At the 2009 SEMA Show earlier this month, Jay Leno unveiled his twin-turbocharged version of the 3.6L V6 Chevrolet Camaro. With the help of Turbonetics T-3 turbochargers, output was taken up to a total of 425-hp. Apparently, when the turbochargers aren’t being used, there is virtually no loss in the fuel-economy of the base 3.6L V6 engine. Sounds pretty cool huh?

Well, according to GM’s Bob Lutz, Chevrolet may “perhaps” do a twin-turbocharged version of the Camaro. Nothing is confirmed but the “perhaps” does leave the door open for some turbos in the upcoming Z28. Pervious reports have suggested that the Camaro Z28 will get the 557-hp 6.2L supercharged V8 from the Cadillac CTS-V.

Lutz also confirmed that the Camaro Synergy concept will enter production along with an all-black special-edition model.

The Jay Leno Chevrolet Camaro (2009 SEMA):

Chevrolet Camaro Synergy:

- By: Omar Rana

Source: Straightline

During a live Web chat on the GM Fastlane Blog, Chevrolet’s Vice President Brent Dewar said the 2011 Chevrolet Camaro Convertible was privately shown to dealers earlier this week. He did not give a specific date for when the Camaro drop top would hit dealerships.

“We are working on the specific timing, but it will come out soon,” Dewar said.

As for the Chevrolet Z28, Dewar’s response was a bit disappointing.

“We have not officially decided to bring back the Camaro Z28,” he said.

It has been previously reported that the Chevrolet Camaro Z28 is back in GM’s product plans and is estimated to arrive in late 2011. Of course, we’re not sure if that statement holds weight anymore.

- By: Kap Shah

Source: Inside Line

We were pretty disappointed earlier this summer when Bob Lutz hinted that the Chevrolet Camaro Z28 will not see production. However, we’re celebrating today because according to Ed Welbrun, GM’s vice president for global design, the on-and-off again Camaro Z28 is back in GM’s product plans.

According to a report by Inside Line, we’re still about a year away before the Z28 appears since there is still some calibration work to be completed on the powertrain.

Power will come from a 6.2L Supercharged V8 that is seen in the Cadillac CTS-V. The engine will produce 556-hp and will be mated to a 6-speed automatic and a 6-speed manual transmission.

We’ve previously heard that the production Camaro Z28 will look like Bumblebee as seen in Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. For now you can enjoy the Hennessey HPE550 Camaro.

- By: Omar Rana

Source: Inside Line

Papa John Schnatter spent most of his summer on a nationwide road trip where he attempted a record for the world’s highest pizza delivery, taught children how to toss pizza dough, rang the Closing Bell at NASDAQ, and met countless customers, all for one purpose: to find his 1971 Z28 Camaro he sold more than 25 years ago to help his dad’s tavern stay in business.

Initially, Schnatter offered $25,000 for anyone who could produce a title along with his long-lost Camaro. Eventually the offer went up to $250,000. The whole search was chronicled online at www.papasroadtrip.com, where thousands offered tips on how to find his car.

After months and months of searching, Schnatter today was reunited with his Z28 Camaro with the help from our friends at Jalopnik.

A man by the name of Jeff Robinson heard about the contest from a friend in Cincinnati, leading him to the Internet to search for details. He eventually ended up getting in touch with Jalopnik’s associate editor Matt Hardigree, who met Schnatter during his Road Trip stop in Houston in May. Hardigree investigated the details himself then contacted Papa John’s with the lead.

As a result Jeff is now $250,000 richer (and can purchase a brand new 2010 Chevrolet Camaro). Papa John also offered a $25,000 reward to the family who originally bought the car from Schnatter in 1983, in appreciation for their help in linking the contest winner with Papa John’s.

- By: Omar Rana

Source: Jalopnik

We’re still trying to get over our heartbreak when we said goodbye to our 2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS press car last week. Nonetheless, we kept our spirits up knowing we had something to look forward to when we heard some new details on the Camaro Z28. Well, while Lutz has gotten us all excited about the Pontiac G8 being rebadged as a Chevrolet Caprice, he hinted in an interview with Automobile Magazine that the Camaro Z28 may not see production (depending on how you interpret his words).

Assuring us that GM Performance cars will live on in the new General Motors Company, Lutz said that there “is no pressure at all to get off the high-performance thing.” However, he said that with stricter fuel-economy standards the mainstream sports car formula will move away from big V8s and to the likes of a 304-hp V6 Camaro, which averages 29 mpg on the highway.

The Camaro Z28 would be GM’s answer to the 2010 Ford Mustang GT500. Power was rumored to come from the supercharged LSA engine from the CTS-V making 556-hp.

So Lutz confirms that the CTS-V Coupe will definitely be produced – but the Camaro Z28 is a big no-no? We’re going to have to file this under misinterpretation and rumors for now.

- By: Omar Rana

Source: Automobile Magazine

After General Motors goes through ’surgical bankruptcy’ it will be very careful about where it spends money given to it by the taxpayers and government. Of course, that includes how GM spends on future products already in the pipeline like the Chevrolet Camaro Z28. It was reported earlier this year that the new-generation Camaro Z28 is completed but GM has put a hold on the launch since it’s strapped for cash.

A group of GM officials attending the Carlisle Nationals this past weekend held a Q&A session for the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro. Many of the question were focused around the Camaro Z28 and while nothing eye-popping was announced, their answers hinted that GM will offer a Camaro Z28 very soon.

Scott Settlemire, Cheryl Pilcher, John Fitzpatrick, Al Oppenheiser and John Cox shared the following info:

- The Z28 hood will be as seen on the 2nd generation Bumblebee Camaro in Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen.
- It will receive a different grill treatment.
- It will most likely have a different rear design with a more aggressive touch.
- It will have Z28 emblems and graphics.
- It will make its debut sometime after the convertible variant is launched in 2011.

Power is expected to come from the same 556-hp 6.2L LSA V8 supercharged engine from the Cadillac CTS-V.

- By: Mo Eladawy

Source: Camaro5

It is finally time for us to gather up some randomness from around the internet and today we focus on some outstanding amounts of American horsepower.

New Camaro Z28 spotted in GM’s design studio: It was reported earlier this year that the Chevrolet Camaro Z28 had been put on hold since it ran out of money to launch the car – meaning design and engineering work must have been completed. A new image has popped up on the Camaro5 forums showing a scan from a book called “Camaro, an American Icon.” The image shows GM designers working on a Camaro Z28. We are patiently waiting GM.- Camaro5

2010 Ford Taurus SHO crashes in Chicago: The report says that a sold 2010 Ford Taurus SHO left the dealership and came back on a flatbed. Apparently it was involved in a 3 car pile up. – ChicagoSVT

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen: Who’s going to go watch the sequel tomorrow? Let us know if you’ll be catching the midnight show tomorrow night. We’ve already purchased our tickets.

- By: Mo Eladawy

Last week, it was all about the launch of the much-anticipated 2010 Chevrolet Camaro. This week, we’ll do our best to tone down the posts about Detroit’s new muscle car but here is one for all you that are looking forward to other variants of the 2010 Camaro.

According Paul A. Eisenstein of The Detroit Bureau, GM will be putting the brakes on the convertible version of the new Camaro. While production was scheduled to begin in about a year, plans have been put on hold due to the collapse of the German company responsible for supplying the convertible top.

“We’re looking to find an alternative source for the top,” Gene Stefanyshyn, Camaro’s Vehicle Line Executive, told the publication. He said that even if GM could lineup a new supplier it would take some time to bring them up to speed. Sources say that the delay could be as long as six months.

As for the Chevrolet Camaro Z28 – we recently heard that the high-performing Camaro is done but GM is holding back from putting it into production According to Stefanyshyn, production of the Camaro Z28 will cost GM too much – that too much equals some $50 million.

Nonetheless, GM isn’t pulling the plug on the Camaro Z28. Stefanyshyn says that engineers are working hard to see if they can cut the cost of development; however, it may be hard to make a business case for such a high-performance model due to GM’s financial situation.

- By: The Daily Auto Editor

Source: The Detroit Bureau

As General Motors continues to survive on taxpayer’s bailout money, it must be very careful on how and where it spends cash. That includes how the automaker spends money on future products already in the pipeline. According to Motor Trend, the Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 is already done; however, GM has put the Z/28 on hold since it ran out of money to launch the car.

The General has to be very careful where it spends its taxpayer bailout money since a car like the Camaro Z/28, which is expected to return a fuel economy of 13/19 mpg, will most probably be looked down upon during the company’s current financial situation (aka pissing off taxpayers around the nation).

Under the hood of the Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 will be the same 6.2L LSA V8 supercharged engine from the Cadillac CTS-V. It will produce a neck-snapping 556-hp with a peak torque of 551 lb-ft. The Z/28 will also share the 6-speed manual and automatic transmission with the Cadillac CTS-V. 0 to 60 mph is expected come in at 3.9 seconds with a top speed of 193 mph for the manual version.

While all that makes us muscle car fans drool, General Motors will have to stick to building fuel-sippers like the Chevrolet Cruze and the Chevrolet Volt for now. Let’s just hope by the time GM can make the Z/28, the market will still be willing to buy it.

Source: Motor Trend