Chevy Needs to Build an LT5-Powered Camaro Z28

It has been a rough few weeks for Camaro fans. The crew at Muscle Cars and Trucks first announced that the development of the next generation car had been cancelled, only to report a short time later that the program hadn’t been cancelled, but it had been delayed indefinitely. Delayed indefinitely is better than cancelled, but that was still some ugly news, leading many people to believe that the Camaro could be headed out of the lineup once again.

Last week, that same outlet reported that the Z28 version of the current Camaro had been cancelled, so those Chevy fans hoping to see the current generation go out with a bang had their hopes dashed. According to Muscle Cars and Trucks, the sixth generation Camaro Z28 was supposed to be powered by a new LT3 engine, displacing 6.6-liters of high-revving, naturally aspirated American V8. The LT3 would be like a modern take on the LS7 that powered the fifth generation Z28, but it seems that the program is dead before it ever saw the light of day.

While these reports could all be true - the Camaro could be a few years from leaving the lineup and there is no new Z28 coming with a new LT3 for the current generation – Chevrolet owes it to their fans to end this era with one, great muscle car. Rather than a unique engine, this car should be powered by the LT5 from the new Corvette ZR1, giving Camaro fans a proper competitor to the likes of the new GT500 Mustang and the Dodge Challenger Hellcat.

The Last Great Camaro
Let’s suppose for a second that the current (sixth) generation of the Camaro comes to an end after the 2023 model year, similar to when the model was shelved back in 2002. If the current Camaro drives off into the sunset, it could be years before we see another Chevrolet muscle car, if the model returns at all. We have been hearing rumors for years of the end of performance cars and the end of the V8 engine, so when you couple those rumors with the poor Camaro sales, it is feasible that the company could discontinue the model. I have a hard time imagining that it would be gone forever, but again, let’s just imagine that.

That would mean that the current Camaro could be the last Camaro, and if there is even a faint possibility that the 2023 Camaro will be the last, Chevrolet owes it to brand enthusiasts, muscle car lovers and American performance car fans in general to make sure that the last Camaro is the absolute best Camaro.

The current car has already proven itself as one of the best-handling American muscle cars ever, but with “just” 640 horsepower, it is well-behind the Mustang and Challenger. Fortunately, Chevrolet has the LT5 from the Corvette ZR1 with 755 horsepower and 715 lb-ft of torque. That powerful engine in the relatively lightweight Camaro would likely make this Chevy quicker and faster than the new GT500 Mustang with 760 horsepower and far less torque.

Really, the engine would be the focus of the package and there is no question that people would rush out to buy a Camaro with 755 horsepower, but this car could be more than just a dyno warrior. Add in the aero bits of the ZL1 1LE package, a set of Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires over carbon ceramic brakes and Chevrolet would likely end the Camaro with one of the greatest all-around muscle cars of all time.

Such a powerful machine would be a fitting car to wear the Z28 name, but the bottom line here is that if Chevy might kill the Camaro, the automotive world deserves one final, mind-blowing muscle car with LT5 power.

Patrick Rall @TheAutoBeard is the Managing Editor of Torque News. Please follow us on Twitter at @TorqueNewsAuto, Facebook and send us tips. You can also Follow Patrick on Youtube.