Dodge may be having all the fun crafting race-ready versions of its Viper, but the designers and enthusiasts employed at General Motors want to remind you they�re not incapable of building some serious race machinery themselves. Witness the Chevrolet Corvette Z06X and Camaro SS X concepts: built in partnership with Pratt & Miller for the 2010 SEMA show, these two show stoppers are GM�s vision of the ultimate track machines.
It�s hard to find fault with the basic premise of a Corvette Z06, but designers simply took the best of the production car while adding features to help it �round a road course. The Z06X concept is built upon a production 2011 Z06 fitted with both the vaulted Z07 performance package and the CFZ Carbon Fiber option group.
From there, GM added a low-restriction air intake, along with a heavy-duty radiator and an improved cooling system. Engineers also tinkered with the suspension setup, adding mono-ball control arm bushings, adjustable stabilizer bars, and coil-over struts with adjustable camber plates. Brembo carbon-ceramic brake rotors are part of the stock Z07 package, but lightweight racing wheels, finished in a dark hue and capped with Michelin racing rubber, are unique to the Z06X.
That black finish ties well with the Z06X�s exterior design. Although all body parts are essentially stock, GM painted the car in a Icy White Metallic color, adding a black racing stripe and rear fascia, along with red accents. Inside, the Z06X�s interior is gutted of interior trim and insulation, allowing the installation of an SCCA-approved roll cage, fire suppression system, a racing seat for the driver, and a five-point harness. To help further strip the car of weight, the rear hatch glass has been replaced with a custom polycarbonate window.
2011 Camaro SS X Concept
Chevrolet�s Camaro SS X concept abides by the same formula applied to the Z06X, although a few extra modifications were required to help turn the bulky muscle machine into a satisfying road racer.
Outside, the SS X shares the Z06X�s design theme, sporting the same black-on-white paint scheme as its fiberglass-bodied relative. In a move to strip weight, GM replaced the hood, fenders, doors, and deck lid with panels fabricated from carbon fiber. For aerodynamic purposes, a carbon fiber front splitter, rocker panels, and adjustable rear wing were also added to the package.
Underhood, the SS X retains the Camaro�s stock 6.2-liter LS3 V-8, although it�s been massaged with a new camshaft, revised cylinder heads, and a dry-sump oil system. The six-speed transmission is stock Getrag fare, although it is fitted with a twin-disc clutch raided from the Corvette ZR1 parts bin. 20-inch wheels and racing tires are added, and are stopped courtesy of an upgraded four-wheel-brake system, which includes six-piston front calipers, four-piston rear calipers, and slotted rotors at each corner.
As is the case with the Z06X, the Camaro SS X�s interior isn�t exactly conducive for commuting. Carpeting, insulation, interior trim, and other parts � including the rear seat � have been gutted to shave weight and make room for some serious racing hardware. An SCCA-spec roll cage, window net, race seat, and five-point harness are added, along with racing pedals, a fire suppression system, and fuel cell.
Although we�d love to see the SS X enter a revived Trans-Am series, these two cars have little, if any, chance of entering production. Which bowtie show car comes closest to serving as your dream track machine?
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