By far the most exciting American sports car to make its debut during the 2016 New York International Auto Show is the new 2017 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1. The new Camaro stays true to its roots and packs the great sounding supercharged 6.2-liter V8 that we know from the previous generation Camaro.
The good old 6.2-liter LT4 V8 has now been tweaked to produce an immense 640 hp and 867 Nm of torque, yet it reaches the 100 km/h mark in the same time as its predecessor. New is the optional 10-speed automatic transmission, while a six-speed manual comes standard with the new Camaro ZL1.
To go with the brutal performance that is diverted to the Chevy’s rear wheels is the magnetic ride suspension, ensuring dynamic handling lives up to the standard that previous models Chevrolet Camaro have set over the years. Brembo performance brakes and an electronic limited-slip differential are supposed to further help keep the American monster within its boundaries.
Additional features contributing to the car’s diverse driving character are a Performance Traction Management System and a Drive Select menu letting drivers shift from comfortable to sport driving modes, as well as configuring their ideal driving settings.
From a visual standpoint the design team at Chevrolet have managed to make the new Camaro look even more aggressive compared to the outgoing model. The character at the front is maintained through the thin long grille containing the Chevrolet badge. The headlights feature new LED lines but roughly maintain the same proportion as the headlights of the previous generation Camaro.
All-around the design language of the new model translates to many new lines, making the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 appear less bulky without having to cut down on the car’s proportions. The curvy front diffusor and splitter make a more prominent appearance on the new Camaro too. At the rear changes are less visible. The taillights received a minor update and the exhaust pipes have grown by a centimeter or two. A further change is the rear-spoiler design.
Chevrolet didn’t hold back with the launch of the new Camaro ZL1 and releases the new Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Convertible at the same time. The roofless Camaro ZL1 packs the same supercharged 6.2-liter LT4 V8 and besides the soft-top doesn’t feature any differences to the hard-top ZL1. Exact performance figures are yet to be released, but Chevrolet have indicated that the convertible’s performance should be similar to that of the Coupé.
On the interior side of both variants a few things have changed compared to the outgoing Camaro. The car now features a flat-bottom steering wheel and special Recaro seats with red contrasting topstitching. Finishing touch are the abundance of ZL1 badges and logos throughout the car’s interior.
Both the 2017 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 and Camaro ZL1 Convertible are expected to make their way to Chevrolet showrooms later this year. The price tags on both cars are yet to be released, although there is no reason to believe that the pricing would be dissimilar to that of the previous generation Chevrolet Camaro.
For more information on the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 and Camaro ZL1 Convertible, please visit our earlier articles. For more news from the 2016 NYIAS, make sure to subscribe to our dedicated news channel!
I don’t think that Chevrolet has given out 0-100 times.
Hi Eddy,
They haven’t indicated any 0-100 time indeed, although it’s nearly impossible for the ZL1 to reach a 100 km/h slower than its predecessor, considering the power upgrade.