Would A Modern-Day Chevrolet Camaro IROC-Z Look Like This?
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The IROC-Z package was introduced on the Chevrolet Camaro for the 1985 model year as an upgrade for the performance-focused Camaro Z28. Named after the International Race of Champions series, the Camaro IROC-Z featured lowered suspension, Delco Bilstein shocks, thicker front and rear anti-roll bars, an additional frame brace, some unique decals and an optional Tuned Port Injection fuel system.
The IROC-Z branding was pulled from the Camaro after the 1990 model year and hasn’t been seen since. A revival of the Camaro IROC-Z probably wouldn’t make much sense, considering the International Race of Champions series ended way back in 2006. That didn’t stop digital rendering artist Oscar V from attempting to recreate a modern take on the trim level, however.
Oscar V’s IROC-Z is more like a modern-day rendition of the third-generation Camaro rather than the IROC-Z specifically. With four-segment headlamps, rectangular roofline/window openings and a reshaped rear window, this mashup pulls heavy inspiration from the 1985 Camaro. It also gets a subtle rear blade spoiler like the original IROC-Z, though the artist didn’t render the rear of the vehicle, unfortunately.
While the Chevrolet Camaro is no longer offered in IROC-Z guise, we have something better today: the 1LE. The 1LE package adds the modern-day equivalent of many of the same parts the IROC-Z received, such as Brembo front and rear brakes, an electronic Limited-Slip Differential (eLSD), performance-tuned suspension with stiffer bushings, springs and stabilizer bars, a front splitter, a rear spoiler, Goodyear Eagle F1 Supercar tires and more. Order it in blue with some silver decals and boom, it’s basically a modern-day Camaro IROC-Z!
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I love the Iroc-z. Probably my favorite Camaro next to the 67-69’s and the 2nd gen split bumper. This doesn’t work though. The beltline on the current car is way too high.. I loved the 3rd gen because you could live with it day in and out. The visibility was fantactic and you could roll down the window and rest your arm on the door while cruising! The t-tops were the icing on the cake. The picture above doesn’t look like an Iroc of even a Camaro to me. I saw it and thought it looked like a modern day Lumina.
This design could allow for the Camaro to see the 2023 Model Year and beyond, send this to the GM Design Team responsible for the Camaro and hopefully we could see a possible production model happen, could Chevy possibly survive on just the C8 alone without a more affordable performance vehicle to fall under it?, even if this car we’re built in limited numbers, it would be a good model to close out the chapter on this car.
BETTER BUY A CAMARO IN 2021 , THEY WILL BE GONE AFTER THAT, THAT’s THE REAL WORLD. SORRY.
Nobody buys them now, so it’s gone. Mustang wins again and Camaro goes back in the closet.
Mustang as you know it is on borrowed time too.
You may be left with a EV CUV nothing more.
Volume is down for all real coupes but export markets are doing very well which now represent over 40% of sales. Camaro does not make right hand drive so exports are very limited and GM didn’t really bother anyway.
Little do you know the Mustang will be here it dose not follow in the footsteps of the Camaro or Challenger, FORD believe in it Pony Car and will brand it like the F150 and Bronco
Ford has confirmed that the next Mustang will be on the new Explorer platform. I still can’t even imagine how this will be achieved and keep weight and size in check.
Ford tried that in the late 1980s in the form of a FWD Mazda based coupe. Mustang enthusiasts were livid and let Ford know about it. That is the reason why we still have a Mustang coupe today.
Which is why Ford is building it, they could have easily electrified the Mustang without introducing the Cross Over variant if that cars clock wasn’t running out.
Fu#k your Mustang. Mustang is sh#t.
The rendering?, no. A liftback Camaro?, yes…
Where are the T tops?
I think the front design looks interesting, a bit of retro.
Matt is totally correct, the beltline of the current car is too high. They wanted the chopped /slammed roof look but they achieved it by raising the belt instead of lowering the roof. When you approach a 6th gen camaro in person, the high hood and blunt nose make it seem like a body was dropped onto an old s10 truck chassis.
I like the rendered concept because
1) the fascia brings the hood line much lower, visually giving the impression that the hood itself is lower. This would probably never pass gm standards for pedestrian protection but hey, screw pedestrians!
2) the liftback and reduced c pillars would surely improve the current cars’ atrocious visibility. I can’t see gm investing in the structural changes that would be needed to enable this but i still like it. Hopefully they could reduce the rear liftover height in the process. This would help visually lower the car when viewed from behind too. Pull up behind a camaro in a 4th gen firebird and the camaro looks like an Suv these days….
Only thing I care about is will she be the fastest camaro built to beat the he’ll cat and the 500 that what it was built for in the pass
The cold harsh reality is all three performance cars are at risk. Sales were down to start and in financial tight times automakers don’t invest I lower volume cars.
A good example was the Mid Engine. Corvette was funded in 2008 but when the economy tanked it was put on the shelf. They were given enough to do the C7 to buy time and that was it. The Program lurked and waited for the economy to return.
Right now with the virus and the future auto sales in question these cars may all face some real challenges in the future.
As for the drawing it is time to do as they did in 1983. The next car if there is one needs to be an al, new original design. The retro thing is played out and a low risk lazy way around being original.
The real trouble of a low priced car with a big engine just can’t be easily done today like decades ago. The formula is gone and that is a problem for everyone.
Actually, the 3rd gens came out in 1982.
I agree, why do a rehash of an older design? T
Chevy went with a new look with each succeding generation except the 5th.
Loved my 86 IROC. Only regret should have waited for the 87. Offered the 5.7 with a third pedal. Other than that had loads of fun driving threw the Smokey Mountain curvy roads. The car stuck to the curves like no other American car for the money.
Black with light grey interior. Oh well, life goes on.
The 5.7 was only available with the auto. I had an 89 5.7 auto with t-tops in electric blue. One of the best all around cars I’ve ever owned.
I read somewhere that Chevy was going to base the 6th gen Camaro on the 2nd gen but was nixed and just did a refresh of the 5th gen. Too bad! I love the sleek lines of the 2nd gen my favorite Camaro. This rehash of the IROC-Z is irrelevant sine the IROC-Z ended with Chevy dropping sponsorship. I’ll hang onto my 1990 IROC-Z, the last of the breed.
Every time I see an article like this, I wonder why are you bothering. Looks nice but if Chevy is never going to make it then why torture yourself. Camaro is on borrowed time AGAIN! Chevrolet has bigger problems than trying to make a small niche group happy. The good ole days are gone, I’ll be surprised if we even get an affordable Z28 before they pull the plug?
I dont disagree, but the “affordable ” model we used to know as z28 is available now as “lt1” trim. The last time we got a z28 from chevy it had morphed into a factory racecar.
The cold reality at this time is that it looks like the Camaro is dead again after the 2023 model year as plans for the Gen 7 were shelved some time ago. Ford has announced Mustang plans through the 2031 year. Someone in another thread called Camaro a “halo car” for Chevy. That is the Corvette with no room for both, as GM will put the Camaro down again. Love my son’s ‘17 RS and I had a ‘75 RS & a “79 Z28 as my 1st new car, ( 0ver 59K Z’s & 250K Camaros total sold that model year to baby boomers). Look for some version of a Z28 sold as an effort to sell as many as possible the last model year in 2023. It might have a 3rd life as EV someday in the future but I’ll be too old to care. Sad days, but they killed Chevelle also.
I am sure the rumors of Camaro’s demise is hampering sales. After all, a lot of people do not want to be stuck with an orphan.
I don’t think so as sales were poor prior to those rumours. It’s just a bad design that has absolute horrible visibility. The rest of the car is excellent. Chassis, powertrain, handling…
If it wasn’t but that huge flaw, I may have bought one.
I agree to disagree… there are guys that still have balls and drive these type of cars for the fun of it. You can still use these cars for errands as long as you don’t haul football players.
GM needs to hire guys like Oscar V to rejuvenate the Camaro. This would sell way better than the current huge fatty that continues to grow in weight every year. I pull next to this gen with my 4th gen and I look like a Miata next to it. Believe it or not, with a few mods I beat it since I weigh less. Same for the Mustang. Challenger is even a bigger/heavier pig…even with 475hp or 707hp. Don’t get me wrong, all have huge hp and are fast but shed the weight and watch the ET’s drop and the fun increase! Imports do it with very light chasis with 300hp…
Anyway, the Camaro can survive if GM drops this design and goes back to its roots and reduce the size and weight without dropping hp and make it competitive for street while keeping the ZL1 for that 600 – 700 hp range and PLEASE make the COPO a regular purchase car with HP to complete with Shelby… You have to be selected to buy one of these which is NUTS. And, leave the Vette to deal the exotics. IMO, I like this rendering.
This would make a great Z28 change the fog lamps, hood vents, hatch back like the 1992 and add T-Tops . It would breath new life into the Camaro this looks way better than what Chevy has on the road today
I hope not. This is beyond convoluted – there’s stuff from about forty different vehicles going on here.
From all I have read online, in print mags, & on Camaro 6, you better buy between now & 2023 model. Plans for GEN 7 are shelved. BTW no longer have to win a drawing to buy a COPO. 1st 69 to place an order, at least in 2020 model year.
How many times you gonna repeat that wrong information?.
Show me info beyond these dates. I hope I’m wrong.
More than likely it’s on VSS-R, the shelved rumors probably the end of Alpha not the model itself.
I had two IROC Z s back in the day. A black 86 and a black 88. loved both of them . I got a IROC Z tatoo . How I miss the 80s.
Someone mentioned the 80s…and Mustang in the same sentence…when HP was 125 and that was king. Use that same chasis and body size with today’s 5.0 32 valve 460 HP…geeze. That goes for the Camaro…put today’s LT1 in a 68-70 chassis and body size which equals fun and sales.
They design these cars like Dodge trucks, huge! Bigger every year.
Can GM do another rendition of the Z-28 that looks close to the picture above, 3200 lbs with an LS7 505HP, 12″ wide tires in the back, 20″ wheels and tires and dual clutch 9sp tranny as the base, then, add selectable option and features… Just saying…
If I didn’t have my 1981 Trans Am Nascar pace car there would be a 2016-current Camaro convertible or 2015 to present Mustang in my driveway. Some of us still remember better times when people liked to have fun in a fast fun driving car. People keep saying the good old days are long gone. Well there is no reason that has to be. If people actually test drove vehicles and bought what they really wanted instead of what the media and salesmen tell them they need to buy we wouldn’t be in such a mess with car based vehicles.