The 2014 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 conquered a field of nine other competitors to earn Motor Trend’s enthusiastic affection for 2014, but how does it stack up to those same competitors in a drag race?
Motor Trend produced this video, dubbed the “World’s Greatest Drag Race 4!” to answer that very question.
It’s important to note that the criteria for being selected as the “Driver’s Car of the Year” do not necessarily boil down to a simple power-to-weight ratio and cornering grip measure. That said, we do have to suspect that money is of some object to the editors of the publication, because while the Z/28 is a fabulous performer, its strength lies mostly in its ability to offer that performance for a bargain price.
So how does the 2014 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 fair in this quarter-mile test? It finishes in the middle of the pack in fifth, nestled in tightly 0.1 seconds between the 2015 BMW M4 (fourth) and the BMW i8 (sixth). First through third are: the 2014 Porsche 911 Turbo S, 2015 Nissan GT-R Nismo, and 2015 Jaguar F-Type Coupe R.
The Z/28 made a valiant effort; the quarter-mile came up in a quick 12.3 seconds, with a finishing speed of 117.2 mph. That’s a mere 0.6 mph short of the BMW M4 ahead of it.
You can watch all the adrenaline-evoking, nail-biting action in the video below.
Comments
Great video.
Nice to hear someone speak what is most likely god’s truth about this more than suspect win for the Z28. I own a 2015 911 Turbo S and I actually rented a 400 HP SS Camaro in SF this summer for a week. I can say without a shadow of a doubt that is was the worst plastic, poorly thought out (from a drivers perspective ) P.O.S. car that I have ever driven, rented, sat in, or have had to endure in many years to be perfectly honest
Just sayin…
A SS Camaro is no driver’s car and never was intended to be. So whats your point? Second, I know of NO “driver’s car” that is both fastest and best handling. They just don’t exist.
A true drivers car is all about balance, driver involvement and inspiring driver confidence. Meeting those goals alone negate dominance in any two traditional performance car measures alone.
If that was the case then the 911, BMW M#, Honda Civic Si, Mazda Miata, Corvette Z06, and etc, would never even be considered for such recognition. Because none of those cars are all mighty dominate-tors in any of the traditional sports car measures.
It’s also why cars like the GTR will never be “driver’s cars” either.
Not that an SS should be compared to the Z28 and I am the 1st to say that I have never sat in one. It was not the performance of the SS, it was the overall experience.
Speaking of sitting in one… does the Z28 not have doors that you can actually open and get in the car without climbing through the window? A drivers car? Reminds me of Dukes of Hazard!
Ummm, what does any of that have to do with how the car drives? You spent $200k on a Porsche 911 Turbo S and you’re complaining about the interior appointments of a car that cost 1/5 of the Porsche? I guess common sense isn’t so common.
Nothing like comparing apples to oranges. The 911 is very old and boring and how many Camaro’s could I buy for the price of the overrated 911?
You obviously rigged this 1/4 mile race. How you ask, well…………
For starters, the Porsche and Nismo are AWD. Racing AWD cars against RWD / FWD cars is, at best, unfair. The AWD’s are always going to be faster off the line, and in some cases such as this, will build up a lead, impossible to make up, especially when they have a horsepower advantage, like these two did. So , we must eliminate them from the list.
We also must eliminate the Ford, and VW….they are simply hopelessly outmatched, and the only reason you included them was either to…….insult them, or….some phony gesture as to their “drag race” capability….Seriously,…where is the last vehicle …a Radio Flyer.. Soooo they too, must be eliminated from the competition.
That leaves us with this tight knit group, and a more fair competition. But frankly, I hafta ask, since you billed this as a “drag race”……
where’s….. the Viper,…the Corvette,….the Dodge Hellcat,….Shelby Mustang,……..Mercedes SLS V-12 Turbo,…..Lambo,….Ferrari,…..Audi R10,….etc., etc.,
Yes, this race was a JOKE!
This was never intended to be a fair drag race. All these cars were up for the title of “best drivers car” and motortrend just put all the cars in a drag race for some fun.
Much ado about nothing….over-hyped and poorly done