24 Hours of Testing the Camaro ZL1
At this point, most everything that there is to say about the soon to be released Camaro ZL1 has been said. Everything about Chevrolet's ante-upping racecar has been published, it would seem, but that's not enough for the engineers for Chevrolet. Before releasing the vehicle to the public, they had to be certain they knew all of the vehicle's abilities and limitations.
One of the most difficult things you can do to a vehicle is test it on a track, where it's running at 100%+, for a full twenty-four hours. In fact, many of the high-end endurance racers that are built and optimized for just this fall short in their attempts to complete a twenty-four hour race. Watch a complete twenty-four hour Le Mans race and you'll see million dollar car after million dollar fall out of the field as result of mechanical failures that occur under such grueling conditions, and that's exactly what Chevrolet wanted to see.
Normally, in testing, a breakage of any sort would be considered a failure; however, in this test, breakage was exactly what Chevrolet was looking for. Doing this test would allow them to see what aspects of the vehicle would be most likely to experience issues and correct them before it hit the market, and in that sense, the ZL1 made it look like a cake walk. The car seemingly ran all 24 hours without many hiccups, and, I'm certain that any hiccup they did notice the Chevrolet engineers involved in this project took care of with intelligence and craft.
I don't want to talk too long on it, because, the video really speaks for itself. Suffice it to say that Chevrolet is making some great promotional videos pending the upcoming release of this car, and my excitement over it grows with each new day and each new video.
Product Spotlight: Camaro Painted License Plate Frames
Here's a great product I came across that's available at a great price: Painted Aluminum Camaro License Plate Frames. Trying to keep up with a semi-regular product spotlight series, these seemed--based on their quality, great looks, and affordable price--like a logical next product.
The manufacturing for these is really cool, and, SouthernCarParts--who is one of the major retailers for them and a company that I personally enjoy dealing with (I feel like, as far as Camaro products go, they're like my everyday Cheers-esque bar)--provides a lot of information for how they're produced. Beginning with a solid brass, heavy cast mold, the base aluminum plate is formed. Each plate is then CNC machine cut for precision, and given a precise, fast machine engraving. The Engravings on these are of the Camaro lettering, with your choice of either RS or SS badging emblem to accompany it. Once engraved, the plates are given a multi-coat paint job using actual GM paints. I questioned this, but, was assured that the paint being used is derived from the GM WPA code, and, I'll be damned if the one I received didn't match perfectly. The paint is applied in a multi-coat process, with a final clear coating, for shine and durability and looks just like the stock Camaro paint job.
The last part of the production process is the one that impresses me the most. The Camaro engravings on these plates are actually hand-filled with an acrylic epoxy. Typically, hand-filling means that a product is prohibitively more costly than machine ones, but these are definitely affordable. The quality of the acrylic epoxy is perfect, there are no imperfections, and the plate looks awesome to be finished off with these emblems. These things are absolutely gorgeous.
As with any license plate frame, this is easy to install. The painted screw caps are a nice touch to help keep the whole thing looking uniform, and once installed, the plate really looks like it belongs on the vehicle. All-in-all, I'm really happy with the product, considering that it cost under $115 and adds more Camaro badge-ing with an OEM (or better) quality finish. That can never be a bad thing, can it?
Camaro ZL1 Runs the Nurburgring in 7:41.27
Expectations for the Camaro ZL1 are huge. I mean, when you have a 580HP LSR powered, MRC Suspension blessed, monster of a Camaro coming in at a sub $50k price tag it's difficult to keep them tempered. Well, fear not: there's no reason to temper them.
Last week, Mark Reuss, the president for GM North America, confirmed that the Camaro ZL1 lapped the Nurburgring in 7:41.27. 7:41.27! That's super-car level good. In fact, that time is better than a lot of official times by super-car level vehicles, such as: 2006 Porsche 911 GT3 (7:42.00), 2009 Lamborghini Murcielago LP 670-4 SuperVeloce (7:42.00), 2009 Audi R8 V10 5.2 FSI (7:44.00), 2007 Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera (7:46.00), 2006 Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano (7:47.00), 2009 Ferrari California GT (7:56.00), and many many others. That's very good company for a sub $50k American sports car. Very very good.
Now, that great time isn't all. No, what makes this already impressive feat even cooler is the excitement with which Reuss delivered it.
From MotorAuthority's article on the Nurburgring time announcement:
Mark Reuss, president of General Motors North America flew from sunny and warm Detroit to rainy and chilly Los Angeles to address media members on Wednesday. Once he arrived, the climate change was evident in the room close to Los Angeles International Airport; this man's enthusiasm for automobiles, motorsports and General Motors is evident by his demeanor and excitement for the future.
The first item Reuss addressed was the vehicle on display outside the hotel where the meeting was held - Chevrolet's Camaro ZL1. The street and circuit-worthy Camaro wasn't terribly pretty but it looked, at first glance, that it was worthy of great performance.
Reuss stated as much - from personal experience - as he was one of the drivers to conduct performance validation on this machine on the famed Nurburgring Nordschleife circuit of 14.173 miles in Germany, where the LSR-powered V8 muscle car turned an incredible 7 minutes, 41.27 seconds in a single lap, he said. Can anyone remember a GM president that was enough of an enthusiast to take part in a session of this type? Didn't think so.
The ZL1 was "forgiving and neutral," Reuss, a Grand-Am-licensed competitor said. "I was able to drive deeper than I ever have." He especially enjoyed passing the Porsche GT3's that were lapping concurrently, before the car was boxed and returned from Germany to the GM proving grounds and then brought to Los Angeles for this morning appearance. The street car will have its debut during the mid-November Los Angeles International Auto Show.
It's great, ultimately, to see that the man in charge of the Camaro ZL1's production is such a fan of the vehicle himself. That sort of joy and excitement is rare in the world of automotive executives and provides even more reason to be excited about the release of the Camaro ZL1. At sub $50k, this car will be, without doubt, among the greatest performance bargains in the automotive world, and for that reason, and all the others we've talked about before concerning this ZL1, it's very difficult to temper my expectations and excitement concerning this exciting new vehicle.
For reference, here's a list of vehicles and their Nurburgring times. The ZL1's place cements it squarely in the realm of super-car:
Pos Make / Model Time Speed (km/h) Year Power (hp) / Weight (kg) Driven by
1. Radical SR8LM 6:48.00 182 0 455 / 650 Radical
2. Radical SR8 6:55.00 179 '05 363 / 650 Radical
3. Gumpert Apollo Speed 7:11.57 172 '09 700 / 1200 Gumpert
4. Dodge Viper SRT-10 ACR 7:12.13 172 '08 600 / 1536 Dominik Farnbacher
5. Lexus LFA Nurburgring Package 7:14.64 171 '12 570 / 1509 Lexus
6. Donkervoort D8 RS 7:14.89 171 '05 350 / 600 Michael Duechting
7. Porsche 911 GT2 RS 7:18.00 169 '10 620 / 1370 Porsche
8. Radical SR3 Turbo 7:19.00 169 '03 320 / 500 Phil Bennett
9. Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 7:19.63 169 '08 647 / 1530 General Motors
10. Dodge Viper SRT-10 ACR 7:22.10 168 '08 600 / 1536 Motor Trend
11. Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Z07 Package 7:22.68 168 '11 512 / 1394 General Motors
12. Lexus LFA Nurburgring Package 7:22.85 167 '12 570 / 1509 Lexus
13. Gumpert Apollo Sport 7:24.00 167 '07 700 / 1200 Sport Auto
14. Nissan GT-R 7:24.22 167 '11 530 / 1736 Nissan
15. Maserati MC12 7:24.29 167 '04 632 / 1335 Marc Basseng
16. Pagani Zonda F Clubsport 7:24.65 167 '05 650 / 1230 Marc Basseng
17. Ferrari Enzo 7:25.21 167 '02 660 / 1365 Marc Basseng
18. Nissan GT-R 7:26.70 166 '08 479 / 1740 Toshio Suzuki
19. Porsche 911 GT3 RS 4.0 7:27.00 166 '11 500 / 1360 Porsche
20. Ferrari 458 Italia 7:28.00 166 '09 570 / 1485 Scuderia Autoropa
21. Porsche Carrera GT 7:28.71 165 '03 612 / 1380 Marc Basseng
22. Porsche 911 GT3 RS 4.0 7:30.00 165 '11 500 / 1360 Sport Auto
23. Porsche 911 GT2 7:31.00 164 '07 530 / 1440 Auto Motor und Sport
24. Porsche 911 Turbo S 7:32.00 164 '10 530 / 1585 Porsche
25. Pagani Zonda F 7:33.00 164 '05 602 / 1371 Sport Auto
26. Porsche 911 GT3 RS 7:33.00 164 '10 450 / 1400 Sport Auto
27. Koenigsegg CCX 7:33.55 164 '06 806 / 1456 Marc Basseng
28. Koenigsegg CCR 7:34.00 163 '04 806 / 1418 Sport Auto
29. Audi R8 GT 7:34.00 163 '10 560 / 1520 Sport Auto
30. Nissan GT-R Spec-V 7:34.46 163 '09 492 / 1680 Best Motoring
31. RUF RT12 7:35.00 163 '05 650 / 1573 Sport Auto
32. Porsche 911 Turbo 7:38.00 162 '06 480 / 1585 Porsche
33. Lexus LF-A 7:38.00 162 '10 560 / 1609 Sport Auto
34. Lamborghini Gallardo LP 570-4 Superleggera 7:38.00 162 '10 570 / 1430 Sport Auto
35. Ferrari 430 Scuderia 7:39.00 162 '07 510 / 1402 Sport Auto
36. Lamborghini Murcielago LP640 7:40.00 161 '06 640 / 1805 Auto Bild Sportscars
37. McLaren Mercedes SLR 7:40.00 161 '03 626 / 1693 Auto Bild
38. Porsche 911 GT3 7:40.00 161 '09 435 / 1376 Walter Rohrl
39. Porsche 911 Carrera S 7:40.00 161 '11 400 / 1415 Porsche
2012 Camaro ZL1 7:41.27
40. Porsche 911 GT3 7:42.00 161 '06 415 / 1395 Walter Rohrl
41. Radical SR3 7:42.00 161 '02 205 / 495
42. Lamborghini Murcielago LP 670-4 SuperVeloce 7:42.00 161 '09 670 / 1664 Sport Auto
43. Chevrolet Corvette Z06 7:42.90 160 '05 513 / 1437 Jan Magnussen
44. Porsche 911 GT3 RS 7:43.00 160 '03 381 / 1360 Motor
45. Pagani Zonda C12 S 7:44.00 160 '02 555 / 1250 Sport Auto
46. Audi R8 V10 5.2 FSI 7:44.00 160 '09 525 / 1620 Sport Auto
47. Mercedes CLK 63 Black Series 7:45.00 159 '07 507 / 1745 Berndt Schneider
48. Gardner Douglas GD T70 Spyder 7:45.00 159 '10 710 / 900 Dario Margutti
49. Porsche 911 GT2 7:46.00 159 '00 460 / 1430 Sport Auto
50. Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera 7:46.00 159 '07 530 / 1520 Auto
51. Jaguar XJ220 7:46.37 159 '92 549 / 1470 John Nielsen
52. Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano 7:47.00 159 '06 620 / 1748 Sport Auto
53. Wiesmann GT MF5 7:47.00 159 '08 507 / 1380 Sport Auto
54. Porsche 911 Turbo 7:47.00 159 '09 500 / 1570 Sport Auto
55. Porsche 911 GT3 RS 7:48.00 158 '06 415 / 1375 Sport Auto
56. BMW M3 GTS 7:48.00 158 '10 450 / 1543 Sport Auto
57. Lamborghini Murcielago 7:50.00 158 '02 580 / 1800 Sport Auto
58. BMW M3 CSL 7:50.00 158 '03 360 / 1385 Sport Auto
59. Porsche 911 Carrera S 7:50.00 158 '08 385 / 1425
60. Mercedes SL65 AMG Black Series 7:51.00 157 '09 670 / 1870 Sport Auto
61. Lamborghini Gallardo 7:52.00 157 '03 500 / 1613 Sport Auto
62. Ford GT 7:52.00 157 '04 550 / 1538 Sport Auto
63. Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4 7:52.00 157 '08 560 / 1530 Sport Auto
64. Mercedes CLK DTM 7:54.00 156 '04 582 / 1678 Sport Auto
65. Porsche 911 GT3 7:54.00 156 '03 380 / 1380 Sport Auto
66. Ferrari F430 7:55.00 156 '05 489 / 1450 Sport Auto
67. Caterham R500 1.8L K Series 7:55.00 156 '99 233 / 450 EVO
68. BMW M5 7:55.00 156 '11 560 / 1870 BMW
69. Porsche 911 Turbo 7:56.00 156 '00 420 / 1540 Sport Auto
70. Ferrari 360 CS 7:56.00 156 '03 425 / 1280 Sport Auto
71. Ferrari California GT 7:56.00 156 '09 460 / 1787
72. Porsche Panamera Sport Chrono Turbo 7:56.00 156 '09 500 / 1974 Auto Bild
73. Porsche Panamera Turbo 7:56.00 156 '09 500 / 1870 Walter Rohrl
74. Chevrolet Corvette Z06 7:56.00 156 '02 411 / 1414 General Motors
75. Porsche 911 GT3 7:56.33 156 '99 360 / 1350 Walter Rohrl
Camaro Caliper Covers
Just came across a very cool product that I wanted to share: Caliper covers for both the Camaro SS (which I bought for myself) and the Camaro RS also.
Made from aircraft grade aluminum (not sure what classifies something as being aircraft grade, but, it sounds fancy) these caliper covers look great and apparently are very functional. When I first saw the product listing, I didn't believe in the claims of functionality. They're caliper covers, and I just always assumed that caliper covers were purely a cosmetic upgrade.
However, the heat reductive properties of Aluminum, as well as the heat channels formed by the placement of the caliper cover, actually result in lower brake surface temperatures (of 20-50 degrees! a huge jump). Lower temperatures means lessened brake fade and increased performance and explains, ultimately, why even the most expensive big brake kits utilize similar covers.
Of course, the actual benefits don't stop there, either. Caliper covers are great for shielding brake dust and keeping that annoying stuff off of my alloy wheels. That helps to keep the wheels looking great-- a plus considering that caliper covers highlight the wheels even further.
Of course, some people go for the same look by painting their calipers. This is definitely an option, but, one that will cost an equivalent amount to caliper covers, and be less removable if you wanted to return the brakes to stock down the road. Also, painted calipers wont offer the same brake heat dispersion or dust blocking benefits of covers. I used to paint the calipers on my older vehicles, but, with these aluminum covers now being available, I can't ever see myself going that direction again.
Ultimately, these are affordable, effective, and great looking modification pieces. I was really happy to get them and, even though the install took a little longer than advertised, was happy to install them. Coupling them with my DBA rotors, and Hawk HPP+ pads, I'm pretty certain my brakes are performing at a level comparable to a $6000 big brake kit for just a fraction of the price.
Camaro Two-Push Trunk Release Relay
It's a stupid mistake, but an annoying one, and one that I make all the time. When locking/unlocking my Camaro with my key fob, I tend to press the trunk release button. A lot. The placement of the trunk release button on the fob is front and center and, as such, way too easy to hit by mistake. I get tired of getting in to my Camaro, turning it on, and see my "Trunk Open" light on; thus, I was really happy to see this little unit.
Simple, cheap, and effective: this trunk release relay is perfect for people with fat-fingers like myself. A simple fuse relay piece, this release relay ultimately makes it so that to release the trunk you'll have to press the button twice. That's it. It's simple, and, it's handy. I ordered one (for under $40) and installed it in, maybe, 15 minutes time, and have been very happy with it since the install.
I get that this isn't a problem for everybody, and I know that some people will laugh at me for searching out a solution other than "don't press the button", but I'm obviously not the only person who has had this issue if a manufacturer makes and sells a solution. I like it for its simplicity and ease of installation/use, and for the fact that, simply, it keeps clumsy me from having to get back out of the car half of the time I get in to close my trunk. A handy, cheap, simple product that works exactly as advertised: cool!
A week of ZL1 Firsts – First ZL1 sells for $250K and Chevy releases First ZL1 Commercials
So, the release of the Camaro ZL1 to the public is nearing, and, excitement is really starting to build. To couple with this timing, Chevrolet made a few well-calculated moves this past week. The first of them was the auctioning off of the very first ZL1 to be sold. The second bit of news pertains to the release of the first set of commercials highlighting the power and potential of the ZL1 from Chevrolet. Both are exciting and fun.
First 2012 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 goes for $250,000 at auction
The September 24th Barrett-Jackson Automotive Auction in Las Vegas, Nevada, saw the inclusion of one very special vehicle from Chevrolet. On that September Saturday the very first Camaro ZL1 of the new generation was sold, and it commanded a very serious quarter-of-a-million dollar price tag.
Purchased by renowned Chevrolet enthusiast, and owner of Hendrick Motorsports, Rick Hendrick the proceeds from the first ZL1 auction went directly to benefiting the Southern Nevada YMCA. This Camaro ZL1, in addition to being a ZL1 and the first sold, is a very special vehicle. This iteration of the 580HP GM Monster will be the only one produced in the 2012 model year in the gorgeous GM Carbon Flash Metallic paint finish. In addition to this beautiful and unique paint tone--just one other thing to set the ZL1 apart from all other vehicles on the road--this ZL1 will also bear the honor of being the official Camaro ZL1 number 69.
Possibly the only VIN Number more coveted than number 1 for this vehicle, the number 69 is meant to pay homage to the original 1969 Camaro. That vehicle, when first produced, made waves across the globe for its incredible all-aluminum reworking of the Corvette Big Block, and was produced in a very limited run of just 69 vehicles. In this way, this new ZL1 will not only replace the original '69 as the fastest production Camaro ever, but it will also honor the ZL1 that came before in both year and production numbers. In this instance, Rick Hendrick is actually purchasing a more viable collector's vehicle than even the coveted badge number 1. So, congratulations to Mr. Hendrick on his newest purchase, and thanks to Chevrolet for seeing that the sale of its very first Camaro went to benefiting a good cause.
Chevrolet Releases First Camaro ZL1 Commercials
Amazingly enough, one press attaining action wasn't enough for the men and women at Chevrolet this week. In addition to the ZL1 at Barrett-Jackson, Chevrolet also used this week as the ideal time to release their first official ZL1 commercials. These two 30-second spots are both well-made, and constructed to highlight the capabilities of the ZL1 in two very different applications.
The first ZL1 commercial focuses on the drag-racing power and potential of the ZL1, even as it's taken right off of the lot. The piece focuses on the Drag-Mode suspension option and shows a few clips of a test ZL1 burning some rubber on a drag racing track. The car, even in its camo-wrapped form, is still a beautiful and inspiring piece of American machinery certain to strike fear in the hearts of all other pony cars that try to go up against it.
Of course, in this world of YouTube videos and social media, Chevrolet also realizes that the drag race isn't the king of all American motorsport events anymore. Certainly focusing on the increased love of track and road race numbers and footage, Chevrolet's second commercial focuses on the suspension of the ZL1. This entirely unique ZL1 suspension package, highlighted by Chevrolet's Magnetic Ride Control suspension, is the focus of their second commercial and is certainly aimed at hinting towards the potential of the ZL1 around break-neck turns. Of course, with the Eaton Supercharged 580HP LSA engine, drag racing was never a question with the Camaro, and that's why I think this marketing angle is infinitely more important for the continued success of the Camaro brand.
The commercial is a short one, but a good one, and it really gets me drooling in anticipation over the first few waves of Camaro ZL1 race videos that will certainly start hitting the internet following the vehicle's release next year. I love the video's primary tagline of "It's all very technical until you bury your right foot", as that is exactly what I want out of a true sports car.
So, in short, this was an exciting news week for Camaro fans. What do you think? Is the 69th Camaro ZL1 worth the exorbitant price tag? Which Camaro commercial do you most prefer? How excited are you to really see one of these bad boys in action?