Usually, when someone hears the word COPO a long history burnt fuel and loud engines come to mind. Chevrolet is about to throw a wrench in all that. Fifty years after the first COPO Camaro’s hit the streets, Chevrolet’s eCOPO Camaro Concept presents an electrified version of drag racing. General Motors along with electric racing team Hancock and Lane Racing developed the eCOPO concept race car.
The eCOPO – which is based on the 2019 COPO Camaro – has a fully electric motor pumping out the equivalent of 700 hp and 600 lb-ft of torque. Chevrolet estiamtes that the eCOPO can hit the quarter mile in the 9-second range.
“The eCOPO Concept is all about where we go in the future with electrification in the high-performance space,” said Russ O’Blenes, director, Performance Variants, Parts and Motorsports at General Motors. “The original COPO Camaro program was all about pushing the envelope, and this concept is an exploration with the very same spirit.”
“This project exemplifies Chevrolet and General Motors’ commitment to engaging young minds in STEM education,” said O’Blenes. “It also represents our goal of a world with zero emissions, with the next generation of engineers and scientists who will help us get there.”
The motor powering the eCOPO is based on a pair of BorgWarner HVH 250-150 motor assemblies, each generating 300 lb-ft of torque, completely replacing the gas engine. Helping put the power to the ground is a conventional racing-prepared “Turbo 400” automatic transmission that channels the motor’s torque to the same solid rear axle used in the production COPO Camaro race cars.
No thanks ! I go to the drags to see the engines and hear the deafening roar. Nothing will top a loud, shaking car and the glorious smell of fuel!
That is so cool. I am 60 years old and have been a part of many different aspects of our wonderful sport. Our children,as well as there’s need to understand the importance of saving our way of life and since technology has become a way of life for them. Change becomes much easier and believable to them.They see how fast things are advancing and need to grasp alternative ways to enjoy this beautiful earth and way of life.
SSSSSSHHHHHHAAAA I CAN’T HEAR THE MOTOR