SEMA 2015: Chevrolet Performance Unveils Gen Six 2016 COPO Camaro

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Chevrolet unveiled the first Gen Six COPO Camaro on Monday evening at a special press event ahead of the opening of the annual SEMA Show in Las Vegas, where more than 20 of the company’s upcoming concept and production vehicles were unveiled to the media. NHRA Funny Car driver Courtney Force, who collaborated with Chevrolet designers at the COPO build center to create the special edition vehicle, assisted in introducing the vehicle that bears her name at the world’s largest speciality automotive event

IMG_3290The special-edition COPO will be auctioned at Barrett-Jackson next spring, with all of the proceeds going to the United Way.

What will follow are 69 limited-edition units that will be built and made available to the public for NHRA Super Stock and Stock Eliminator competition next year.

“With the new Gen Six Camaro as its foundation, the 2016 COPO Camaro begins the next chapter of an historic racing legacy,” said Jim Campbell, Chevrolet U.S. vice president of Performance Vehicles and Motorsports. “It’s great to have Courtney Force on Team Chevy and to work with her on the design of the new COPO Camaro show car. Most important, her effort will help raise money for a great cause.”

The Gen Six COPO is 133 pounds lighter than the current-generation race car, and through the use of extensive computer-aided engineering, the structural rigidity of the chassis is said to be a full 28 percent stronger than its predecessors.

The Camaro at SEMA features a Red Hot exterior with Courtney Force graphics down its flanks and a red-accented grille trim. Underneath the carbon fiber hood is a 350 cubic-inch motor with a 2.9-liter Whipple supercharger. Chevrolet added lightweight bucket seats personalized with the COPO logo and Courtney Force’s signature to complete the look.

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“I was extremely honored to work with Chevrolet and help design the 2016 COPO Camaro we unveiled today at the SEMA show,” said Courtney Force. “The bright red color and the signature slash marks towards the back on the car bring a part of my Traxxas Chevrolet Camaro Funny Car to the COPO Camaro, which I think is really cool. The proceeds from this car will go to a great cause and benefit the United Way Foundation, so it’s an awesome project all around.”

Team Chevy NHRA Funny Car driver Courtney Force assisted Chevrolet designers in creating the special-edition COPO Camaro that bears her name. The car, which will be auctioned at Barrett-Jackson next spring, has signature graphics down its sides and signature lightweight bucket seats.

Chevrolet will offer three different supercharged and naturally-aspirated engine combinations based on its LS and LT family of powerplants. These will include a supercharged 350 (5.7-liter), a naturally-aspirated 427 (7.0-liter), and a brand new LT-based 376 (6.2-liter). The only available transmission from the factory will be a race-prepped Turbo 400 three-speed automatic.

The 350 cubic-inch engine with a 2.9L Whipple supercharger is one of three engine packages that will be available on the Gen Six 2016 COPO Camaro.

The 350 cubic-inch engine with a 2.9-liter Whipple supercharger is one of three engine packages that will be available on the Gen Six 2016 COPO Camaro.

Details include:

  • Lightweight, adjustable strut-type front suspension
  • Four-link rear suspension with adjustable coil-overs, Panhard bar and stabilizer bar
  • Rear axle with an aluminum center section featuring a spool-type differential and 40-spline gun-drilled axle shafts
  • Lightweight, racing-type four-wheel disc brakes (un-assisted)
  • Un-assisted rack-and-pinion steering system
  • Fuel cell with built-in high-pressure fuel pump
  • Unique racing wire harness

Racers interested in purchasing one of the 69 limited 2016 COPO Camaros can do so by first registering at chevrolet.com/performance/copo-camaro. An independent third-party will then randomly select purchasers from the pool of interested customers.

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About the author

Andrew Wolf

Andrew has been involved in motorsports from a very young age. Over the years, he has photographed several major auto racing events, sports, news journalism, portraiture, and everything in between. After working with the Power Automedia staff for some time on a freelance basis, Andrew joined the team in 2010.
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