This Crazy 1,600-HP Camaro Isn't An EV. But It's Not All Gas, Either

It has all-wheel drive to actually use all that power. The electric assist makes for harder launches, torque-fill during shifts, and, probably, the ability to leave your neighborhood without waking up the whole town.

Race-Ready Engine Starts The Party
The V8 engine in this car is a beast. A Chevrolet R07 5.8-liter V8 with two turbochargers strapped to its exhaust. If that engine code doesn't ring a bell, it's because it's not one of GM's LS or LT production V8s.

This is a NASCAR engine. It's the 9,000-rpm monster designed for the Cup series, capable of making more than 850 horsepower before the turbos are added. With boost, the engine makes 1,300 horsepower.

Then, Blazin Rodz added its new hybrid system. The V8 is set back in the chassis far enough for the axial flux motor to live in front of it. The motor delivers around 300 horsepower to the front tires, but it's not just added to make the peak power figure higher.

According to Blazin Rodz, it can do things you expect from hybrids from the biggest supercar companies. The computer feeds in front-axle torque just before the engine drives the rear wheels for harder launches. It monitors throttle, vehicle slip, and g-force data to air corner exit traction. And it gives you regenerative braking for stopping without using the car's brakes.

The battery pack comes from UK battery builder Raeon. It's not a household name, but Raeon is the company that supplied the latest pack for Everrati's electric GT40. Blazin Rodz doesn't say how large the pack is in this car, or if it will charge from a plug or only from the engine.

The Real Thing Won't Be At The Booth
Blazin Rodz is keeping some parts of the build a secret. It described the car's suspension as "patent pending" with a mix of torsion bars, air springs, and pushrod shocks that can vary both the suspension stiffness and the ride height in real time.

The company plans to go into limited production and build a series of these Camaros, but it doesn't have a complete car at the show. It plans to have a production version ready for SEMA 2026, with an expected price tag starting from $1.6 million. You can put hybrid tech in a vintage car, but it won't come with a vintage price tag.

At the show, Blazin Rodz will have a 1:3 scale model of the hybrid Camaro. There will be a full-sized mockup of just the front end. That will show off the new suspension as well as the car's hybrid system.

The renderings of the car are as extreme as the powertrain would suggest. An almost cartoonishly low Camaro with massive wheels, a pulled-back cabin, and a wing that would make a Superbird blush. The carbon fiber panels were designed by Sean Smith, a designer who has penned cars for Ringbrothers, Kevin Hart, and did the mid-engined Charger from Fast 9.