Racing

2022 COPO Camaro Gets Monstrous 9.4L Big-block V8

by Guillaume Rivard
Photo: Chevrolet

Chevrolet said it had a big announcement planned for today and now we know what it meant by “big.”

The 2022 edition of the COPO Camaro, a non-street-legal car exclusively designed for drag racing, will be available with a 9.4-litre big-block V8 engine. That’s 572 cubic inches if you prefer U.S. measurements.  

The COPO 572 uses a cast-iron block with four-bolt main caps, aluminum heads, a forged steel crankshaft, forged steel connecting rods and forged aluminum pistons. It’s priced from $105,500 USD (excluding tax, title, license, and dealer fees), which is about $131,700 CAD.

Unfortunately, Chevrolet did not provide additional numbers such as output or acceleration times. That being said, the optional parachute definitely sounds like a wise idea.

Photo: Chevrolet

The 2022 COPO Camaro can also be ordered with one of two small-block engines. The supercharged 5.7-litre (350-cubic-inch) V8 is rated at 580 horsepower, while the naturally aspirated 7.0-litre (427-cubic-inch) V8 delivers 470 horsepower. Each engine is mated to an ATI Racing Products TH400 three-speed automatic transmission.

Chevrolet has built fewer than 700 units since the COPO Camaro program restarted in 2012. In past years, interested customers have entered a lottery to win an allotment for one of 69 cars (a nod to the original 1969 COPO Camaro). For 2022, however, Chevrolet will not limit production, and orders will be filled on a first come, first served basis. Buyers may also participate in a private tour of the COPO Build Facility in Oxford, Michigan, where each car is custom made.

If the Camaro is replaced by an electric sports sedan in 2024 as some rumours suggest, what will happen with the COPO Camaro? That’s a great question.

Photo: Chevrolet
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