In fact, it’s most likely not practical for many U.S. consumers. But this car isn't for those people, said General Motors Co. North America President Mark Reuss. The resurrected vehicle, not badge, according to Reuss, is meant for those who truly enjoy speed, horsepower and the sound of a roaring V8 engine. Watch video
NEW YORK- The 2014 Chevrolet Camaro isn’t for everyone.
In fact, it’s most likely not practical for many U.S. consumers. But this car isn't for those people, said General Motors Co. North America President Mark Reuss.
The resurrected vehicle, not badge, according to Reuss, is meant for those who truly enjoy speed, horsepower and the sound of a roaring V8 engine.
“This is very special,” Reuss said following the vehicle’s unveiling Wednesday at the 2013 New York International Auto Show. “It’s very designed for this car buyer. This is not a branded exercise.
“It is a Z/28 ... in its true sense of what a Z/28 was and is.”
The vehicle features (click here for detailed specs) the Detroit-based automaker’s 7.0-liter LS7 engine, which was adapted from the LS7 used in the C6 Corvette Z06. It is rated at an estimated 500 horsepower (373 kW) and 470 lb.-ft. of torque in the new Camaro Z/28.
To bring out the full potential of the vehicle and reduce weight, GM did some customizing of its own. By doing things like taking out the trunk carpet and insulation, installing thinner glass for the rear window, making air conditioning optional and removing all but one speaker, the vehicle weighs about 300 pounds less than a supercharged Camaro ZL1.
“This is a highly-engineered piece,” Reuss said. "It’s very different than putting big motors into big heavy cars.”
When the first Camaro Z/28 was introduced in 1967, it was not available with an automatic transmission or air conditioning. The 2014 Z/28, according to GM, will also only be offered with a manual transmission.
Reuss said GM will begin building the Z/28 this fall for testing. The vehicle will be produced at GM’s Oshawa assembly plant in Ontario, Canada.
GM did not announce pricing, but Reuss said it will be the most expensive Camaro offered. The Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 – the brand’s current most expensive Camaro -- starts at about $55,000.
Brandy Schaffels, auto analyst and chief editor at automotive advice and research website AskPatty.com, said it is a great time for GM to resurrect the Z/28, which was last used in 2002.
“People had been asking about it for a while,” she said. “It’s totally appropriate … it’s about time.”
The Z/28 was unveiled alongside the 2014 Chevrolet Camaro SS. The 2014 Camaros will arguably join the strongest of lineup of Chevrolet performance vehicles in decades.
The refreshed sports car and the new Z/28 will join the newly unveiled 2014 Corvette Stingray convertible, 2014 SS sedan and 2014 Corvette Stingray coupe to round out the brand’s performance lineup.
"These kind of cars, you have to be able to be a car company that can do a few of these here and there to make sure everybody knows what this brand is, and that it's alive and well, Reuss said. “This is the kind of stuff ... it gets everybody crazy excited.”
The 2013 New York International Auto Show is open to the public from March 29 through April 7.
Follow of all of MLive.com’s coverage of the New York Auto Show at mlive.com/auto or by clicking here.