Sunday 20th March 2016

New Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 announced

Of course it's not for the UK, but it does have 640hp and a six-speed manual...

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"The Camaro ZL1 is designed to excel at everything". That's the opinion of Mark Reuss, Chevrolet's executive vice pres of Global Product Development. Just in case there was any doubt American confidence was back...

New grille lets more air in. Possibly more wildlife too

This latest ZL1 is based on the sixth-gen Camaro PH drove (and rather liked) last year. Marking it out from the standard V8 and the 1LE are a new grille that lets more air in, a bit of carbon on the bonnet, a "wing-style rear spoiler" and wider front wings; all of this was devised through over 100 hours of wind tunnel testing and track development. Predictably enough it's not shy, the front in particular brooding with intent. Look at that grille!

Behind that grille and under the carbon is the supercharged LT4 6.2-litre V8, making 640hp and 640lb ft. Should be sufficient, the numbers representing useful gains of 60hp and 80lb ft up on the already-pretty-potent old ZL1. Plus the new car is 90kg lighter...

As standard there's a six speed manual, but Chevrolet will also introduce a 10-speed (!) automatic as an option on the ZL1. It's the first application of this gearbox ahead of eight new models receiving it by the end of 2018. Chevrolet promises "lightning-quick responses" both up and down the 'box.

Getting all that power to the road (remember when the Lamborghini Murcielago had power upped to 640hp?) are four Goodyear Eagle F1 Supercar tyres, 285/30 ZR20 at the front and 305/30 ZR20 behind. The front Brembo brakes are 390mm diameter with six-piston calipers.

Manual for the purists; 10-speed auto also offered

Like many other modern performance Chevrolets, the Camaro ZL1 comes with the Driver Mode Selector, tweaking parameters such as the throttle response, traction control, steering, the limited-slip diff and the magnetic ride. On the latter, Chevrolet has updated the damping once more, that man Reuss saying the car has "perfect damping and isolation for optimal performance and driver confidence in virtually any situation".

Given how well received the standard Camaro has been, plus Chevrolet's recent success with cars like the Corvette Z06, we'd bank on the ZL1 being pretty damn good. It would surely make for a breathtaking track test with a Mustang GT350 as well, at least until the next Z/28 comes along. Oh to be an American track day enthusiast (!). Until that happens, you'll just have to hope a few ZL1s are imported again.

[Gorbyrev]

Yes please! That looks absolutely gorgeous and my kind of spec too.

[Gorbyrev]

GroundEffect said:

Gorbyrev said:

Yes please! That looks absolutely gorgeous and my kind of spec too.

?!

That's the ugliest car I've seen all year.

One man's fish is another man's poisson and all that but really? In a year that is spawning Bentley Bentaygas and Abarth 500x's is the ZL1 the pinnacle of ugliness thus far?