2012 Camaro COPO drag package announced!

[Jeff Kempton]

Well, after letting Ford and Chrysler have all the fun in Stock Eliminator over the last few years with their Cobra Jet Mustang and DragPak Challenger entries, Chevrolet seems finally ready to join the fray. Check out this link regarding a new Camaro COPO drag package to be debuted at the SEMA show in Las Vegas next week:

pprod.gmperformanceparts.gmgssm.com/Extras/sema2011/2012-copo-camaro-concept.jsp

With a price likely to be in the six figure range, I don't expect to see any of these racing locally anytime soon though. The Cobra Jets and DragPaks are both infamous for their ridiculously low factory claimed horsepower ratings that allow those entries to have a big advantage over the older cars, and if the Camaro becomes a reality, GM will likely adopt that same controversial practice.

It could be just like the horsepower wars of the '60's all over again!

[Don @ Maritime Drag Racing]

That is so cool.........

[jkr]

and the horsepower gods will come up with another totaly obscene factoring number for this unit. right below the other two or somewhere in the middle to keep the griping to a minimum from the dodge and ford people...............

[Jeff Kempton]

Oct 30, 2011 19:20:33 GMT -4 jkr said:

and the horsepower gods will come up with another totaly obscene factoring number for this unit. right below the other two or somewhere in the middle to keep the griping to a minimum from the dodge and ford people...............

Unfortunately, yes. The problem is; with the others already factored unrealistically low, the only way that it's worthwhile for GM to participate is if similarly low factors are applied to the Camaro. At this point the only fair thing to do is to put the new cars in their own classes, which is one of the rumours floating around for next season. Even doing that only puts a bandaid on a situation that never should have been allowed to happen in the first place.

It's too bad that the entries they chose to create for competition are not models that can be bought off the showroom floor in equivalent streetable versions. On a positive note though; it's nice to see the factories battling it out on the dragstrips again.

[Jeff Kempton]

The COPO made it's appearance at SEMA today:



www.motorauthority.com/news/1068011_chevrolet-copo-camaro-concept-sema-2011

[Jeff Kempton]

More footage of the COPO Camaro debut at SEMA:

www.lsxtv.com/features/sema-coverage/sema-2011-copo-camaro-unveiled-new-corvette-and-camaro-concepts/

I WANT ONE! ;D

[SS10]

Once again Chevy has let the others have some fun before coming out to DOMINATE with the new COPO, so now the secret is out let the whinning begin lol.

[Jeff Kempton]

Chevrolet Announces Supercharged Super Stock Engine for COPO Camaro Concept - Three-engine strategy would cover NHRA Stock Eliminator and Super Stock

ORLANDO, Fla. - Chevrolet announced a new supercharged engine possibility for the COPO Camaro concept that is designed for NHRA Super Stock competition. The 5.3L engine uses a 4.0-liter twin-screw supercharger atop a Chevrolet Performance LSX racing engine block to produce the power necessary for competitive performance in the hotly contested class where elapsed times are in the 9-second range or quicker.

The new Super Stock engine is the third developed by Chevrolet Performance for the COPO Camaro concept, which is the centerpiece of Chevrolet Performance's display at the PRI motorsports trade show in Orlando, Fla., Dec. 1-3. And while only a concept, Chevrolet Performance is evaluating the prospect of homologating the COPO Camaro and its prototype engines for Stock Eliminator and Super Stock racing.

"As we continue to refine our COPO Camaro concept, we are exploring all avenues to make it competitive and Super Stock is the logical next step" said Jim Campbell, GM U.S. vice president of Performance Vehicles and Motorsports. "The three-engine strategy would allow us to offer competition-ready powertrains across the board for Stock Eliminator and Super Stock."

While the Super Stock engine is not on display at the PRI show, Chevrolet has finalized the specifications for it. The other engines developed for the program include a naturally aspirated 427 engine (7.0L) "the same displacement as the original COPO Camaros from 1969" and another supercharged 327 (5.3L) engine, but with a smaller-displacement 2.9L twin-screw supercharger.

The COPO Camaro concept on display at the PRI show is powered by a prototype version of the supercharged 327 engine, featuring an LSX cylinder block.

And along with the three-engine strategy, the COPO Camaro concept is engineered with provisions for a two-speed Powerglide automatic transmission, a three-speed automatic or a five-speed manual.

Inside the COPO Camaro Concept

Among the many racing-specific features and equipment found throughout the COPO Camaro concept is a conversion from the Camaro's standard independent rear axle to a solid axle, as well as a full chrome moly roll cage.

Additional content includes:
- High-rise cowl-induction hood
- Custom Aeromotive fuel system, with a fuel cell and integral high-pressure fuel pump
- Full, chrome moly roll cage
- Coil-over front suspension with Strange Engineering adjustable struts
- Custom rear suspension, based on NHRA requirements, with Strange Engineering shocks, Panhard bar and stabilizer bar
- Strange Engineering S-9 solid rear axle with aluminum third member, 35-spline spool, 35-spline axles and 4.10 gear set
- Lightweight, COPO-specific racing wheels
- 29x9-inch rear radial racing slicks and 4.5x28x15-inch front tires
- Manual steering system
- Strange Engineering lightweight racing brakes system with standard line lock.

The interior is all business, with most sound deadening and power accessories deleted. Instead, there is pair of racing bucket seats (and no rear seat), a safety harness for the driver, a competition floor shifter and Chevrolet Performance gauges by Auto Meter.

Racing enthusiasts who are interested in more information can go to www.gmperformanceparts.com to sign up for COPO Camaro concept updates.

[Jeff Kempton]

Here's a video of it at the PRI show that gives more info:

[Jeff Kempton]

A GM video from the initial track testing at Bradington. The lazy launch shows me that there's lot's left! Hopefully they'll build it.