What Is The Camaro Z/28 Flying Car Mode?

2015 chevy camaro

The Camaro Z/28 is essentially a road legal track car powered by a normally aspirated 7.0l LS7 V8 that puts out 505 horsepower. The car also features Brembo carbon ceramic brakes and lightweight parts like an ultra thin rear window and stripped down rear seat, making the Z/28 Camaro 300 pounds lighter than a ZL1. These features, plus an upgraded chassis, advanced aerodynamics, and sticky Pirelli Pzero Trofeo tires help keep the car stuck to the ground and enable the Z/28 to lap the Nurburgring in 7:37.47.

In order to help achieve this time, GM engineers developed the ‘flying car’ mode for the Performance Traction Management (or PTM) system. Normally, when a car leaves the ground (because of a rough surface or a slight jump after a rise) the traction control system interprets the increased wheel speed as a loss of traction, and so it cuts engine torque to recover, which can slow the car down when it lands. Developed for track use only, the PTM system in the Z/28 uses the car’s ride height sensors to detect when the wheels have left the ground, and prevents the system from decreasing torque. By maintaining full power and momentum, the system can cut several seconds off a lap of the ‘ring.