Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 Mule Passes 'Jalopnik Test' on Nurburgring (Video)
A wing and aero kit really can make a vehicle fly.
The Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 prototype heating up the Nurburgring had all the go-fast bits, but it was a rear brake lockup that caused this test driver to do his best impression of Patrick George.
Bowtie fans have wiped saliva off their keyboards ever since the thinly disguised, next-generation Z/28 showed up at the German track earlier this week. Don’t worry, when the model finally hits showrooms, anti-lock brakes are sure to be on the standard features list.
Yesterday’s accident occurred as the Camaro powered through a pretty routine turn. After exiting the inside of the turn, the vehicle’s driver’s side wheels approach the grass and the brakes are applied.
Instant rear-wheel lockup ensues, pushing the tail out and lining the Camaro up for a date with the wall. Front lockup follows, and Bowtie and Armco consummate their relationship. After the crunch, the Camaro performs the limp of shame back over to the grass.
Photos taken after the crash show damage to the front passenger side, but not as much as you’d expect from the altitude the vehicle attained during the kiss.
Expect the range-topping Camaro to use the beastly supercharged 6.2-liter V8 from the already hot ZL1. That mill cranks out 640 horsepower and 640 pound-feet of torque.
More by Steph Willems
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I'm in the camp that says something either broke, or electronics issue. It's not a place on track where any trained/competent test driver would be on the brakes hard enough to lock up the rears in the first place, even without ABS. Do these use an e-diff type setup? wonder if it locked/broke or got a signal in error causing that type of lockup. I know things go bad in a hurry, and driver error with ABS switched off is certainly possible.
Anyone else notice that there are at least two cars in the video (or at least two license plates)?