What's the biggest challenge facing the new, sixth-gen Camaro-based Z/28? That's right, the Ford Mustang Shelby GT350R. Now, if the history of the automobile has taught us anything, it's that since the Shelby has 526 horsepower, the Camaro Z/28 has to have more. Has to! How much more? Not a crazy, insane amount, just more. I'm thinking somewhere between 540-565 horsepower would do the trick, and still leave plenty of room between the supercharged, 640 hp ZL1 Camaro and the Z/28.

Now, we know that the upcoming Z/28 has a naturally aspirated engine. Check out and listen to all the videos out there—do you hear the telltale supercharger whine? Me neither. Next, think about the LT1 that's found in both the Camaro SS and Corvette. That 6.2-liter V-8 produces 455 hp, or 460 hp in Stingray tune. Could the General Motors engine boffins get that mill to punch out another 100 or so ponies? Sure, but…

The Z/28 has to have a "special" engine. The last one did—remember the LS7, that amazing 7.0-liter lump of small block awesomeness that is a first-ballot inductee into the Engine Hall of Fame? Well, it would be if such a hall of fame existed. Anyhow, we all know about the Shelby's special engine, the butt-kickin' 5.2-liter flat-plane crank V-8. Chevrolet would be crazy not to pack something extra groovy under the Z/28's vented hood.

See all 22 photos

See all 22 photos

We also know that GM people love the 7.0-liter. Anecdotally speaking, some extremely senior people (wink wink) have told me that the LS7 is a collective favorite. Let's not forget that the LS7 is still in production. You can buy it for $16,503 right now on www.chevrolet.com. Sources inside Chevrolet have also told us that the 7.0-liter will appear in another future Chevy product. Could that be Corvette? Maybe. But since the Z06 already has the LT4 it would be odd to slot in a model below it. The Z/28 definitely makes the most sense.

If I were a betting man—and I am—I'd wager that the 7.0-liter in the Z/28 will be called the LT7. I didn't exactly need a roadmap to figure that one out, I know. The bump in power from the previous Z/28's 505 hp to our guesstimated 540-565 hp will most likely come from the adoption of direct-injection, revised cylinder heads, a more lumpen cam—basically all the stuff that changed from the LS3 to the LT1. There's another 50 horsepower right there, easy.

Has team Camaro confirmed any of this? Absolutely not. That said, what else could be powering the insane looking Z/28? Seven liters baby, you heard it here first.