The latest Camaro has managed to top out at 202mph and average 198 mph at a German testing bowl.

• Fastest Camaro ever rips hole in the air at Germany’s Papenburg High Speed Oval

Slide over to the next lane. The Camaro ZL1 Coupe has a top speed of 198 mph (318 km/h).

Chevrolet tested the max velocity of the ZL1 (with 10-speed automatic) on the High Speed Oval at Germany’s Automotive Testing Papenburg GmBH proving ground. Compensating for wind speed, the top speed is the average achieved from running the ZL1 in both directions on the 7.6-mile (12.3 km) loop — 202.3 mph in one direction and 193.3 mph in the other direction.

“This test caps an impressive list of performance stats for the Camaro ZL1, which was designed to excel at everything,” said Al Oppenheiser, Camaro chief engineer. “It’s the most capable — and fastest —Camaro ever.”

The Papenburg testing was conducted on the ZL1’s production Goodyear Eagle F1 Supercar 3 tires with pressure set at 44 psi, the recommended setting for extended high-speed driving. The car’s only deviations from stock were mandatory safety equipment and data logging equipment.

Papenburg’s high-speed oval features 2.5-mile (4 km) straights and 1.3-mile (2.15 km) turns with 49.7-degree banking on the top lane. The steep banking allowed Chevrolet test drivers to run the ZL1 flat out around the track without lifting off the throttle in the turns.

“The ZL1 was developed with high-speed performance in mind, incorporating a balanced aerodynamic package that reduces lift without significantly affecting drag,” said Oppenheiser. “After testing the car in standard settings, which produced the 198-mph average, we set the front and rear camber adjustments to 0 degrees and the tire pressures to the maximum allowable sidewall pressure, and saw the ZL1 average over 200 mph.” 

Special aero features include a stanchion rear spoiler that offers an advantageous lift/drag ratio compared to a blade-style rear spoiler, and a patent-pending auxiliary transmission oil cooler cover that reduces front-end lift with no drag penalty. The front-to-rear aero balance was also fine-tuned for high-speed stability.

Additional performance capabilities of the ZL1 Coupe tested with the available 10-speed automatic transmission include:

• 0-60 mph in 3.5 seconds
• Quarter mile in 11.4 seconds at 127 mph
• 1.02g max cornering
• 60-0 mph braking in 107 feet (35 meters).

The 650-horsepower, supercharged LT4 engine powering the ZL1 is matched with a standard six-speed manual transmission with Active Rev Match or an available, all-new 10-speed automatic transmission. Additional features include:

• Magnetic Ride Control
• Electronic limited-slip differential (coupe only)
• 20-inch forged aluminum wheels
• Goodyear Eagle F1 Supercar 3 summer-only tires measuring 285/30ZR20 in front and 305/30ZR20 in the rear*
• Brembo brakes with six-piston Monobloc front calipers and two-piece rotors

The 2017 Camaro ZL1 starts at $63,435 for a coupe with the manual transmission (price includes $995 destination and $1,300 gas guzzler tax) and $65,830 for a coupe with the 10-speed automatic (price includes $995 destination and $2,100 gas guzzler tax). 

USA - Chevrolet today unleashed a video of the '17 Camaro ZL1 lapping the Nürburgring in a blistering 7:29.60.

Chevrolet today unleashed a time-attack video of the 2017 Camaro ZL1 lapping the Nürburgring Nordschleife in a blistering 7:29.60. The new ZL1’s lap time is 11.67 seconds quicker than the previous ZL1’s fast lap.

“To be almost 12 seconds quicker than the 5^th-Generation ZL1 is a testament to the advanced design and technology of the new ZL1,” said Al Oppenheiser, Camaro chief engineer. 

“From the improved aerodynamics, mass reduction and 650-horsepower LT4 to the Magnetic Ride Control, electronic limited-slip differential and Custom Launch Control, the ZL1 was designed to take on the world’s most challenging track, making it right at home on any track, road or drag strip anywhere.”

The only changes made to the ZL1 were the installation of data acquisition equipment, a roll hoop and Sparco racing seats with six-point harnesses. Otherwise, the car was production stock and included the following:

• 6.2-liter supercharged LT4 V-8 making 650 horsepower and 650 lb-ft of torque
• All-new 10R90 10-speed automatic transmission (set to Track mode to enable Performance Algorithm Shift calibration, providing optimal gear selection without the need to manually select gears)
• FE4 Suspension with Magnetic Ride Control
• Performance Traction Management
• Forged 20-inch wheels with Goodyear Eagle F1 Supercar 3 tires
•  Brembo brakes with front 15.4-inch rotors and six-piston calipers and rear 14.4-inch rotors and four-piston calipers
• Lift-reducing front fascia elements with cooling ducts and Chevrolet “flowtie”
• Full underbody shielding
• ZL1-specific rear spoiler and diffuser
• 11 heat exchangers

“Many fast laps around the Nordschleife are dramatic, with lots of oversteer and steering input,” said Drew Cattell, Camaro ride and handling engineer and driver of the hot lap. “Not so with the ZL1, which is extremely planted and stable, almost calm. With Magnetic Ride and great overall chassis balance, the ZL1 is all about being inch perfect at every turn and carrying a lot of speed.”

USA - Lighter, more powerful performance models put pricier competition in the rearview, that will be the new Camaro.

Lighter, more powerful performance models put pricier competition in the rearview

The 2017 ZL1, the most powerful production Camaro ever, and the track-bred 1LE are designed to deliver exhilarating performance on both the open road and the road course, at prices that leave the competition behind.

  

When they go on sale later this year, the 2017 Camaro ZL1 will be priced at $62,135 for coupe models and $69,135 for convertibles. Prices include destination charge, but not tax, title and other dealer fees. The 1LE package is a $4,500 MSRP option on Camaro V-6 LT coupe models and $6,500 on the V-8 1SS coupe model.

For LT coupes, the 1LE package features the Camaro SS’s FE3 suspension, while the 1SS benefits from the ZL1’s electronic limited-slip differential and FE4 suspension with Magnetic Ride dampers.

“The Camaro ZL1 offers supercar performance with daily-driver refinement, a combination that stacks up against any other sports coupe – at any price – around the world,” said Steve Majoros, director, Chevrolet marketing.

“Building on Chevrolet’s well-established recipe for track-focused performance, the new 1LE packages expand the performance envelope of the Camaro SS and, for the first time, the Camaro LT,” said Al Oppenheiser, Camaro chief engineer. “You’ll be hard-pressed to find more track-capable cars in their respective classes for the money.”

ZL1

• 0-60 mph in 3.5 seconds
• Quarter-mile in 11.4 seconds at 127 mph
• 1.02 g max cornering
• 60-0 mph braking in 107 feet (32 meters)
• 220-pound (100 kg) weight reduction
• 650-horsepower (485 kW) supercharged LT4 6.2L V-8 engine

*ZL1 performance numbers achieved with a coupe equipped with the available 10-speed automatic transmission and using original-equipment tires on a non-prepped surface.

1LE

• 0-60 mph in 5.2 seconds with Camaro LT 1LE
• 0-60 mph in 4.2 seconds with Camaro SS 1LE
• 0.97 g max cornering with Camaro LT 1LE
• 1.02 g max cornering with Camaro SS 1LE
• 60-0 mph braking in 112 feet (34 meters) with Camaro LT 1LE
• 60-0 mph braking in 107 feet (32 meters) with Camaro SS 1LE
• 230-pound (104 kg) weight reduction (SS 1LE to previous model)

USA - The 6th Generation Camaro ZL1 becomes a lighter more track focussed supercar.

The 2017 Camaro ZL1 is poised to challenge the most advanced sports coupes in the world in any measure – with unprecedented levels of technology, refinement, track capability and straight-line acceleration.

“The Camaro ZL1 is designed to excel at everything,” said Mark Reuss, executive vice president of Global Product Development. “It’s a 2+2 coupe offering incredible performance – acceleration, handling and braking – with the highest levels of technology and perfect chassis damping, making it suitable for everyday driving. It will compare well to any sports coupe, at any price and in any setting.”

Acceleration for the ZL1 is delivered with a new supercharged 6.2L V-8 engine estimated at 640 hp (477 kW), and either a six-speed manual transmission with active rev matching or an all-new 10-speed automatic. Handling capability starts with the lightweight, stiffer structure of the all-new sixth-Gen Camaro, married with Magnetic Ride suspension and an electronic limited-slip differential. Standard technologies include Driver Mode Selector, dual-mode exhaust and advanced connectivity features.

The Camaro ZL1 goes on sale late this year.

Designed for Performance

Functionality defines the Camaro ZL1’s form, with the exterior shaped during more than 100 hours of wind-tunnel testing and on-track validation to improve aerodynamics and cooling for track use. Accordingly, its exterior elements all play a part in managing airflow over, under and through the ZL1.

“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.”

The lower grille opening, for example, offers greater airflow compared to the Camaro SS, and the upper grille incorporates a new version of the “flow-tie” open bowtie insignia. There’s also a new hood, with a carbon fiber insert and heat extractor that pulls hot air from the engine compartment. Additional changes include a larger front splitter, unique rockers, a wing-style rear spoiler and wider front fenders – all tuned to improve aerodynamics for greater high-speed stability.

Inside, there are standard Recaro front seats, along with a sueded flat-bottom steering wheel and shift knob. Chevrolet’s Performance Data Recorder is available. 

Fast with finesse

A cohesive suite of performance technologies tailors ZL1’s performance for street and track. Features include an updated Magnetic Ride suspension, Performance Traction Management, electronic limited-slip differential, Custom Launch Control and Driver Mode Selector. It also has a stronger power-to-weight ratio than its predecessor, weighing 200 pounds less, while offering approximately 60 more horsepower and 80 more pound-feet of torque.

The result is a one-of-a-kind driving experience.

“Driving the Camaro ZL1 is best described as ‘fast with finesse,’” said Reuss. “It is beautifully balanced, with perfect damping and isolation for optimal performance and driver confidence in virtually any situation – from the Pacific Coast Highway to Willow Springs to Pomona.”

Additional chassis features include:

• Unique 20-inch forged aluminum wheels with 285/30ZR20 front and 305/30ZR20 rear tires
• Goodyear Eagle F1 Supercar tires with a compound and construction developed exclusively for the Camaro to offer exceptional grip on the track
• Brembo brakes with six-piston monobloc front calipers – featuring the ZL1 logo – and massive, 15.35-inch (390 mm) two-piece front rotors.

Supercharged performance and new 10-speed automatic

Underhood, the ZL1 features a supercharged LT4 6.2L V-8 Small Block engine, with intake and exhaust systems tailored for Camaro. It is rated at an estimated 640 horsepower (477 kW) and 640 lb-ft of torque (868 Nm).

The LT4 is backed by a standard six-speed manual transmission or all-new, available paddle-shift 10-speed automatic. The 10-speed automatic has 7.39 overall ratio for smaller steps between gears. It enables the LT4 engine to remain at optimal rpm levels during acceleration, particularly when exiting corners, for quicker laps and lightning-quick responses on both up- and down-shifts.

This is the first Chevrolet application of the new quick-shift 10-speed, with unique calibrations and hardware developed exclusively for the ZL1. By the end of 2018, GM will introduce the new 10-speed automatic in eight vehicle models.

Finally – and unlike some competitors – there’s no need to purchase an optional package to make the ZL1 track ready. Track capability comes standard, with features including an impressive 11 heat exchangers for optimal powertrain cooling.

Chevy's Camaro continues to be the coupe of choice for half a million buyers.

Production milestone caps five years as America’s best-selling performance car

Talk about a big family: Chevrolet expects to deliver the 500,000th fifth-generation Camaro in the United States this month.

The fifth-generation Camaro has been a runaway success for Chevrolet since it went on sale in August 2009. Camaro sales passed Mustang in 2010, to become America’s best-selling performance car – a title Camaro has retained for five consecutive years. In the process, the Camaro has helped build the Chevrolet family – with 63 percent of retail buyers new to GM.

“The fifth-generation Camaro has clearly resonated with both long-time Camaro fans, and first time performance-car buyers,” said Todd Christensen, Camaro marketing manager. “That sets the bar high for the next chapter of the car’s history.”

Remarkably, the Camaro continues to gain momentum, even as the fifth-generation Camaro nears the end of production this year. In 2014, Camaro total sales increased 7.1 percent for its second-best year of sales since its introduction. For the first two months of 2015, total sales are up 3.6 percent over 2014:

August through December 2009	61,648
2010 calendar year	81,299
2011 calendar year	88,249
2012 calendar year	84,391
2013 calendar year	80,567
2014 calendar year	86,297
January through February 2015	11,364
Total	493,815

In its final year for the fifth generation, the 2015 Camaro lineup offers a broad range of models that balance style, performance and efficiency:

• The 323-horsepower V-6-powered LS coupe and LT coupe and convertible – including the 2LS with an EPA-rated 30 mpg on the highway
• The Camaro SS coupe and convertible, with a 6.2L V-8 delivering up to 426 horsepower
• The road-racing-inspired Camaro 1LE performance package with unique gearing, suspension tuning and tires that make the model capable of more than 1 g of lateral acceleration
• The 580-horsepower supercharged Camaro ZL1 coupe and convertible – the most powerful Camaro in history
• The track-capable Camaro Z/28 (coupe only), which was named Motor Trend’s 2014 Best Driver’s Car – the first American-brand car to receive the award.