Shno's House of Z

[DGthe3]

Originally Posted by Number 3

Ok, here is what I am starting to believe will happen to make a NA Z/28.

Just like GM took the LF3 at 420 HP in the CTS V-Sport and created the wonderful 460+ HP LF4 for the ATS-V I now believe GM will work some magic on the LT1 and give us a 500 HP NA LT2.

We know GM know how to make this happen. Lets hope they do.

So my new version is not necessarily a LT4 powered light weighted ZL1, but more of a 500 HP 1LE.

How's that sound?

A high output variant of the LT1 could work. In essence, the Z/28 would be dialing everything in the SS/1LE up a notch. More power, more tire, more aggressive suspension tuning, more aero, less weight. I'm not opposed to the idea, thats pretty my 2nd choice for how I think they should do it (first uses a new gen V LS7-type engine).

My gut tells me that 500 hp would be about the ceiling for that kind of engine, with upper 400s being a bit more likely. Either way, it would be down somewhat from the GT350. It should be lighter than the GT350, since the Camaro weighs a little less to start with. But I don't think it could be made light enough to give it any sort of power to weight advantage. To match the power to weight of the GT350R (curb weight of 3655, with 526 hp) even a 500 hp Z/28 would need to get down to 3474 lbs. Thats not going to happen.

Of course, power to weight isn't the only thing. A 3600 or so pound Z/28 with 500 hp aught to be close enough to let it holds it own in a straight line. And so long as they're close in acceleration, it should still be possible for the Z/28 to make up the difference in the corners on most tracks. But thats not exactly confidence inspiring. It almost sounds like fanboi-talk.

So, the question becomes: how close does GM think they need to be in power to weight to the GT350 with the Z/28? If 'close, but not better' is sufficient then we'll see an 'LT2' (as you called it, or what I think of as an 'LT6'). If Al & the gang instead go 'close, but still better' about the only possible engine would be a the hypothetical ~550 hp NA engine that was unlikely to start with, and got less likely when the C7 GS was revealed to come with the regular old LT1. Third possibility is that there is an edict that the Z/28 must absolutely crush the GT350 ... which would mean making it a ZL1-ultra.

Lastly there is still the chance that GM decides to do something truly crazy and skips the V8 altogether. I keep thinking back to Mark Ruess's comment from a while ago about 'changing the formula' and trying to figure out just what exactly thats supposed to mean. Going with a TTV6 would certainly be changing the Z/28 formula, as would using a turbo4. Imagine if they lightweighted the base car and cranked up the boost to give it something on the order of 325 hp. That would give it almost exactly 10 lbs/hp, and likely be the best handling pony car of all time. It wouldn't really be a competitor to the GT350 at that point. On the other hand, it wouldn't really be competing with anything else either -it would have an entire niche to itself. Its a longshot for sure, and there are some obvious problems with the whole concept (ie, why use a 325 hp 4, when there is a 335 hp V6 already in the Camaro?). But I don't think its so far out of the realm of possibility that it should be outright dismissed.

[Bhobbs]

Originally Posted by Number 3

Ok, here is what I am starting to believe will happen to make a NA Z/28.

Just like GM took the LF3 at 420 HP in the CTS V-Sport and created the wonderful 460+ HP LF4 for the ATS-V I now believe GM will work some magic on the LT1 and give us a 500 HP NA LT2.

We know GM know how to make this happen. Lets hope they do.

So my new version is not necessarily a LT4 powered light weighted ZL1, but more of a 500 HP 1LE.

How's that sound?

Sounds good to me.

[69L48Z27]

Any new Z/28 would need to be a minimum of 525-550hp NA inorder to earn the badge.

I saw an Al O interview the other day about the ZL1 and he said the HP numbers for that car are not finalized yet. Interesting to see if the go above the Vette.

[2cnd chance]

Originally Posted by Number 3

Ok, here is what I am starting to believe will happen to make a NA Z/28.

Just like GM took the LF3 at 420 HP in the CTS V-Sport and created the wonderful 460+ HP LF4 for the ATS-V I now believe GM will work some magic on the LT1 and give us a 500 HP NA LT2.

We know GM know how to make this happen. Lets hope they do.

So my new version is not necessarily a LT4 powered light weighted ZL1, but more of a 500 HP 1LE.

How's that sound?

With what we're seeing recently from GM they don't just want to better the competition they want to dominate. I think you're right on using the 1LE as the base, then adding Z/28 goodies. I agree it's got to be a more powerful V8...turbo'd?

[2cnd chance]

Originally Posted by 69L48Z27

Any new Z/28 would need to be a minimum of 525-550hp NA inorder to earn the badge.

I saw an Al O interview the other day about the ZL1 and he said the HP numbers for that car are not finalized yet. Interesting to see if the go above the Vette.

I think something may be going on with the Z06. It's been delayed for 2017.

[Bhobbs]

Originally Posted by 2cnd chance

I think something may be going on with the Z06. It's been delayed for 2017.

It might be something related to the Grand Sport or even upgrading the cooling. Tadge Jeuchter said something about the Grand Sport having cooling upgrades the Z06 doesn't.

[2cnd chance]

Originally Posted by Bhobbs

It might be something related to the Grand Sport or even upgrading the cooling. Tadge Jeuchter said something about the Grand Sport having cooling upgrades the Z06 doesn't.

That's what I'm thinking. They've had great success with the C7 (better than they thought) time to put some more $$$$ into it to keep the success going.

[DrkPhx]

I thought you guys might like this. I posted this in the 6th gen Z/28 thread, but I thought I would post this here as well.

My son just called me and said he spotted a caravan of Camaros where he lives which is odd because we don't see many test vehicles around here and he is further north of where I live. He didn't get any pics (I know!) Anyway, he saw 4 SS's, 1 ZL1 and the camo'd Z/28 pictured in this thread. The SS's and ZL1 were black and the Z/28 was in camo. He said the Z/28 was louder than my car (headers, no cats, 2.75" exhaust) and the ZL1 looked absolutely incredible in person. So be on the look out.. they're on the move.

[2cnd chance]

Originally Posted by DrkPhx

I thought you guys might like this. I posted this in the 6th gen Z/28 thread, but I thought I would post this here as well.

My son just called me and said he spotted a caravan of Camaros where he lives which is odd because we don't see many test vehicles around here and he is further north of where I live. He didn't get any pics (I know!) Anyway, he saw 4 SS's, 1 ZL1 and the camo'd Z/28 pictured in this thread. The SS's and ZL1 were black and the Z/28 was in camo. He said the Z/28 was louder than my car (headers, no cats, 2.75" exhaust) and the ZL1 looked absolutely incredible in person. So be on the look out.. they're on the move.

Cool stuff!

[Bhobbs]

Originally Posted by DrkPhx

I thought you guys might like this. I posted this in the 6th gen Z/28 thread, but I thought I would post this here as well.

My son just called me and said he spotted a caravan of Camaros where he lives which is odd because we don't see many test vehicles around here and he is further north of where I live. He didn't get any pics (I know!) Anyway, he saw 4 SS's, 1 ZL1 and the camo'd Z/28 pictured in this thread. The SS's and ZL1 were black and the Z/28 was in camo. He said the Z/28 was louder than my car (headers, no cats, 2.75" exhaust) and the ZL1 looked absolutely incredible in person. So be on the look out.. they're on the move.

It might have been hard to tell but could he hear anything that indicated a supercharger or turbos?

[DrkPhx]

I asked him the same thing. He said he couldn't hear any whine because of the exhaust.

[Number 3]

Test drove the ATS-V tonight.



Holy crap.

[2cnd chance]

Originally Posted by Number 3

Test drove the ATS-V tonight.



Holy crap.

Nice! Just imagine the ZL1 now.

My sister just bought a new CTS, it is a "much" improved car over her last Gen CTS (which was a nice car).

[2cnd chance]

I'm diggin' this color. Can't wait to see it in person.