Chevy’s Performance Line-Up Grows

By Sam McEachern

Seems all of a sudden, but this has been slowly creeping up on us all. We shouldn't be surprised!

With the addition of the 2015 Corvette Z06 Convertible to its stable, the Chevrolet Performance lineup grows to include 14 vehicles. These include nine variations of the Camaro, the Australian-made SS sedan and four Corvette models, with engine output ranging from a respectable 323 horsepower to the Z06’s stratospheric 625 horsepower.

“Chevrolet has been America’s best-selling performance brand for four consecutive years, due in part to the breadth of our lineup,” Mark Reuss, executive vice president of Global Product Development, said in a statement.

The Camaro variations make up the majority of the Chevrolet Performance roster. The lineup starts with the 323-horsepower V6 coupe and convertible models, which offer a good balance of performance and fuel efficiency, capable of returning up to 30 mpg on the highway. The next level up is the SS coupe and convertible, which are powered by a 423 horsepower 6.2-liter LS3 V8, followed by the ZL1 coupe and convertible, which deliver 580 horsepower from a 6.2-liter supercharged LSA V8. The race ready, limited edition COPO Camaro dragster and the track-prepped Camaro Z/28 account for the highest performance Camaro variations.

The SS sedan is the first rear-wheel drive, V8 performance sedan from the bowtie-brand since 1996. It is based on General Motors’ race-proven Zeta architecture that underpins the Camaro, and in Australia where the SS is built, the high-performance Holden VF Commodore. It also shares its LS3 V8 engine with the Camaro.

Finally, the flagship of the Chevrolet Performance lineup, the Corvette Stingray. The most awarded vehicle of 2013 comes in both convertible and coupe flavors. Both are equipped with Chevy’s all-new 455 horsepower LT1 V8 engine, which can deliver up to 17 mpg in the city and 29 mpg on the highway. These are now joined by the Z06 coupe and convertible, which makes 625 horsepower and 635 lb-ft from an all-new supercharged LT4 engine. Both variants will be offered with either a seven-speed manual or eight speed automatic transmission. The latter of those two will eventually make it onto the standard Corvette for 2015.

“For 2015, we will have the best range in our history, offering a performance car for virtually every enthusiast, from the 30-mpg Camaro LS and the COPO Camaro drag car to the 625-horsepower Corvette Z06 Convertible supercar,” Reuss concluded.

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