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Camaro Z/28 Performance Traction Management Creates “Flying Car”

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We might not quite live in the same world as George and Jane Jetson, but we’re getting closer all the time. Chevy has just announced its Camaro Z/28 Performance Traction Management (PTM) system that, if only for a second, creates a “flying car.”

Camaro Z/28 Performance Traction Management

Camaro Z/28 Performance Traction Management on the Road

This system, which is only available for track use, creates faster lap times by maintaining full power for the Camaro—even if the tires lose contact with the track for a short amount of time (hence the “flying car” buzz). The driver activates the PTM system via a button in the center console, allowing for the system to integrate the chassis mode selection and the Traction Control and Active Handling Systems.

Camaro Z/28 vehicle performance engineer, Bill Wise, explained, “PTM uses torque, lateral acceleration and rear-axle wheel slip to define the amount of traction control required, but when the car clears a rise on the track, it normally wants to decrease torque to increase traction.”

He went on, “The unique logic in the system uses the ride-height sensors to determine the reduction in force on the tires that’s unique to track driving and allows the car to continue with uninterrupted momentum and, ultimately, a better lap time.”

It was with the PTM system that the Camaro Z/28 was able to obtain its impressive 7:37 lap time at Nürburgring, beating out the Porsche 911 Carrera S and the Lamborghini Murcielago LP640. The Camaro Z/28 Performance Traction Management technology actually came into play during a rise in the Flugplatz section of the infamous track.

The Camaro Z/28 PTM features five performance levels; each level is geared toward specific driving conditions. It is in Mode 5 that the “flying car” logic is at its most effective, although it can be used in all five modes.

Powered by a 7.0-liter LS7 engine (good for 505 hp and 481 lb-ft of torque), the Camaro Z/28 is currently the fastest Camaro ever put to the test.