guy who hardly ever actually races but sure wants to look and sound like they do on the street. They want to be seen in a Z/28 and be the center of attention wherever they go. Probably use the 1LE wheel package. It will be one helluva street car.
Upgrades will be things strictly for racing. For performance, smaller wheels; 19's or maybe even 18's that are very lightweight. Poly bushing upgrades ala Pedder's, Pfadt, etc. The interior will have racing seat options, 5-point racing belts with mounting points, Hans-device ready, possible interior roll bar with rear seat removed, and a fire extinguisher driver-accessible. Technology: gauges, instruments and electronics all geared towards racing. Cameras front and rear that can tie in to dash controls for recording laps. Wireless technology that can transmit performance telemetry to either your smart phone or through the roof antenna to your pit crew. You'll be able to record your laps and view all the data super-imposed over the camera footage. Driver-selectable track modes for long tracks or short tracks. And most likely they'll include things we never thought of or thought they would.
Price for the upgrade package will add another $5k so the Z/28 with upgrades will be about $49,995.
This car will beat the ZL1's track record on the Nurburgring. It will beat the track record of cars costing much much more. ZR1 owners are going to want one. GT-R owners are going to be ill. BMW owners are going to be quiet and hope a Z/28 doesn't show up at their track session, but they'll all be standing around it asking questions if one does. Porsche owners will try to ignore it. Mustang owners will be talking about the "next" model from Ford that will beat the Z/28 so they can have something to talk about when talking to Z/28 owners. The Z/28 will begin a new racing legacy and become every bit the legend it's predecessor was.
I'm going to want one...I...don't.....nee..eeed...it...I....don't... ..
