Chevy 2013 NASCAR “Mystery Racer” Spotted

Car makers try and stay ahead of things – they’re groups of engineers, after all. Engineers never feel comfortable leaving well enough alone (as many truck drivers can attest to, unfortunately), But engineers know that staying comfortable in one place or getting too fond of the existing technologies might spell disaster on the NASCAR track. Chevrolet, one of the major car suppliers for the NASCAR teams, knows this and it is already working on the replacement car for America’s premiere racing series. It’s a new model, and it’s been spotted on the test track recently.

Chevrolet’s new NASCAR model for the Sprint Cup Series is the 2013 SS. It appears complete with a new bodywork and a redesigned chassis. According to the word on the street, the new racer will be a bit closer to the production version of the car, one which will be on the market at that time, Chevrolet says.

Chevrolet previously announced that it will replace its current Impala SS NASCAR Sprint Cup race car for the 2013 season.

Signs point to the street car possibly being based on the platform of the rear-wheel-drive Holden Commodore, which was sold here with V-6 and V-8 power as the dearly missed Pontiac G8. Chevy already plans to offer a long-wheelbase version of that vehicle for North American police duty as the Chevrolet Caprice PPV. That said, Chevrolet declined to confirm whether the new vehicle will be both rear-wheel drive on the track and street.

According to the company, both race and production versions will be officially unveiled in the coming year. As for the engine to be used in the vehicle, Chevrolet will try and follow the footsteps of the sports sanctioning body, but has the option of biofuel and fuel injection remain open for the design, (and a first for NASCAR).

One potential snag for Chevy racing teams is that current 2012 NASCAR rules state that races are only “open to eligible 2012 models of American-made steel bodied passenger car production sedans.” However – not all current manufactured cars are strictly made in America, the Dodge Charger in particular, being built in Ontario, Canada.

Pemberton indicates that this won’t be an issue for the 2013 Sprint Cup, however.

“At least it is an American company that happens to build things in other countries,” Pemberton said, “and it fits the criteria that we have right now.

“It’s a global economy nowadays. Things come from everywhere.”