Chevy Shows Off The Ready-To-Race, 2018 COPO Camaro Drag Car, With Available Hot Wheels Package

At the same time that Chevrolet was pulling the wraps off the new, 2018 Camaro Hot Wheels Edition today, the automaker revealed something even more special: a new COPO Camaro drag car. Hopeful buyers can now register to purchase one of the 69 COPO Camaro race cars that will be produced for 2018 by visiting Chevrolet.com/Performance.

The decision to reveal the 2018 COPO Camaro at the same time as the production Hot Wheels Edition Camaro is no accident; the new COPO will be available in the same tasty “Crush” exterior finish as the street-going Hot Wheels Edition car, with the same appearance package. The car shown today was shod in an exclusive “Supercrush” finish.

As in previous production years, the 2018 COPO Camaro is available with a choice of three different engines, but the LT1-based 376 (6.2L) V8 has been dropped in favor of an all-new 302 (4.9L), also based on the Gen-V Small Block. The smaller displacement is the result of adopting a shorter-stroke crankshaft to enable high-revving performance.

The familiar, naturally-aspirated 427 (7.0L) and supercharged 350 (5.7L) V8s are still on the menu for 2018, the latter of which enables a mid-8-second quarter-mile at almost 160 mph, according to Chevrolet. All three available COPO Camaro engines are mated to a TH400 3-speed automatic approved by the SFI Foundation, as in previous model years, and of course, the rear axle is of the solid variety.

“The introduction of a new COPO Camaro is always exciting and the new engine and Hot Wheels package expand choices for customers,” says GM’s US Vice President of Performance Vehicles and Motorsports, Jim Campbell. “Chevrolet has supported Camaro drag racers for more than 50 years and the historic COPO Camaro program continues to offer them more ways to win.”

The 2018 COPO Camaro is designed to run in the NHRA “Stock Eliminator” classes. If you’d like to see it in the flesh, the race car will be appearing at this year’s Specialty Equipment Market Association Show in Las Vegas, running from October 31^st to November 3^rd.