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Written by Patrick Rall
General Motors announced that the 2017 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 is coming and it will be powered by the same LT4 V8 that motivates the C7 Corvette Z06 making it the most powerful production Camaro of all time with estimated power figures of 640 horsepower and 640 lb-ft of torque. Those are only "estimated" numbers right now, but with the Z06 offering 650 horsepower and 650 lb-ft of torque, I would expect to see the Camaro with slightly lower official numbers. Of course, the Camaro ZL1 may lay down just as much wheel horsepower as the Corvette, but for the sake of marketing, I expect that the 640/640 could become the official power numbers.Next up and the biggest surprise of the 2017 Camaro ZL1 is the optional 10-speed automatic transmission. This transmission was developed in cooperation with Ford Motor Company and it was part of the same program as the 10-speed automatic transmission in the 2017 Ford SVT Raptor F-150, with the ZL1 being the first of several cars to get the 10-speed gearbox in the next two years. However, the 2017 Camaro ZL1 will come with a unique version of the 10-speed which has been geared for optimal performance. This new transmission has allowed the engineers to gear the car very aggressively, while the short distances between the gears leading to lightning quick shifts and very little drop in RPM from gear to gear.The 2017 Camaro ZL1 is also offered with a 6-speed manual transmission, but I am betting that the models with the 10-speed gearbox will prove to be the quickest and the best performing overall.Next up, the 2017 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 features the newest version of the Magnetic Ride suspension system with the most track-focused tuning, the Performance Traction Management system with Custom Launch Control for the drag strip, an electronic limited-slip differential and Drive Mode Selector. This total system should make the ZL1 at least the second-best handling Camaro of all time, with the 5th gen Z/28 providing the cornering competition. However, the new Brembo front braking system with two piece, 15.35 inch rotors under 6-piston monoblock calipers could help the ZL1 stop quicker than the old Z/28 aided by the fact that this new ZL1 is promised to be around 200 lbs lighter than the previous generation.Helping the 2017 Camaro ZL1 get off of the line and grip the corners is a set of Goodyear Eagle F1 Supercar tires (285/30ZR20 front, 305/30ZR20 rear) wrapped around lightweight forged aluminum wheels tucked into the unique flared front and rear fenders."The design supports the Camaro ZL1"s exceptional performance and does so with compelling style," said John Mack, Camaro exterior design manager. "From every angle, the elements coalesce to give the car a purposeful, super aggressive attitude."Up front, the 2017 Camaro ZL1 wears the boldest and most aggressive 6th gen front end with a huge lower grille opening flanked by large cooling ducts and lined by a very prominent chin spoiler that extends well out in front of the fascia. The next generation Chevy "Flowtie" badge is mounted in the slim upper grille and the unique hood with a central heat vent and an exposed carbon fiber section looks fantastic behind the menacing front end.The driver-focused interior of the Camaro ZL1 features standard Recaro front seats, along with a sueded flat-bottom steering wheel and shift knob. Chevrolet"s Performance Data Recorder is available, and allows drivers to record, share and analyze driving experiences on and off the track.
Date written: March 16, 2016
More of this article on the LS1 Tech website
ID: 2590
General Motors announced that the 2017 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 is coming and it will be powered by the same LT4 V8 that motivates the C7 Corvette Z06 making it the most powerful production Camaro of all time with estimated power figures of 640 horsepower and 640 lb-ft of torque. Those are only "estimated" numbers right now, but with the Z06 offering 650 horsepower and 650 lb-ft of torque, I would expect to see the Camaro with slightly lower official numbers. Of course, the Camaro ZL1 may lay down just as much wheel horsepower as the Corvette, but for the sake of marketing, I expect that the 640/640 could become the official power numbers.Next up and the biggest surprise of the 2017 Camaro ZL1 is the optional 10-speed automatic transmission. This transmission was developed in cooperation with Ford Motor Company and it was part of the same program as the 10-speed automatic transmission in the 2017 Ford SVT Raptor F-150, with the ZL1 being the first of several cars to get the 10-speed gearbox in the next two years. However, the 2017 Camaro ZL1 will come with a unique version of the 10-speed which has been geared for optimal performance. This new transmission has allowed the engineers to gear the car very aggressively, while the short distances between the gears leading to lightning quick shifts and very little drop in RPM from gear to gear.The 2017 Camaro ZL1 is also offered with a 6-speed manual transmission, but I am betting that the models with the 10-speed gearbox will prove to be the quickest and the best performing overall.Next up, the 2017 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 features the newest version of the Magnetic Ride suspension system with the most track-focused tuning, the Performance Traction Management system with Custom Launch Control for the drag strip, an electronic limited-slip differential and Drive Mode Selector. This total system should make the ZL1 at least the second-best handling Camaro of all time, with the 5th gen Z/28 providing the cornering competition. However, the new Brembo front braking system with two piece, 15.35 inch rotors under 6-piston monoblock calipers could help the ZL1 stop quicker than the old Z/28 aided by the fact that this new ZL1 is promised to be around 200 lbs lighter than the previous generation.Helping the 2017 Camaro ZL1 get off of the line and grip the corners is a set of Goodyear Eagle F1 Supercar tires (285/30ZR20 front, 305/30ZR20 rear) wrapped around lightweight forged aluminum wheels tucked into the unique flared front and rear fenders."The design supports the Camaro ZL1"s exceptional performance and does so with compelling style," said John Mack, Camaro exterior design manager. "From every angle, the elements coalesce to give the car a purposeful, super aggressive attitude."Up front, the 2017 Camaro ZL1 wears the boldest and most aggressive 6th gen front end with a huge lower grille opening flanked by large cooling ducts and lined by a very prominent chin spoiler that extends well out in front of the fascia. The next generation Chevy "Flowtie" badge is mounted in the slim upper grille and the unique hood with a central heat vent and an exposed carbon fiber section looks fantastic behind the menacing front end.The driver-focused interior of the Camaro ZL1 features standard Recaro front seats, along with a sueded flat-bottom steering wheel and shift knob. Chevrolet"s Performance Data Recorder is available, and allows drivers to record, share and analyze driving experiences on and off the track.
Date written: March 16, 2016
More of this article on the LS1 Tech website
ID: 2590
