What do you do or think about right after purchasing a high performance car, such as the brand new Chevrolet Camaro? What can I do to make it faster? Naturally, this is what the guys and gals on the Chevrolet performance team think about. Enter this Chevy Camaro SS “Drag Race Development Concept.”
The concept car that is being unveiled at the 2016 SEMA show in Las Vegas this week does not have a cool name, but it showcases many performance parts that are already available and many parts that are not yet available (a.k.a. concept parts). Why show concept parts? Chevrolet wants your feedback in order to make the business case to produce them.
Chevy’s goal with this concept car was reliable and repeatable 1/4-mile run in the 10-second range.
While many do-it-yourselfers go directly for the power increase on their car. Chevy started with the rear Hoosier drag slicks and moved all the way through the drivetrain components to the modified 6.2L V8, which is now making around 600 horsepower thanks to a new cam-and-heads and tuning package. The changes include the meaty tires that are mounted on 16-inch diameter rear wheels that hide new and smaller brake rotors. Then there are upgraded ZL1 half-shafts, “Gravedigger” rear differential, drive shaft, higher stall speed torque converter with the 8-speed automatic transmission, and more.
Chevrolet reports a best 1/4-mile time of 10.685 seconds at 125.73 MPH in this concept car.
Check out this video of the Concept test car 001 doing a burnout on a damp race surface at the Spring Mountain Motor Resort in Pahrump, Nevada.
2017 COPO Chevy Camaro
While the Drag Racing Development Concept Camaros are about gradual and generally affordable upgrades to a stock car, the 2017 COPO Camaro is an all-out dedicated drag racer. This car is specifically designed to compete in the NHRA’s Stock Eliminator classes.
The company will build 69 examples of the 2017 COPO, but prospective buyers will have a choice between several engines and powertrains. The first one out of 69 will be powered by a supercharged 350 cu-in (5.7L) V8 and will be auctioned at the Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale event in January 2017.
If a supercharged 350 is not your cup of tea, then you can select a naturally aspirated 427 (7.0L) or a direct injected 376 (6.2L) engines. All engine options will send power down the line via a SFI-approved ATI TH400 3-speed automatic transmission.
TFLcar and TFLtruck are at the 2016 SEMA show, and we will bring you all the latest Chevrolet performance cars. In the meantime, here is the overview of the concept and customized cars and trucks from last year’s show.