[AZCamaroFan]

She doesn't need to win brownie points. She was here when the cool crowd was still here.

[Overflow]

Originally Posted by AZCamaroFan

She doesn't need to win brownie points. She was here when the cool crowd was still here.

Those were the good old days. Seems everyone has moved to Facebook groups instead of forums.

[samurai]

People who write bs like this have no clue how making cars work. Any change on horsepower would mean paying for all the emission tests, certifications, etc that are necessary to get the car on the road. Having testcars that drive thousands of miles to make sure nothing breaks and they can deliver the full waranty. Adjusting the whole production like to add the new parts that have to be put on the car.

If you have that in mind, just think about how much sense it makes that GM would invest millions of dollars into all these process to bring out 1,000 special editions cars, after they pretty much let the Camaro die without investing a dime into the car since the 2020 re-refresh.

Also GM pretty much confirmed the things the only truthworthy site with GM insider stuff, MC&T, posted: MY2024 is the last Camaro year, there will be a Panther themed special edition that pretty much is a typical sticker package with a unique emblem.

[Number 3]

Originally Posted by Martinjlm

Was trying to stay outta this train wreck, but since I’ve been called out, here goes…

Could GM make a last run of ‘25 Z28?
Sure they could. Model year rules say that a model year can only have one January 1st so they could start the ‘24 model year in July or August and run it through sometime in January, end ‘24 MY and start ‘25 MY.

What would be the motivation?
I can’t think of a good one. Maybe to establish an instant collectible. But isn’t that what the Panther Commemorative Edition is all about? So again, what is the motivation?

Well, if they put the LT6 in it, that would be special!
Let’s work our way back to Blackwing. The engine, not the car (confused yet?) When GM ended the the CT6 Blackwing, the only vehicle ever to use the Blackwing engine, auto analysts everywhere (I’m an auto analyst, so I was one of them) said “maybe the Blackwing engine could drop into the CT5 V-Series Blackwing”. Seemed reasonable. One Powertrain forecaster at the time (me) even created a Camaro forecast that had the Blackwing engine going into a top end Camaro. Until a GM engineer kindly explained that Blackwing doesn’t package in the Alpha platform. Not the CT5, definitely not the Camaro. Immediately removed from forecast So what does that have to do with LT6? LT6 was codeveloped with the Blackwing engine on the same DOHC platform that doesn’t package in Alpha. Dream crushed.

So we’re back to “what is GM motivation to pump out a few ‘25 Z28 pieces at the end of the ‘24 Camaro run?” I got nothin’. And that’s what I think this whole thing is…nothin’.

The only thing I can dream up is the same guy that changed the Z28 to the ZL1 1 week before the Chicago auto show has a say in it.

Or even better Mary Barra wants to look like the the last bastion of ICE loving CEOs. Remember Rick Wagner got his SSR. And remember the stupid crap they did to “launch on time” to meet his commitment date. This could be a go simply as a directive from Mary. And as much as people (even on this site) like to blast her. This really wouldn’t surprise me.

GM has certainly done some head scratching things in my career there so let’s hope there is one more here.

[Overflow]

Originally Posted by Number 3

The only thing I can dream up is the same guy that changed the Z28 to the ZL1 1 week before the Chicago auto show has a say in it.

Holy shit did that ever get confirmed as true? I always heard it was an unlikely rumor.

[Hops]

Is it possible is it a track only car? Although that's more of an exotic car thing to sell a non-street legal performance car. I've seen several 6gen ZL1's at track events that were trailered in, those cars probably already live like a track-only car already. Guessing there's a market for this.

[willzilla]

[Number 3]

Originally Posted by Overflow

Holy shit did that ever get confirmed as true? I always heard it was an unlikely rumor.

True. Mark Reuss made a late decision that the Z28 had to be NA. How much credit goes solely to him I’m not sure of but the ZL1 was going to be introduced in Chicago as the Z28. GM had to pay big time to buy back the rights to ZL1 at the last minute..

I was always told it was Mark, but maybe it just took him to approve it.

[Overflow]

Originally Posted by Number 3

True. Mark Reuss made a late decision that the Z28 had to be NA. How much credit goes solely to him I’m not sure of but the ZL1 was going to be introduced in Chicago as the Z28. GM had to pay big time to buy back the rights to ZL1.

I was always told it was Mark, but maybe it just took him to approve it.

Wow. That’s awesome. Some 5th gen ZL1 parts being stamped with “Z/28” confirm it too.

[AZCamaroFan]

bottom line: if the ZL1 1LE isn't enough for you i don't even know what to say.

[Number 3]

Originally Posted by Hops

Is it possible is it a track only car? Although that's more of an exotic car thing to sell a non-street legal performance car. I've seen several 6gen ZL1's at track events that were trailered in, those cars probably already live like a track-only car already. Guessing there's a market for this.

That would minimize if not eliminate some development costs and GM already sells COPO Camaros which I don’t believe are street legal so there is that.

[Bhobbs]

The Camaro has been dead for years. Its corpse is slowly sliding down the chute into the trash bin. GM couldn’t care less, which is why their grand send off is a mediocre sticker package. The 5th gen had brought the Camaro back in a big way but they phoned in the 6th gen and this is the result. The day Al O was transferred was the day the Camaro officially died.

[Martinjlm]

Originally Posted by Overflow

Holy shit did that ever get confirmed as true? I always heard it was an unlikely rumor.

Originally Posted by Number 3

True. Mark Reuss made a late decision that the Z28 had to be NA. How much credit goes solely to him I’m not sure of but the ZL1 was going to be introduced in Chicago as the Z28. GM had to pay big time to buy back the rights to ZL1 at the last minute..

I was always told it was Mark, but maybe it just took him to approve it.

I will co-sign this. I was still at GM and very cool with a number of folks on the Camaro and Corvette teams. The issue was ZL1 is boosted and Z28 should not be boosted. Same argument failed wrt Z06, which is why this went to the 11th hour.

[Number 3]

Originally Posted by Martinjlm

I will co-sign this. I was still at GM and very cool with a number of folks on the Camaro and Corvette teams. The issue was ZL1 is boosted and Z28 should not be boosted. Same argument failed wrt Z06, which is why this went to the 11th hour.

Awesome, a co signer! So in the future if I don’t make my payments……..

I still want something powered by an LS7. Sadly they are all very expensive these days.