Earlier this month, several reliable sources told Leftlane the Z28 Camaro program at GM had been cancelled. Despite a backlash from Camaro fan clubs claiming the sources must be wrong, a GM executive on Monday officially confirmed what we already knew. “There will be no Z28 model,” said Chevrolet product manager Cheryl Pilcher in a newly published interview.
“Through the four generations of Camaro, there have been cases where Chevrolet chose to make the Z28 the top dog or the SS the top dog.” she told Automobile Magazine. Consistent with a renewed focus on the SS brand, GM has decided to give the top slot to the SS.
The Z/28 was set to feature the fire-breathing LS8 motor. A 6.2L, small block V8 with a roots-style supercharger that was supposed to be good for 500 to 550 horsepower. With the Z28 put out to pasture, the SS model will now be the top dog. In the Camaro Super Sport’s engine cradle, you’ll find the LS3 V8 rated between 400 and 422 horsepower, depending on transmission options.
Normally this is where we’d speculate on the reason for this move by GM, though, do we even have to say it? With gas prices so high and cost cutting a priority, GM was forced to make this tough decision.



07/24, 7:25 PM
posted by:
LS7
Yeah, like the people that are buying 500+ sportscars are really concerned with fuel. I would think cars like CTS-V, are more going to be under fire for fuel consumption, as they are likley to be daily drivers. The truth is….. a 550HP Camaro Z/28, would most likely be the same price as a base 430HP Corvette. They just don’t want to eat their own.
07/24, 7:37 PM
posted by:
got_your_mother_sitting_shotgun
This car will never turn a profit. This is a damn shame take forever an 1/2 a got damn decade to make the %#^*ing thing, then kill the only excitement the average american afford. Way to go “GM”!!! the challenger srt-8 is so gonna wax this car ass. Way to wear a ****ing bow tie “GM” u piece of **** engineers an btw, this car isn’t even american. Just like all you label “whores” whose to dumb to read a tag !!! **** GM! I’m just more then a concern customer !!! 450hp I’ll Just Stick with the Fbodys of 93-02 !!!!
07/24, 8:28 PM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
Way to go GM. Don’t waste any time catering to your hard core fan base. Soooooo many people are going to be busting down the dealership doors waiting to spec the order form on the V6. Honestly, would someone please lube the Hamster wheel that is GM’s mindset.
07/24, 8:39 PM
posted by:
Need4SSpeed
There just went my interest in the Camaro…
07/24, 8:39 PM
posted by:
ihustle
GM you make america wait 4 years for this thing. NO Z28!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! are you insane, your going to have a hard enough time selling the base one, without the z28 you might as well hand the title over to the mustang because you dont have a chance
07/24, 8:51 PM
posted by:
howsmydriving
Gosh, we’ll all be forced to live with just the LS3 V8 at 400++ ponies. Life is terrible….
07/24, 8:59 PM
posted by:
got_your_mother_sitting_shotgun
anything less then 500hp is for women to drive all men should drive machines of 500hp+ 12.2 quarter miles or lower, All interstates with HOV lanes should be reserved for corvettes !!!
07/24, 9:18 PM
posted by:
jayjc08
Two V-6’s from the CTS, cheaper 250 hp spec and the 300 hp direct injection spec engine. One V-8. Large after market, performance variant. Offered with a 6-speed, and there you go, a Camaro that will probably average 25 miles to the gallon as well as stomp any Mustang or Challenger out there.
But GM’s still screwed on the concept…
07/24, 9:34 PM
posted by:
KillerEve
FYI it isnt 2 V6s, its DFI V6 and 2 V8s L99 and LS3.
07/24, 10:05 PM
posted by:
Xile
I don’t know why everyone is bitching about 450 HP. The car still looks great and it will still haul ass. It has more bad ass DNA than both the Mustang and that resurrected dinosaur called the Challenger put together.
07/24, 11:03 PM
posted by:
Mr. Piston
It still ****s on that POS called a Mustang
07/24, 11:07 PM
posted by:
VJZ
Darn…an ugly car won’t get its hillbilly rooted name plate. Challenger FTW!!!
All hail a boosted mark four Toyota Supra.
07/25, 9:09 AM
posted by:
RaineMan
The car won’t haul ass Xile… it’s too heavy.
If anything this just goes to further re-enforce GM’s own methods. Nothing they produce will be faster than Corvette right off the showroom floor. It maintains Corvette’s image as the “halo car”.
07/25, 9:45 AM
posted by:
xyunya
ihustle, what’s your problem with Camaro & Z28? You ain’t selling it weather it is in or out. Nor you are buying it, or maybe I am wrong and you would buy it?
I don’t think it matters all that much: if you can afford 50K car you can afford 70K Corvette. I can’t believe people are actually dreaming of those 2 back seats.
07/25, 9:49 AM
posted by:
RaineMan
I tell ya’ what would sell. A baseline Camaro with the LNF and a 6-speed manual. Are the automatic versions of this thing still gonna be stuck with only 4 gears?
07/25, 9:57 AM
posted by:
stylerdeuce
Mr. Piston, when you say “It still ****s on that POS called a Mustang,” do you mean to say “sucks”? Not sure why you’d blank that out, unless you’re embarrassed.
07/25, 10:46 AM
posted by:
shaver
Where is the cry for an IROC or Berlinetta (w/4 banger from Aveo) model?
07/25, 12:44 PM
posted by:
Fromes
it would prob go for somewhere between 42k and 46k smack in the middle of corvette territory, so i dont blame them for not wanting to build one, besides cars like the GT500 are heavy and their performance doesnt really say 500 horsepower under the hood, Im sure a lighter, slightly less powerful, better handeling, and certainly cheaper SS will do the job just fine, that being said maybe GM could use the Z-28 name to designate a less powerful, but lighter, better handeling car then the top level SS. kinda like the oringnal z-28 with the 302 motor in the sixties
07/25, 1:36 PM
posted by:
KillerEve
the V6 is has M6. Also the LS3 is rated at 433 and L99 at around 412. Also I dont know why everyone compares the SS to the GT500. They arent going to be in the same price range. The Z28 if anything will made with possibly LSA which means supercharger 500+ and to clarify, the Z28 would be lighter than the SS making it much lighter than a GT500. The GT500s 460 rwhp isnt gona beat that.
07/25, 8:23 PM
posted by:
DialM4Speed
Now I know why it’s NOT a good idea to tell people about what your planning until you actually bring it out. You peopel are crying over that? Half of you probably won’t buy one anyway so who cares if there’s no Z28