Despite what the title suggests, no. The 2014 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 does not sprout wings and soar into skies like Cirrus airplane. But it does feature an algorithm integrated with its Performance Traction Management (PTM) system that senses when the wheels lift off the ground.
When this happens, the PTM system maintains torque delivery to the rear wheels, unlike other traction systems that heavily cut the torque when a car goes airborne. In the video below, 2014 Camaro Z/28 performance engineer Bill Wise says that the algorithm saves up to five seconds around the Nürburgring.
Comments
Great…an algorithm to ignore an algorithm (traction control)…some accomplishment. Has anyone done a study for the demographic that actually buys this car? Is it really the Nurburgring crowd or the commute to the local 18 holes crowd? I think the latter. It’s an awesome car, sure, but let’s get real….most rental cars get more air time than any new Z28 ever will.
The Nurburgring crowd and the golf crowd are the same people. They aren’t buying Camaro in any flavour, and most wouldn’t be caught dead in one.
Besides, luxury marques serve best those who golf, even moreso in their ads. Appearance matters in golfing circles, and a Z28 screams too ‘blue collar’ to be welcomed.
Mine will be flying… I’ll tell you that much!
And for what it’s worth, I don’t think the drive to the golf club crowd is burying this car. Mercedes-Benz SL? Sure. But not the Z/28.
There are club people for this car.
The Caddies have to have a fast car to drive.
To be honest the two people who will buy this are collectors and racers. GM never planned to sell many of these as this is a very limited package. Kind of the 69 ZL1 of today.
This enhancement will come in handy for some of the SCCA classes and other series this car will be raced in. Many of these classes call for pretty much stock based cars with minor tuning and a restrictor in the intake to slow it down.
Look for the mass production top line Camaro in the Six Gen to be nearly or as potent as this car for less money. Look at the new Z06 vs. the ZR1. Everything will be moving up in performance and less in price.
Exactly. Really this wont sell huge and wont be mass produced. but it’s a experiment to see the limit of the car.
They will probably use bits of what they learned in the next Camaro, look at the ZL1 which spawned the 1LE. the 1LE will be the min benchmark of the new SS.