5 Things You Need To Know About The New Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

The sixth-generation has spawned its highly anticipated ZL1 track monster. Here are all the key things you need to know....
5 Things You Need To Know About The New Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

More power, less weight

5 Things You Need To Know About The New Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

As with the previous ZL1, the new car is powered by a General Motors LT4 6.2-litre supercharged V8. This time though, it’s a lot pokier, with 631bhp and 640lb ft available - up from 572bhp and 556lb ft.

It’s also 90kg lighter than the old car, and while there are no performance stats just yet, expect the 3.8 second 0-60mph and 11.94sec quarter-mile times of the previous gen machine to tumble.

All the gears!

5 Things You Need To Know About The New Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

You can have your ZL1 with a six-speed manual gearbox, but there is the option of an automatic. A 10-speed automatic.

You can have your ZL1 one as either a manual (pictured) or an automatic
You can have your ZL1 one as either a manual (pictured) or an automatic

It’s a conventional torque converter auto with paddle shifters rather than being a dual-clutcher, and it’s a transmission we’ll be seeing a lot more of, with GM installing the many cogged ‘box in eight of its cars by 2018.

The brakes are gigantic

5 Things You Need To Know About The New Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

Sat under the ZL1’s 20-inch forged wheels are a set of massive two-piece brake rotors. Chevrolet hasn’t said how big the rear brakes are, but up front we have 390mm discs with six-piston Brembo monoblock callipers.

It's all about maximum grip

5 Things You Need To Know About The New Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

The new ZL1 picks up where its predecessor left off - continuing to smash stereotypes concerning muscle cars and corners. We have a set of adaptive magnetic dampers - controlled via a Driver Mode Selector - an electronically-controlled limited-slip differential, and something called Performance Traction Management.

To aid handling further, there’s a set of Goodyear Eagle F1 Supercar tyres developed especially for the Camaro. The bodywork does its bit too: there’s a new spoiler at the rear, a larger front splitter, wider front wings and unique side skirts.

It has a clever bonnet

5 Things You Need To Know About The New Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

The bonnet, sorry hood of the ZL1 is no ordinary hood. There’s a special carbonfibre insert and heat extractor in the middle, which should help keep the 631bhp supercharged monster under there nice and cool.

The ZL1 goes on sale later this year, for an as-yet undisclosed price.

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Comments

NJDrifter42

POWAAAAA!

03/17/2016 - 11:46 |
0 | 0
Anonymous

Looks awesome but in a drag race I think my m3 could beat it

03/17/2016 - 11:53 |
2 | 28
[Flux]

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Yeah, no. M3 E46 has way less power, less torque, less gears, less everything. No stock M3 could ever keep up.

03/17/2016 - 18:29 |
4 | 0
oce45

10 speed? Who are they marketing this to? HGV drivers?

03/17/2016 - 11:54 |
104 | 2
Anonymous

In reply to by oce45

Vin Diesel approves that camaro.

03/17/2016 - 11:57 |
354 | 0
Luke 21

In reply to by oce45

I think 10 gears is way too much, its all for fuel economy, why not a 6 SPD auto and 6 speed manual. That sounds good.

03/17/2016 - 12:02 |
24 | 6
Jordan Mellinger

In reply to by oce45

Just because it has 10 speeds in the auto doesn’t mean it has to use them all. I suspect in normal driving it would start out in 2nd gear instead of 1st and that gears 8 and 10 are overdrive. So in spirited driving it would start in 1st gear and have 1,2,3,4,5,6,7 and 9th gears at it’s disposal. That would make it a 8 speed for transmission when you push it. And that would be similar to offering for almost every company. While this is just my speculation I would be willing to bet that it’s the case, so you can gain some fuel economy in the day to day use and still have the gear ratios for when it counts.

03/17/2016 - 14:58 |
12 | 0
Anonymous

In reply to by oce45

No, Fast and the Furious movies.

03/18/2016 - 01:23 |
2 | 0
German Car Guy

‘Murica

03/17/2016 - 11:56 |
0 | 0
🇮🇩Mk7Golfer 🇦🇺

#6: It has a very large mouth

03/17/2016 - 12:02 |
12 | 0

So that more Mustangs fit into it.

03/17/2016 - 15:33 |
42 | 4
Anonymous

in awe..

03/17/2016 - 12:04 |
2 | 0
Mitko Kostadinov

I bet it’s a peterbuilt gearboc

03/17/2016 - 12:09 |
2 | 0
rally2727

Guys at GM be like, “LT4 all the car!”

03/17/2016 - 12:10 |
24 | 2

6.2 all the things

03/17/2016 - 14:33 |
14 | 0

Just like Dodge putting the hellcat engine in absolutely everything

03/17/2016 - 16:51 |
2 | 0
wild_toilet 🇧🇷 (Miata Addict)

I thought it only came in a 6 speed, turns out I’m wrong. Damn it.

03/17/2016 - 12:28 |
0 | 0
Lamborghini SV

I don’t need to know anything about any camaro. Mustang>Camaro. Ford>Chevy.

03/17/2016 - 12:31 |
6 | 20

I don’t know for sure but this new zl1 looks like it will perform better than the gt350R

03/17/2016 - 12:49 |
10 | 6

In my opinion GT350 > ZL1, SS > GT.
Don’t get me wrong though, I like where these 2 cars are heading.

03/17/2016 - 14:37 |
0 | 0

You shouldnt be commenting on a thread related to it either..

03/17/2016 - 15:24 |
2 | 0

Says you. The Camaro is lighter, more powerful, and looks like a beast.
Besides, who asked for your opinion? That’s right, no one.

03/17/2016 - 18:30 |
2 | 0