Chevy Camaro Z/28 outruns Porsche 911 in wet Nurburgring lap

[Truthseeker420]

Every time I ask a Chevy engineer about the Nurburgring — that "green hell" of German race tracks used as the gold standard of testing by European automakers — I hear a variation of the same response: Yeah, it's good fun, but we use it only to shake things out, and we're not into swapping hot laps with the competition. This line sounds less than credible today, after Chevy announced it had taken the 2014 Chevy Camaro Z/28 around the 'Ring in a time that outpaced the new Porsche 911 Carrera S — hitting 161 mph.

In the rain.



With a recorded time of 7 minutes, 37.47 seconds, the Z28 completes the lap four seconds faster than the ZL1 Camaro, not to mention the stock 911, the Audi R8 and the Lamborghini Murcielago. With 505 hp moving a car that's 300 lbs. lighter than the typical Camaro — and can generate 1.05 g of cornering force — the handling prowess of the Z/28 shouldn't be that much of a surprise, although at several points in the video above, GM driver Adam Dean has to dab some oppo to keep the nose pointed forward.

Chevy says the run was part of what it calls a "24-hour test" — running a day's worth of laps at various tracks, with only brake and tire changes allowed, to measure a car's durability. And based on the data from the wet lap, Camaro chief engineer Al Oppenheiser contends the Z/28 could have gone a couple seconds faster on a dry track.


At the moment, Chevy has the momentum in the American muscle-car field to itself; Ford has gone silent ahead of the next-generation Mustang out next year, while the Dodge Challenger has to soldier on with minimal changes. When those cars get their updates, they'll have to prove themselves any number of ways — including, it now seems, on a long stretch of German racetrack. Maybe the Chevy engineers will tell them where to go for bratwurst.

Yahoo!

Take that Germans !

 

[DGS49]

Oh, I'm sure there is some variant of the 911 that could outperform the Chevy (or the C7 'Vette) in wet or dry conditions at the 'Ring. It might cost half a mil, but it will do it.

The 911 is a stunning example of how German engineers can take what is basically a horrible design (rear engine, opposed-6 engine), and through electronic wizardry constituting essentially drive-by-wire, cause it to perform as well as the best designs on the planet.

Without the traction and stability control, any 911 with more than 200 HP would be a death machine for any average driver who tried to drive it aggressively.

But give GM kudos for producing this level of performance at what is, relatively speaking, a "reasonable" cost.

 

[Jarlaxle]

911's have been stable handlers for 15+ years, even without stability control. But you never let mere FACTS get in your way, hey, Davey?

 

[DGS49]

The FACT is that since their inception 911's have been plagued by drivers spinning out and often killing themselves coming out of turns as they try to accelerate down a straightaway. God help the inexperienced drivers who tried to drive them aggressively.

If a rear engine was a good idea, why has no manufacturer of sports cars produced one in the last 60 years? Without traction control, stability control, and ABS, the 911 would be a death trap. They are the only reason Porsche has been able to add so much power over the past 20 years.

It is a fundamentally flawed design.

 

[R.C. Christian]

If I had my way every ass ugly Camaro would be taken to the salvage yard and destroyed. A Porsche is 10's a better car than a white trash Z28.

 

[sitarro]

Was Betty White driving the Porsche?

 

[Moonglow]

ram jet, v-8 turbo charged Pontiac Trans Am, i drove one and it felt like we were taking off on a plane flight when I punched it on the highway ramp.

 

[Moonglow]

Was Betty White driving the Porsche?

They dug up Groucho Marx to drive.

When will they be racing on a dry track?

 

[Jarlaxle]

The FACT is that since their inception 911's have been plagued by drivers spinning out and often killing themselves coming out of turns as they try to accelerate down a straightaway. God help the inexperienced drivers who tried to drive them aggressively.

If a rear engine was a good idea, why has no manufacturer of sports cars produced one in the last 60 years? Without traction control, stability control, and ABS, the 911 would be a death trap. They are the only reason Porsche has been able to add so much power over the past 20 years.

It is a fundamentally flawed design.

God and goddess, you don't even know what you're blathering about! The problem with the 911 (and most rear-engine cars) is NOT power-on oversteer. It is LIFT-THROTTLE oversteer--getting OFF the throttle in a curve tends to make the back come around.

15 years ago, the 911 didn't have stability control, and was a predictable handler.

 

[Snouter]

Porsches are still the best looking, best engineered, and best performing cars ever made. The new Z/28 is more hideous looking than the regular Camaro and most likely has back breakingly harsh suspension to get the high G ratings. Even if the Z/28 is half the price of a Porsche it can compete with, it is still a Chevy.

 

[Jarlaxle]

You're dumb as a box of hair.

Note that a Corvette ZR1 doesn't just beat, but TROUNCES a Porsche 911 in all aspects of performance!

 

[Sallow]

Every time I ask a Chevy engineer about the Nurburgring — that "green hell" of German race tracks used as the gold standard of testing by European automakers — I hear a variation of the same response: Yeah, it's good fun, but we use it only to shake things out, and we're not into swapping hot laps with the competition. This line sounds less than credible today, after Chevy announced it had taken the 2014 Chevy Camaro Z/28 around the 'Ring in a time that outpaced the new Porsche 911 Carrera S — hitting 161 mph.

In the rain.



With a recorded time of 7 minutes, 37.47 seconds, the Z28 completes the lap four seconds faster than the ZL1 Camaro, not to mention the stock 911, the Audi R8 and the Lamborghini Murcielago. With 505 hp moving a car that's 300 lbs. lighter than the typical Camaro — and can generate 1.05 g of cornering force — the handling prowess of the Z/28 shouldn't be that much of a surprise, although at several points in the video above, GM driver Adam Dean has to dab some oppo to keep the nose pointed forward.

Chevy says the run was part of what it calls a "24-hour test" — running a day's worth of laps at various tracks, with only brake and tire changes allowed, to measure a car's durability. And based on the data from the wet lap, Camaro chief engineer Al Oppenheiser contends the Z/28 could have gone a couple seconds faster on a dry track.


At the moment, Chevy has the momentum in the American muscle-car field to itself; Ford has gone silent ahead of the next-generation Mustang out next year, while the Dodge Challenger has to soldier on with minimal changes. When those cars get their updates, they'll have to prove themselves any number of ways — including, it now seems, on a long stretch of German racetrack. Maybe the Chevy engineers will tell them where to go for bratwurst.

Yahoo!

Take that Germans !

 

[Truthseeker420]

If I had my way every ass ugly Camaro would be taken to the salvage yard and destroyed. A Porsche is 10's a better car than a white trash Z28.

You Son of Bitch !

 

[Jarlaxle]

He's just a troll.