Bitchin’ COPO Camaro: Chevy to build just 69 of the drag racers for 2013

By Nick Jaynes Published March 7, 2013

2013 Chevrolet COPO Camaro — Image used with permission by copyright holder

The General Motors Central Office Production Order (COPO) allowed the order of some very special cars in the 1960s.

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Though the office was formed for fleet vehicle orders, some clever customers were able to spec out a few very specialized cars. Most notably among them was the 1969 Camaro ZL1 with an all-aluminum 427 cubic-inch V8, an engine which had been designed specifically for racing.

For 2013, Chevy is bringing the COPO Camaro back in a very limited run. Only 69 will be built. The 2013 COPO Camaros will be offered with three engines and two transmission options with a solid rear axle and gearing to match the various engine and transmission specs.

Chevy will bolt either a 350 ci V8 producing 325 horsepower, a 396 ci V8 producing 375 horsepower, or a 427 ci V8 producing 425 horsepower under the hood. Customers can opt in to help construct the engine at the assembly plant. For an extra cost, the customer can also order an extra motor that will be numbers-matched to the car, should they blow up the original powerplant. Bolted to the racing V8s will be an optional Powerglide automatic transmission or a new manual gearbox.

If this COPO Camaro program is beginning to sound like a throwback to American Pony cars of old, you’re right. Each COPO Camaro is fitted with an NHRA-approved roll cage and other safety equipment, along with racing chassis and suspension components. The classic American racecar is finished off lightweight Bogart racing wheels and Hoosier racing tires.

After 3,000 customers indicated interest in a new special run of COPO Camaros for 2013, Chevrolet has been urged to opened up the order sheets for a 2013 run of the distinctive racecars. Starting March 11^th, interested parties will be able to sign up on the Camaro Mailing List at chevroletperformance.com.

Just 69 lucky customers will be randomly chosen to participate in the program.

Don’t rush to sign up willy-nilly, though, these rare rigs start at $86,000. So if you’re not ready to plunk down some Nissan GT-R-level money for a factory-built American racecar, don’t bother.

If you do have the money in the bank, though, you could be a part of one of the most hands-on and individualized car buying experiences this year.

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Nick Jaynes is the Automotive Editor for Digital Trends. He developed a passion for writing about cars working his way…

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Jeep Compass EV breaks cover—but will it come to the U.S.?

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Jeep just pulled the wraps off the all-new Compass EV, and while it’s an exciting leap into the electric future, there's a catch—it might not make it to the U.S. anytime soon.
This is a brand new electric version of the Jeep Compass, and being built on Stellantis' STLA platform—the same architecture underpinning models like the Peugeot E-3008 and E-5008—it looks much slicker and packs a lot more inside than previous versions of the Compass.
Let’s start with what’s cool: the new Compass EV is packing up to 404 miles of range on a single charge, a 74 kWh battery, and fast-charging that gets you from 20% to 80% in about 30 minutes. Not bad for a compact SUV with Jeep's badge on the nose.
There are two versions: a front-wheel-drive model with 213 horsepower and a beefier all-wheel-drive version with 375 horsepower. That AWD setup isn’t just for looks—it can handle 20% inclines even without front traction, and comes with extra ground clearance and better off-road angles. In short, it’s still a Jeep.
The design's been refreshed too, and inside you’ll find the kind of tech and comfort you’d expect in a modern EV—sleek, smart, and ready for both city streets and dirt trails.
But here’s the thing: even though production starts soon in Italy, Jeep hasn’t said whether the Compass EV is coming to America. And the signs aren’t promising.
Plans to build it in Canada were recently put on hold, with production now delayed until at least early 2026. Some of that might have to do with possible U.S. tariffs on Canadian and Mexican vehicles—adding a layer of uncertainty to the whole rollout.
According to Kelley Blue Book, a Stellantis spokesperson confirmed that the company has “temporarily paused work on the next-generation Jeep Compass, including activities at” the Canadian plant that was originally meant to build the model. They added that Stellantis is “reassessing its product strategy in North America” to better match customer needs and demand for different powertrain options.
So while Europe and other markets are gearing up to get the Compass EV soon, American drivers might be left waiting—or miss out entirely.
That’s a shame, because on paper, this electric Jeep hits a lot of sweet spots. Let’s just hope it finds a way over here.

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Tesla just scrapped the Cybertruck range extender

Tesla CEO Elon Musk behind the wheel of a Cybertruck.

The writing was pretty much on the wall for the Cybertruck range extender last month when Tesla removed the option from its website. Now, it’s officially scrapped it and is refunding the $2,000 deposits that customers put down for the $16,000 battery pack.

“We are no longer planning to sell the range extender for Cybertruck," Tesla said in a message to customers on Wednesday, adding, "As a result, we will be refunding your deposit in full.”

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Zoox recalls robotaxis after Las Vegas crash, citing software fix

Amazon's self-driving vehicle unit, Zoox, has issued a voluntary safety recall after one of its autonomous vehicles was involved in a minor collision in Las Vegas. The incident, which occurred in April 2025, led the company to investigate and identify a software issue affecting how the robotaxi anticipates another vehicle’s path.
The recall, affecting 270 Zoox-built vehicles, was formally filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Zoox said the issue has already been addressed through a software update that was remotely deployed to its fleet.
Zoox’s robotaxis, which operate without driving controls like a steering wheel or pedals, are part of Amazon’s entry into the autonomous driving space. According to Zoox’s safety recall report, the vehicle failed to yield to oncoming traffic while making an unprotected left turn, leading to a low-speed collision with a regular passenger car. While damage was minor, the event raised flags about the system’s behavior in complex urban scenarios.
Establishing safety and reliability remain key factors in the deployment of the relatively new autonomous ride-hailing technology. Alphabet-owned Waymo continues to lead the sector in both safety and operational scale, with services active in multiple cities including Phoenix and San Francisco. But GM’s Cruise and Ford/VW-backed Argo AI were forced to abandon operations over the past few years.
Tesla is also expected to enter the robotaxi race with the launch of its own service in June 2025, leveraging its Full Self-Driving (FSD) software. While FSD has faced heavy regulatory scrutiny through last year, safety regulations are expected to loosen under the Trump administration.
Zoox, which Amazon acquired in 2020, says it issued the recall voluntarily as part of its commitment to safety. “It’s essential that we remain transparent about our processes and the collective decisions we make,” the company said in a statement.