Tuesday 25th October 2016

Camaro ZL1 at the 'ring: Time for Coffee?

Sub 7:30 for the latest mega Camaro, and an amazingly serene video with it

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If it was ever possible to make a 650hp muscle car lapping the Nurburgring in less than 7min 30sec look calm, Chevrolet may well have done it. A video has been released of its new Camaro ZL1 setting a 7:29.60 lap, a time which typically involves lots of arm flailing, last ditch gearchanges and praying. Yet this doesn't.

First point of note is the transmission; this ZL1 is fitted with Chevy's new 10-speed 10R90 automatic, rather than the six-speed manual. The amount of ratios is interesting, but it's also worth discussing the 'Performance Algorithm Shift' calibration. This is an automatic mode for track, "providing optimal gear selection without the need to manually select gears". Even with so many ratios, it appears to work very well. Means hands can be kept on the wheel at least...

It hasn't escaped Chevrolet's attention how composed the ZL1 is either. Driver Drew Cattell attributes it to the "Magnetic Ride and great overall chassis balance", but the Camaro flagship also comes with Goodyear Eagle F1 Supercar 3 tyres, 390mm front Brembo discs and aero work to reduce lift. Plus there's the small matter of 650hp and 650lb ft. May not keep things calm, but useful for a fast lap!

And to think this isn't even the track focused Camaro, that title falling to the next Z/28. What on earth is that going to be? Bring it on!

Watch the video here.

Watch the M4 GTS video (a useful comparison as it's one second quicker) here.

[Vroom101]

If you watch the rev counter during the lap, you can see it's always near the red-line, so always close to making full power. Even when it drops down a gear it's not far off. I suppose that's the advantage of having ten ratios.