Everyone keeps wishing for a new Z28?

[Doc]

They're not going to put a V6 of any kind in a car with the name Z/28 on it; these guys are car enthusiasts, not corporate suits from accounting. They know what the Z/28 was and they know what it needs to be.

The Z/28 was never about horsepower; it wasn't a drag racer. It was a Can-Am challenger to take on the Boss 302 on the great road courses of the day. The 1LE option on an SS gives you a clue of the direction they're going to go in with the next Z/28. They're learning on the models they've already released. The ZL1 is a suspension wonder-car; it shows what can be done with handling using that magnetic suspension technology, but it's too heavy to be a Z/28 which is probably why they didn't give it that name. The 1LE shows how they're looking at the drivetrain; not just the suspension. They're learning; studying; developing; experimenting. You can see it with these special releases. Look at what the COPO Camaro can do right out of the box.

The car they actually feel is worth being called a Z/28 is going to be a game changer. Can't wait to see what they come up with.

[Obzen]

So IF a Z28 comes out. Will everyone sweep the 4th Gen Z28 under the rug? I hear all this talk about what a Z28 was always meant to be and how legendary the name tag is. but wasn't the 4th Gen just the "run of the mill" V8 Camaro? For that matter wasn't it the same way for the 3rd gen?

[J-ROD-210]

I just don't know why people are so hung up with the Z28 name. GM not making Z's period. There was a time when they were Z-ing everything. Cavalier Z,Beretta Z ,Lumina Z and Silverado Z. Big freaking deal! I forgot all the numbers.Z-24,Z-26,Z-34 and Z-71 and yes Z-28....so what?

[1BADLS3]

Originally Posted by Doc

They're not going to put a V6 of any kind in a car with the name Z/28 on it; these guys are car enthusiasts, not corporate suits from accounting. They know what the Z/28 was and they know what it needs to be.

GM is capable of a lot of things. The Impala SS was once a front-wheel drive, supercharged V6, not too long ago.

I don't mean for that to discredit your point. Companies sometimes do what's right for the consumer, sometimes they do what's right for their books, sometimes they do what's right for their profits. It's hard to tell the direction the Camaro is going to take...hopefully it continues in a good one along the same lines it's been going.

But the 'need' for a mid-level Camaro is very slim. There's 323hp, 400-426hp, and then 500+ with the ZL1 and 'insane' with the COPO cars. They've basically covered the market from entry level at $23k all the way to $40k for optioned SS, and beyond to $55k+ with the ZL1. I don't know where a Z28 would fit in the lineup or how much market share they could reasonably expect to gain with Z28 sales, especially just having come out with the 1LE.

And it may be that 'Z28' never returns. 'Z24' disappeared with the Cavalier and it was always regarded as the junior Z, lots of performance in a small car. But, GM dropped that moniker entirely and went with the SS designation for the Cobalt, and then the RS designation for the Cruze.

Point is...I see really slim chances of there being a 5th gen Z28.

[slick rick]

Originally Posted by 1BADLS3

Point is...I see really slim chances of there being a 5th gen Z28.

With the weight of the Zeta platform, I think most Z28 hopefuls are waiting for it to come out on the Alpha (6th gen)

[Doc]

Originally Posted by J-ROD-210

I just don't know why people are so hung up with the Z28 name. GM not making Z's period. There was a time when they were Z-ing everything. Cavalier Z,Beretta Z ,Lumina Z and Silverado Z. Big freaking deal! I forgot all the numbers.Z-24,Z-26,Z-34 and Z-71 and yes Z-28....so what?

It was attached to the legendary racing team of Roger Penske and Mark Donohue. It was a high-profile winner. Chevy specifically built it to compete in the Can-Am; it wasn't a regular street car that somebody took and started racing with it. They built the street legal versions so they could claim it was a production model and thus be qualified to run in the Can-Am.

It was a very special model for a very special purpose; one that brought Chevy racing prestige and glory; it put the bow tie in the winner's circle in a very tough and competitive series. When you saw a Camaro on the street with Z/28 on the side it had instant respect... so much so in fact that adding a "Z" to a name became fashionable to try and grab some of that glory and respect.

If you aren't old enough to remember or know, then you probably wouldn't understand. Just take it from those of us who are old enough; it's a big deal.

[Doc]

Originally Posted by 1BADLS3

GM is capable of a lot of things. The Impala SS was once a front-wheel drive, supercharged V6, not too long ago.

I don't mean for that to discredit your point. Companies sometimes do what's right for the consumer, sometimes they do what's right for their books, sometimes they do what's right for their profits. It's hard to tell the direction the Camaro is going to take...hopefully it continues in a good one along the same lines it's been going.

But the 'need' for a mid-level Camaro is very slim. There's 323hp, 400-426hp, and then 500+ with the ZL1 and 'insane' with the COPO cars. They've basically covered the market from entry level at $23k all the way to $40k for optioned SS, and beyond to $55k+ with the ZL1. I don't know where a Z28 would fit in the lineup or how much market share they could reasonably expect to gain with Z28 sales, especially just having come out with the 1LE.

And it may be that 'Z28' never returns. 'Z24' disappeared with the Cavalier and it was always regarded as the junior Z, lots of performance in a small car. But, GM dropped that moniker entirely and went with the SS designation for the Cobalt, and then the RS designation for the Cruze.

Point is...I see really slim chances of there being a 5th gen Z28.

I agree there probably isn't much chance of a 5th gen Z and I'm glad to be honest; the 5th gen is just too heavy a car. I can however easily see the Z/28 being the "show car" to grab the spotlight as the star of the new 6th gen Camaro.

There isn't going to be a Transformer's movie to showcase and promote the 6th gen the way it did the 5th gen so they need more than just "the next generation Camaro" for marketing. If I was in charge I'd be in talks with Ford and Dodge to resurrect the old Can-Am series and use that as a collective showcase for the "new" muscle cars of American manufacturers. Nascar has completely lost touch with it's grass roots and I think it would be great to have a new racing series with street cars like the ones you can buy and drive.

If it was a joint marketing/sponsoring effort between the big 3 muscle car companies I think it would be very popular and boost the sales of those cars a lot.

I'm just dreaming about a new Can-Am series lol but I wouldn't at all be surprised if the 6th gen Camaro is debuted with a new Z/28.

[J-ROD-210]

Originally Posted by Doc

It was attached to the legendary racing team of Roger Penske and Mark Donohue. It was a high-profile winner. Chevy specifically built it to compete in the Can-Am; it wasn't a regular street car that somebody took and started racing with it. They built the street legal versions so they could claim it was a production model and thus be qualified to run in the Can-Am.

It was a very special model for a very special purpose; one that brought Chevy racing prestige and glory; it put the bow tie in the winner's circle in a very tough and competitive series. When you saw a Camaro on the street with Z/28 on the side it had instant respect... so much so in fact that adding a "Z" to a name became fashionable to try and grab some of that glory and respect.

If you aren't old enough to remember or know, then you probably wouldn't understand. Just take it from those of us who are old enough; it's a big deal.

Yup.Your right ,never heard of the Can-Am. I meant for the 5th gen though,I don't see it happening like everyone else says,no room with SS,ZL1 and 1LE,but what if ,like I posted before 427N/A,LS7.Expensive but I think people would buy.Anyway didn't mean any disrespect to everyone who is planning to race in the Can-Am when they do make a Z/28

[STuRTzz]

what will be more expensive: z28 or 1le?

[Doc]

Originally Posted by STuRTzz

what will be more expensive: z28 or 1le?

Z/28. The 1LE package is something you can order with an SS; the Z/28 is going to be a separate, and special model. Price-wise I'm guessing somewhere between a 1LE and a ZL1.

A 6th gen Z/28 will probably out-perform the 5th gen ZL1 on the track which would be a great marketing point for the 6th gen series. They'll have to up the ante on the ZL1 though if they want to keep it at the top which they probably will just for horsepower bragging rights.

The Z/28 should (hopefully) be n/a so it won't have as much power as the ZL1 but be lighter and have fantastic handling and brakes for the track. Gonna be interesting to see what they do for the bodywork too as the Z/28 should have functional brake cooling. It would be great if you could get it with 5-point safety belts and safety bar as an option from the factory. Oh and include removable factory tow hooks.

I can't wait to see what they come up with.

[sprtplt]

Actually, the 1LE probably should have been called Z-28. Z-28 was a handling package as much as anything. That there is still no Z-28 moniker defies all logic, so, makes perfect sense for GM today.

[meissen]

Personally I think with the model lineup they have now, they're good until the 6th gen comes out. If they continue the SS, 1LE, and ZL1 in the 6th gen, I don't see how they could get the Z28 in there... And that's OK with me. Yes the Z28 is a legendary name, yes it has a bunch of heritage, yes only one Camaro can be a Z28 and any car can be an SS, but we have a great lineup regardless of their names.

PS - Unlike a lot of members on this site, I do know the Camaro existed prior to 2010, so I know the Z28 heritage.

[MrandMrsNinja]

Originally Posted by skipinminn

z28 should be the V6 with twinturbo's,425hp and 28mpg I'd buy one for sure

All the Juice and no seed's! Yehaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

[C5RocksC5]

shave 300 pounds from the SS and give it ZL1 suspension = Z28 for roadracing.