RE: On Video: Hardcore Camaro ZL1

RE: On Video: Hardcore Camaro ZL1

Monday 1st August 2011

On Video: Hardcore Camaro ZL1

Chevrolet chief engineer talks through the new beefed-up Camaro



"It's the most technologically advanced and powerful Camaro we've ever done." These are the words of Chief Engineer Al Oppenheiser, who took a few moments out to describe the new super-hot Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 (the car that has reportedly encouraged Dodge to bolt on a supercharger to its Challenger and Charger models, and which is due out early next year).

Although the headline figure is a bhp output 'in excess' of 550 (some rumours tell of nearer 570), the ZL1 isn't just a beefed-up engine (although with a supercharged 6.2-litre V8, there is an element of that); almost a third of components have been redesigned over the regular Camaro SS.

The most obvious changes are a new front splitter, a taller, lower grille, bonnet louvres on its carbon fibre 'mohawk' bonnet bulge, and a new rear spoiler and diffuser.

Beneath that bodywork are 285 35 R20s tyres on the front, 305 35 R20s, as well as six-piston calipers to bite down on the front brake discs and four-pot jobs at the rear.

Inside, Chevrolet adds suede to the seats, steering wheel and gear lever, while magnetic ride control developed from the system on the Corvette, helps out the handling.

"You get inside this awesome-designed car, and you're going to be a winner at the end of the day," says Oppenheiser. We couldn't have put it more enthusiastically ourselves...

 

Author
Discussion

P4ROT

Original Poster:

1,219 posts

192 months

Monday 1st August 2011
quotequote all
Surprisingly good looking! 9/10

Hellbound

2,500 posts

175 months

Monday 1st August 2011
quotequote all
Erm...where's the video? nerd

Stu R

21,410 posts

214 months

Monday 1st August 2011
quotequote all
I like it a hell of a lot. cool

jbi

12,668 posts

203 months

Monday 1st August 2011
quotequote all
nice... love the term "awesome-designed" hehe

Riggers

1,859 posts

177 months

Monday 1st August 2011
quotequote all
Hellbound said:
Erm...where's the video? nerd
Currently in my head. When I paste it into the story, it will actually be there... (sorry - can I use Monday morning as an excuse??)

getmecoat

Hellbound

2,500 posts

175 months

Monday 1st August 2011
quotequote all
Riggers said:
Hellbound said:
Erm...where's the video? nerd
Currently in my head. When I paste it into the story, it will actually be there... (sorry - can I use Monday morning as an excuse??)

getmecoat
Of course you can, so long as you tell me how you managed to get a video from your head onto the internet as it seems like it could be quite lucrative scratchchin

...goes off to check if braintube.com is available

Riggers

1,859 posts

177 months

Monday 1st August 2011
quotequote all
Hellbound said:
Riggers said:
Hellbound said:
Erm...where's the video? nerd
Currently in my head. When I paste it into the story, it will actually be there... (sorry - can I use Monday morning as an excuse??)

getmecoat
Of course you can, so long as you tell me how you managed to get a video from your head onto the internet as it seems like it could be quite lucrative scratchchin

...goes off to check if braintube.com is available
Ha! Yes, I should go on Dragons' Den with an idea like that... smile

car95

413 posts

191 months

Monday 1st August 2011
quotequote all
Yes please.

scholesy

143 posts

161 months

Monday 1st August 2011
quotequote all
Looks good, and I imagine will go well, aside from all the mandatory "it's a crap yank tank" comments, this sort of thing is what PH is all about, and it's why I come here every day for my dose of madness in a world full of prius and micras!

Ali_T

3,379 posts

256 months

Monday 1st August 2011
quotequote all
Hopefully some of the chassis improvements make i into the SS that's coming here.

clarki

1,312 posts

218 months

Monday 1st August 2011
quotequote all
So keen are they to keep developing this car...

...it went from a ZeeL1 at the start of the video to a ZedL1 by the end!!

Nice looking none the less.

British Beef

2,191 posts

164 months

Monday 1st August 2011
quotequote all
Very nice.

Presumably here in UK we will only be able to get it as a personal import????

Or is Chevy planning on bringing some to their dealers?

V88Dicky

7,302 posts

182 months

Monday 1st August 2011
quotequote all
It's a crap Yank tank.




















biggrin

jamespink

1,218 posts

203 months

Monday 1st August 2011
quotequote all
V88Dicky said:
It's a crap Yank tank.
Dont tell me that doesn't look like fun, you can smell the rubber smoke from here! Eeee Haa!




















biggrin

stuart-b

3,643 posts

225 months

Monday 1st August 2011
quotequote all
Cricky, how high up is that handbrake? They need to adjust the rear drums... tongue out

soad

32,829 posts

175 months

Monday 1st August 2011
quotequote all
One mean brute! I'll happily take one driving

cathalm

606 posts

243 months

Monday 1st August 2011
quotequote all



Recently did 650 miles in a day in a Camaro SS, out to the Grand Canyon from Vegas. It's a bit of a tank and has hilariously wooly controls all round, but it's an occasion to drive and looks the business. I would say though that it was comfortably outpaced by a Challenger Hemi with less power due to to the enormous weight of the thing. So this new one looks like great fun to me but will probably be less quick than the new Challengers/Chargers/Mustangs. If I had to spend awhile in the US for work I'd probably buy a Challenger, surprisingly good quality inside which is not something you can say about the Camaro or Mustang.

qube_TA

8,402 posts

244 months

Monday 1st August 2011
quotequote all
Would love one, completely stupid but exactly what I'd want.


Fastra

4,277 posts

208 months

Monday 1st August 2011
quotequote all
Wonder how much though?

Walk past this every day, which is up for £32k, so would we reckon £45k for the ZL1?
My son (12) wants me to get so we can play at being Transformers biggrin


Stu R

21,410 posts

214 months

Monday 1st August 2011
quotequote all
Fastra said:
Wonder how much though?

Walk past this every day, which is up for £32k, so would we reckon £45k for the ZL1?
If you're buying retail in the US and importing it, 45-50k OTR would be a fair bet I reckon. They're not going to be far shy of 50k USD OTR, so £35k or thereabouts. Shipping, handling, VAT, and duty puts you comfortably into the 40's, bit more to get it registered and all that jazz.