The 2014 Chevrolet Camaro gets updates to keep it ahead of the competition.

It was supposed to be the shining moment for the 2014 Chevrolet Camaro, but the mainstream version of the Detroit pony car was upstaged by this week’s unexpected revival of the track-ready Z28.

While the Z28 will certainly place a spotlight on the broader Camaro range, it’s almost a bit disappointing that the “regular” version had to slip from the spotlight because the tweaks it is getting for 2014 are aimed at helping Camaro maintain the upper hand in the fierce and ongoing battle with its long-time competitor, the Ford Mustang.

The 2014 re-skin is modest enough that those not familiar with the current Chevrolet Camaro might not even realize what’s changed. But for aficionados, the update is significant.

The Camaro line-up's taillights get a significant makeover for 2014.

Take the grille; on the outgoing model, it’s larger on top. But that’s been “flip-flopped,” says Camaro design chief Tom Peters, “because it’s more efficient to bring in air from the bottom.”

In back, meanwhile, the taillights are now almost razor thin. That’s perhaps the biggest surprise because the old car’s rear lighting was a signature feature, even influencing the design of the new C7 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray.

The “regular” Chevy Camaro, incidentally, has front LED accent lights and rear LED taillamps. Surprisingly, the engineering team opted for old-fashioned incandescent bulbs on the Z28 to save weight.

(The NY Auto Show’s Big Surprise: the Return of the Z28 Camaro. Click Here for that story.)

There are a variety of changes that are model-specific, like the functional head scoop shared by the 2014 Camaro SS and the Z28.

Inside, look for the new full-color driver information center and optional color head-up display. Chevy has also been tweaking its infotainment system.

The drivetrain packages are all carryover in the V-6 and SS models.

Pricing is expected to come in close to the current 2013 Chevrolet Camaro line, which starts at $24,245 including destination.

Could Chevy have done more? Perhaps, but it appears to be taking the position that it needs only a few tweaks to maintain its sales lead over Mustang, now coming to the end of its long life. But isn’t ready to surrender and just began a year-long campaign building towards the 50^th anniversary of the original Mustang launch in April 1964. That is widely expected to cap off with the debut of the next-gen Ford pony car. We’ll have to stay tuned to see if that model proves the game-changer.