camaro z28
The 2014 Camaro Z28 laps the Nurburgring in just 7:37.47. Your move, Porsche. Chevrolet

Think Porsche 911 GT3 when you think about the 2014 Chevrolet Camaro Z28. The Camaro isn't just a stripped out track car, it's old school in its approach: air conditioning is optional and the sound system only has one speaker to play warning chimes. That's it. We didn't think Chevrolet would have ever offered a car like the Z28 in 2013. We didn't think it would be faster than a Porsche '991' 911 around the Nurburgring either. We couldn't be happier to be wrong!

Last month, a 2014 Corvette Stingray and a Camaro Z28 were caught doing Europe testing at the Nurburgring. Times weren't immediately posted but it has now been revealed that the 2014 Camaro Z28 lapped the Nurburgring in just 7 minutes 37.47 seconds. You read that time correctly: a from-the-factory Camaro is now faster than the new Porsche 911 S (7:39.9) and the Lexus LFA (7:38). In fact, the Camaro's closest rival, the Ford Mustang, doesn't even have an official lap time posted at the Nordschliefe.

There are two crucial factors in speed: power and control. In terms of power, the 2014 Camaro Z28 is armed with a 7.0 liter LS7 V8 engine, producing 500-hp and 470 lb.-ft. of torque. The naturally aspirated engine is a cast-aluminum block that boasts an incredible 11.0:1 compression ratio. Forged crankshaft, high-lift camshaft, hydroformed exhaust headers, CNC-ported aluminum cylinder heads, titanium intake valves and connecting rods, sodium-filled exhaust valves, ensures that no corners were cut in the pursuit of performance.

It would be a shame if all that power was burdened by extra heft. Thankfully, the Camaro Z28 is a staggering 300 pounds lighter than the range-topping Camaro ZL1. The rear seats now use lighter, thinner foam to save an extra 42 pounds. Manually adjusted Recaro seats in the front eliminate electric motors. Sound isolation has been removed, as has the carpeting in the trunk.

Not only did Chevrolet address performance and mass, the Z28 has a high-end suspension as well. The 2014 Camaro Z28 is one of the first production vehicles to feature spool-valve dampers. The million-dollar Aston Martin One-77 is the first production car to offer the technology. The new damper not only allows for compression and rebound, but to tune for high speeds and low speeds as well. The benefit of the spool-valve dampers allow for increased stiffness without compromising ride quality. All together, the Camaro Z28 is capable of cornering forces of 1.05 G right out of the box.

Let's get to it. Watch the Nurburgring lap from inside the 2014 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 below: