Some “show” and some “go”with many parts available at a Chevrolet dealer.
Chevrolet debuted nine concept cars and trucks today at the SEMA Show. The muscle car selections have “show” and “go,” starting with stylized versions of the 2014 Corvette Stingray, SS sports sedan and a variety of modified 2014 Camaro pony cars, including the all-new, as yet un-priced Z/28.
As an aside, through the end of October, Camaro’s total sales lead (70,484 ytd) over Mustang (66,083) was only 4,400 for the year as Mustang had a strong October +30% compared with Camaro’s 11%. If it hangs on, Camaro is on track to be the industry’s best-selling sports car priced under $50,000 for the fourth consecutive year.
Jeff Gordon onstage with the Gordon SS at the 2013 SEMA Show in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Most, but not all, have parts available from Chevrolet dealers, allowing customers to personalize their new car with factory parts that match the quality of original equipment and often keep the warranty intact.
Also on display was a 2014 COPO Camaro – a $90,000+ factory-built racecar, designed for NHRA’s Stock Eliminator and Super Stock drag racing classes that cannot be made street legal. As with the previous two model years, only 69 COPO models will be built. Each COPO is built by hand starting with hardware from the Oshawa, Ontario assembly plant that manufactures regular-production Camaros. Each car is fitted with an NHRA-approved roll cage and other safety equipment, along with racing chassis and suspension components – including a unique solid rear axle system in place of a regular-production Camaro’s independent rear axle.
Racers interested in purchasing one must sign up for the COPO mailing list at chevrolet.com. (See Chevrolet Camaro Performance Parts Released, Camaro COPO Drag Racing Car Ready to Burn Out in 2012)
“It’s our most diverse range of performance-car choices in nearly 20 years,” said Chris Perry, vice president of Chevrolet marketing.
A new Jeff Gordon SS performance sedan concept has a satin exterior finish with, what else, No. 24 graphics, custom-finished 20-inch wheels, a carbon fiber rear spoiler and a custom front grille. The car has a lowered suspension, high-performance brakes and a Borla performance exhaust system. The interior is re-trimmed with perforated suede seat inserts and embroidered headrests and a racing-style flat-bottom steering wheel and Chevy Accessories pedal kit. Under the hood is the small-block of all SS production models, an LS3 6.2-liter V8 rated at 415 horsepower and 415 lb.-ft. of torque, with a six-speed automatic transmission with TAPShift.
Corvette Stingray Gran Turismo concept is a marketing promotion with the new Sony PlayStation 3 game Gran Turismo 6 commemorating the game’s 15th anniversary. Chevy built a real version of the virtual racing winner. Its distinctive exterior and interior elements include:
- Custom exterior paint scheme
- Yellow-tinted headlamps
- Carbon fiber rear wing
- Custom carbon fiber hood and extractor design
- Ground effects kit with carbon fiber rockers and front splitter
- Custom exhaust tips
- Racing-style front tow hook
- Custom front grille
- Custom front fender and rear quarter vents
- Custom-trimmed Competition Sport seats
- Driver and passenger racing harnesses
- Custom flat-bottom steering wheel
- Leather-wrapped safety belt bar and rear braces.
Corvette Stingray Convertible Atlantic concept is one of a pair of right- and left-coast-themed concepts. The Blade Silver Convertible model represents the Atlantic side, with “sophisticated” styling enhancements allegedly resembling the details and refinement of a private jet. The exterior has a Carbon Flash Metallic front splitter, rocker extensions and rear lower diffuser, along with Fusion Gray headlamp housings and hood accents. It is trimmed with a suede-wrapped interior package.
This East Coast cruiser also has a number of Accessories available to all 2014 Corvette Stingray customers, including:
- Chrome five-spoke wheels – 19 x 8.5-inches in front and 20 x 10-inches in the rear
- Wheel center caps with the Stingray script
- Under-hood liner with the Stingray logo
- Carbon Flash Metallic rear license plate holder
- Molded splash guards
- Windscreen mounted behind the seats
- Custom luggage
- Premium carpet floor mats
- Sill plates
- Embroidered center armrest with the Stingray logo.
For effortless driving and performance, the Atlantic concept features an LT1 engine with a six-speed automatic.
Corvette Stingray Coupe Pacific concept is the West Coast version. This track-inspired Torch Red Corvette Stingray Z51 Coupe’s design is complemented by a carbon fiber hood and a visible carbon-fiber weave on the removable roof panel, as well as a satin-black front splitter and rocker extensions. The Z51 rear spoiler is painted Carbon Flash Metallic with a Carbon Flash graphics package. The interior has a carbon fiber trim kit, along with the optional Competition Sport seats and a flat-bottom steering wheel with a carbon fiber finish.
Because it is a Corvette Stingray Z51, the LT1 engine has a dry-sump oiling system, the cooling and brake systems are enhanced and the transaxle features an electronic limited-slip differential. Even the gearing in the seven-speed manual transmission is unique.
Like the Atlantic concept, West Coast uses Accessories, including satin black aluminum wheels with a red accent stripe (19 x 8.5-inch in front/20 x 10-inch in the rear).
Performance Garage Camaro is a combination of, what else, Performance parts and Accessories on the production Camaro SS. It is a track-oriented, incorporating performance and suspension components from the all-new Z/28 – and a few from the ZL1.
The exterior has a ground effects package, Chevrolet Accessories rear spoiler and grille, RS headlamps and tail lamps, blacked-out mirrors and rear diffuser, and Accessories satin-black 10-spoke Track Pack wheels. “Chevrolet Performance” graphics are on the rockers and windshield header. Brakes and a short-throw shifter from the Camaro ZL1 come straight out of the Performance catalog and are available through Chevrolet dealers, while the following Z/28 parts are being evaluated by Chevrolet Performance for future release:
- “Shorty” exhaust headers and 2.75-inch exhaust system
- Front ride/handling links
- Rear upper control arms
- Stabilizer bars
- Helical differential with internal cooling system
- Brake ducts
- Racing-derived DSSV® (Dynamic Suspensions Spool Valve) dampers.
Chevrolet Performance Camaro V8 Concept is said to be a one-of-a-kind car that highlights the personalization and performance possibilities with its performance air intake to and concept Z/28 exhaust. Many components are available through Chevrolet dealers, including:
- Ground effects package
- Chevrolet Accessories rear spoiler
- Blacked-out badges, mirrors and rear diffuser
- Body-color hood louver
- Chevrolet Accessories 45th anniversary wheels in black
- Chevrolet Accessories grille in black
- Hood wrapped with body-color stripe
- RS headlamps and tail lamps
- Performance rocker decals and windshield header
- Performance armrests, door sills, pedal kit, floor mats and ambient lighting kit
- RECARO seats with Mojave stitching
- Performance instrument panel decal and sill plate
- Instrument panel, door, steering wheel and armrest with Mojave stitching
- Soft touch black interior bezels.
This Camaro concept incorporates a performance air intake, ZL1 brake kit and ZL1 short-throw shifter, along with these concept parts from the 2014 Camaro Z/28:
- 2.75-Inch exhaust system
- Front ride link
- Rear upper control arms
- Shorty exhaust headers
- Helical differential with internal cooling system
- DSSV dampers
- Brake ducts
- Stabilizer bars.
Chevrolet Performance Camaro V6 concept has the standard 323 horsepower direct injected, DOHC V6 with enhancements available through Chevrolet dealers, including:
- Brembo brake kit from the Camaro SS
- Camaro 1LE suspension kit
- Camaro 1LE strut tower brace
- Borla performance exhaust system
- 20-inch black wheels (45th anniversary design).
The car also has Z/28 rear upper control arms, which are being evaluated for the Chevrolet Performance catalog.
The exterior has an Accessories grille, front splitter and rear spoiler, along with “Chevrolet Performance” graphics. Inside, it is ready for the road course or street, with:
- Chevrolet Accessories premium carpet floor mats
- Chevrolet Accessories ambient lighting kit
- Black trim bezels
- Kicker 200-Watt subwoofer and 200-Watt DSP amp available for MyLink
- RECARO performance seats
- Flat-bottom performance steering wheel
- Chevrolet Performance sill plates
- Chevrolet Performance armrest
- Chevrolet Accessories auxiliary gauge package
- Instrument panel and door inserts wrapped with carbon-fiber weave
- Door armrests and instrument panel inserts trimmed with black suede and Light Stone stitching
- Chevrolet Accessories pedal kit
- Chevrolet Accessories engine cover.
Camaro Spring Special Edition continues the tradition of introducing special-edition production models at the SEMA Show. The 2014 Spring Special Edition is showing in its Camaro SS convertible version. The limited-production package (they will only build every one a dealer pre-orders – grin) is offered in 2LT and 2SS trims distinguished by:
- Summit White exterior with Blue Ray stripe – including hood louver
- Body-color ZL1 spoiler
- Accessories ground effects package and grille
- Accessories 21-inch wheels
- RS high-intensity discharge headlamps and light-emitting diode tail lamps
- Blue fabric top on convertible models
- Blue-accent leather-appointed interior with blue stitching
- White interior trim kit with Blue Ray stripe
- Chevrolet Accessories floor mats (black with silver logo).
LT models include the direct-injected, 323-horsepower V6 engine, while SS models include a 6.2L V8 rated at 426 horsepower when paired with the six-speed manual transmission or 400 horses with the optional six-speed automatic.
