With a firm belief that there’s no substitute for cubic inches or supercharging, New Jersey tuner Yenko has developed its own 6,8-litre V8 engine for the recently revealed Chevrolet Camaro SS. Based on the car’s stock 6,2-litre V8, this custom-built engine can be specified with either Stage 1 or 2 modifications, both of which imbue the already formidable muscle car with some serious firepower.

Stage 1 sees the addition of a high-output supercharger, forged aluminium pistons and upgrades to the fuel injection system bump the car’s power output up to 623 kW (that’s 283 kW more than the Camaro SS it is based on). To cope with this additional grunt, Yenko offers a heavy-duty transmission on the options list. But if this isn’t quite enough power for you, then an even wilder upgrade is available. Cue the Stage 2 modification.

Here the supercharger’s displacement grows by 20%, contributing to 25% more boost than the Stage 1 modification. The result is a whopping 745 kW channelled to the rear wheels via a six-speed manual ‘box. A custom-built stainless steel exhaust system is also included in this manual transmission-only upgrade.

Both of these models feature carbon fibre bonnets, an array of Yenko badges and decals, and ride on 20-inch torque-thrust-styled wheels wrapped in Michelin PS4S performance rubber ( 295/30 up-front and 305/30 at the rear). Inside, the front occupants are held in place by heavily bolstered Recaro seats.

The Stage 1 and Stage 2 Yenko Camaro will be limited to just 25 units apiece and will only be available in the USA and Canada. Interestingly enough, owing to California’s strict emission regulations, it’s illegal to drive the Yenko Camaro on the road but trailering it to a racetrack and unleashing all those horses is absolutely fine…

Author: Marius Boonzaier