It's been over a decade since Chevy offered a Z/28 version of its Camaro. But for 2014, the Bowtie brand has reengineered its muscle car to offer massive track performance, powered by the 7.0-liter LS7 small block V8 that Chevy say will deliver "at least" 500 horsepower and 470 lb-ft of torque. The ZL1's supercharged 6.2-liter block offers closer to 600 horses, so the track-focused Z/28 won't be the most powerful Camaro, but it will be around 100 pounds lighter than a standard model and 300 pounds lighter than the ZL1.

To shed weight, Chevy devised an intensive "lightweighting" program including lighter wheels, thinner rear glass, a one-speaker radio, a lighter battery, and only optional a/c. The new Camaro Z/28 also features a tweaked aero package with a massive front splitter, flared fenders, rocker extensions a unique rear spoiler and diffuser, as well as a heavily revised suspension, Brembo carbon-ceramic brakes, and a manual transmission only. Chevy claims the result is the most track-capable Camaro ever built, with initial testing revealing it is three seconds faster per lap than the ZL1, but on which track we don't know.

Inside, the Camaro Z/28 is trimmed in Octane – a unique matte-metallic finish, the ZL1's flat-bottomed steering wheel, and Recaro seats with microfiber suede inserts. With weight-loss in mind, Chevy eliminated the seat-back pass-through, and used lightweight materials in constructing the back seats, while making the front seats manually-adjustable only. Pricing has yet to be announced, but following its debut at the New York Auto Show, Chevy hopes to showcase the Z/28 at track events across the US.