No Hate.. Camaro Z28 is Motor Trend's Best Driver’s Car
#1
Drifting
Thread Starter
No Hate.. Camaro Z28 is Motor Trend's Best Driver’s Car
DETROIT –Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 is Motor Trend’s 2014 Best Driver’s Car. It’s the first American-brand car to win the 7-year-old award.
The Best Driver’s Car contenders are selected from all new or significantly revised performance cars launched in the 12 months prior to the test. To pick the winner, the editors of Motor Trend conduct objective and subjective testing – including digitally instrumented laps at the Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, and high-speed driving up and down a 4.3-mile hill climb on a closed rural highway – to determine which car delivers the most engaging experience behind the wheel.
After completing that battery of tests, the editors of Motor Trend wrote:
“The transformation of the fifth-generation Camaro from ‘muscle car that handles pretty well’ to Best Driver’s Car winner is astounding. You feel the superior engineering in how the car responds to inputs both internal and external. From within, the car reacts immediately and precisely to your commands but doesn’t punish your mistakes. From the outside, the Z/28’s suspension attacks bumps and dips with an unbridled passion for keeping the tires on the pavement.”
Previous winners of Motor Trend’s Best Driver Car award were:
2007 Porsche 911 GT3
2008 Audi R8
2009 Porsche Cayman S
2011 Ferrari 458 Italia
2012 Porsche 911 Carrera 2S
Porsche 911 Carrera 4S
“The mission for the new Z/28 was to create the most capable, best-handling Camaro in our history,” said Mark Reuss, General Motors’ executive vice president, Global Product Development. “As such, I can’t think of a better validation of that mission than for the Z/28 to be named Motor Trend’s Best Driver’s Car.”
The Camaro Z/28 builds on the legacy of the original SCCA Trans Am-series contender introduced in 1967. Its unique exterior is designed like a race car to produce downforce that presses the car against the track for greater grip and faster lap times. Comprehensive chassis and suspension changes, including a lower center of gravity, specific stabilizer bars, higher-rate coil springs and other chassis and suspension features have been optimized for the track – enabling more than 1.08 g in lateral acceleration and 1.5 g in deceleration.
Racing-bred dampers, tires and Brembo carbon ceramic brakes play important roles in not only maximizing performance, but making it more predictable and consistent with every lap. Engineers also made sure the Z/28 was as light as possible to maximize its power-to-weight ratio. Everything from lightweight wheels to thinner rear-window glass is used to reduce curb weight and improve the overall weight balance. The carbon ceramic brake rotors, for example, collectively save more than 20 pounds of unsprung weight, compared to the Camaro SS.
In fact, 100 percent of the unsprung mass – suspension, wheels, tires and brake system – has been changed from the Camaro SS, dramatically enhancing the balance and overall driving feel of the Z/28.
A 7.0L LS7 V-8 rated at 505 horsepower (376 kW) and 481 lb-ft of torque (652 Nm) complements the lightweight vehicle components to give the car an enviable 7.6:1 power-to-weight ratio. It was bred on the racetrack, with features designed for high-rpm performance and durability, including a durable forged-steel crankshaft, lightweight titanium connecting rods and high-flow cylinder heads with lightweight titanium intake valves.
The Best Driver’s Car contenders are selected from all new or significantly revised performance cars launched in the 12 months prior to the test. To pick the winner, the editors of Motor Trend conduct objective and subjective testing – including digitally instrumented laps at the Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, and high-speed driving up and down a 4.3-mile hill climb on a closed rural highway – to determine which car delivers the most engaging experience behind the wheel.
After completing that battery of tests, the editors of Motor Trend wrote:
“The transformation of the fifth-generation Camaro from ‘muscle car that handles pretty well’ to Best Driver’s Car winner is astounding. You feel the superior engineering in how the car responds to inputs both internal and external. From within, the car reacts immediately and precisely to your commands but doesn’t punish your mistakes. From the outside, the Z/28’s suspension attacks bumps and dips with an unbridled passion for keeping the tires on the pavement.”
Previous winners of Motor Trend’s Best Driver Car award were:
2007 Porsche 911 GT3
2008 Audi R8
2009 Porsche Cayman S
2011 Ferrari 458 Italia
2012 Porsche 911 Carrera 2S
Porsche 911 Carrera 4S
“The mission for the new Z/28 was to create the most capable, best-handling Camaro in our history,” said Mark Reuss, General Motors’ executive vice president, Global Product Development. “As such, I can’t think of a better validation of that mission than for the Z/28 to be named Motor Trend’s Best Driver’s Car.”
The Camaro Z/28 builds on the legacy of the original SCCA Trans Am-series contender introduced in 1967. Its unique exterior is designed like a race car to produce downforce that presses the car against the track for greater grip and faster lap times. Comprehensive chassis and suspension changes, including a lower center of gravity, specific stabilizer bars, higher-rate coil springs and other chassis and suspension features have been optimized for the track – enabling more than 1.08 g in lateral acceleration and 1.5 g in deceleration.
Racing-bred dampers, tires and Brembo carbon ceramic brakes play important roles in not only maximizing performance, but making it more predictable and consistent with every lap. Engineers also made sure the Z/28 was as light as possible to maximize its power-to-weight ratio. Everything from lightweight wheels to thinner rear-window glass is used to reduce curb weight and improve the overall weight balance. The carbon ceramic brake rotors, for example, collectively save more than 20 pounds of unsprung weight, compared to the Camaro SS.
In fact, 100 percent of the unsprung mass – suspension, wheels, tires and brake system – has been changed from the Camaro SS, dramatically enhancing the balance and overall driving feel of the Z/28.
A 7.0L LS7 V-8 rated at 505 horsepower (376 kW) and 481 lb-ft of torque (652 Nm) complements the lightweight vehicle components to give the car an enviable 7.6:1 power-to-weight ratio. It was bred on the racetrack, with features designed for high-rpm performance and durability, including a durable forged-steel crankshaft, lightweight titanium connecting rods and high-flow cylinder heads with lightweight titanium intake valves.
#2
Drifting
Thread Starter
I'm a GM fan first... and there simply is no denying that they are building the best cars for performance on the market. C7, upcoming Z06, Camaro line. . Chevy SS, Cadillacs overall.. Buick Regal.. U simply cannot eff with them at this point.
Last edited by cmicasa; 09-25-2014 at 11:19 AM.
#4
Safety Car
Thanks for the link.
#5
Burning Brakes
Member Since: Aug 2014
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I've had 4 5th Gen Camaro's, including a ZL1. I loved them all, but they're no C7.
Motor Trend needs to take a C7 with Z51 & magnetic ride out there and test it.
The C7 is truly a driver's car.
Motor Trend needs to take a C7 with Z51 & magnetic ride out there and test it.
The C7 is truly a driver's car.
#6
Instructor
I think Car and Driver just did this on their lightning lap test. Z28 won which surprised me.
#7
Le Mans Master
I have a 2013 Camaro RS, not a Z/28, but still Camaro, and it does not drive or feel anything like the C7. Z/28 was made specifically to be a TRACK car, but on the open road, I will take the C7.
#8
Race Director
No hate here, more simply indifference since I am a lifelong vette fan. However, I am glad to see GM produce special interest limited edition models such as the Z28 to suit those that are interested in such models.
#13
Pro
Nothing wrong with that, isn't the MSRP of a Z28 in about the same price as C7? Nice to see it best the Europeans, hard to believe all these writers are now coming over to NA products in a big way. I much prefer the styling of a C7 but have had a few Camaros.
Does suggest that the Camaro (as with the EU cars) will have their hands full when the Z06 comes out. That will prove interesting.
Does suggest that the Camaro (as with the EU cars) will have their hands full when the Z06 comes out. That will prove interesting.
#14
Burning Brakes
Chevrolet/GM build the Z28 as a track car, and it doing very well in racing.
I like my C7 as I do not track it, plus it looks a lot better than the Camaro, however great job by the GM engineers for producing this winner.
I like my C7 as I do not track it, plus it looks a lot better than the Camaro, however great job by the GM engineers for producing this winner.
#17
Drifting
Thread Starter
^^^^
All garages should be so sweet. I had to get rid of my DD Camaro because I required more room. Bought a '14 Impala LTZ 3.6L which has gobs of space.
All garages should be so sweet. I had to get rid of my DD Camaro because I required more room. Bought a '14 Impala LTZ 3.6L which has gobs of space.
#19
Melting Slicks
Great car , wouldn't mind having one sitting next to my C7.
#20
Drifting
Thread Starter
Well. at my dealership in White Marsh they are selling one for $85K. Very few WANT.. or find a track car practical. For those who do.. the limited production of teh Z28 is for them.. as is the Z06 for that matter. Not to mention Camaro has been the best selling of the Sports/Pony coupes since it debuted in 2009.