Ignition Tests out the Camaro ZL1 at Inde Motorsports – Video
Camaro ZL1 at Inde Motorsports
Ignition took their turn with the Camaro ZL1 and got Randy Pobst to drive one around the Inde Motorsports Ranch
Ignition, MotorTrend's new YouTube TV Show decided to take out the Camaro ZL1 for its second episode. It's a fun video, and it highlights some of the performance aspects of the ZL1. In the video they confirm a 3.8 second 0-60 time, as well as a 12.1 second 1/4 mile time with allusions to the vehicle being able to go sub-12 with proper tires and no other modifications. They also tested the claim by Chevrolet that the ZL1 would pull a full lateral G, and while the computer inside the vehicle apparently read over 1 their own independent test confirmed that it went right up to a full 1.0 G on the skidpad. All of these numbers are, when combined with the ZL1's 7:41 second Nurburgring time, truly supercar territory at a sub-supercar price and combine to make the new ZL1 the world's most impressive muscle car. I won't talk too much or take up too much of your time here, honestly, because the video's a great one. Pay special attention to Pobst, a truly great driver, talking about the brilliance of the vehicle.
2013 Camaro ZL1 vs 2013 Nissan GT-R R35
R&T Pitted a Camaro ZL1 against a 2013 Nissan GT-R R35
Road and Track ignores price differences, drivetrains, and target markets and gives us one of the strangest head to head match-ups imaginable: 2013 Camaro ZL1 versus 2013 Nissan GT-R
All right, so, I love the Camaro. I unabashedly and unashamedly love the Camaro. You may say that I'm incredibly biased and incredibly unfair against other cars, in fact, my love for the Camaro is so intense. However, all of that considered, I would never expect the Camaro to compete with the Nissan GT-R R35. This isn't meant to be a knock to the Camaro, either, but simply a nod to the power that is the $100k, 545HP, AWD Supercar that is the Nissan GT-R--a car that's famous for competing with quarter-million dollar rides on a daily basis.
So, when I saw that Road and Track had pitted these two vehicles against one another I groaned. I expected this to end up being another case of a media outlet displaying a bias towards European and Japanese cars setting up an unfair comparison as reason to lambaste the American automotive entry. The ZL1 is impressive. The ZL1 is powerful. It's beautiful, inspiring, fun, sexy, cool, and above all else affordable by comparison to other vehicles that provide equivalent amount of vehicle, and I was afraid that by comparing it to a Nissan GT-R R35--the 2013 GT-R R35 of sub 3-second 0-60 times and Nurburgring near-record laps--the comparison would undermine the ZL1, but then something surprising happened: The ZL1 held its own, and then some.
Let's go ahead and get this out of the way. The GT-R R35 is the superior track car to the ZL1. It puts out 545HP to a brilliant continuous AWD transmission and strikes fear in to the hearts of turbo Porsches and Ferraris all across the globe, but it's not so superior that this comparison didn't end up being warranted.
On the track the GT-R bested the ZL1 by a little over 2 seconds. Now, 2 seconds is a lot on a track time, but not so much so when you consider that the price tag of the GT-R is, at minimum, $96,820 compared to the ZL1's base price of $54,995. If your primary concern is track time, I'd be willing to wager that the extra $41+k saved by purchasing the ZL1 could be used to make it lap any track quicker than the GT-R, and still have enough left over to buy the losing GT-R driver a beer to help drown his sorrows.
Now, the GT-R is an easier drive, but, the Camaro ZL1 is, by all definitions, a more enjoyable drive. A skilled racer behind the wheel of the ZL1 will get a great deal of enjoyment and much more involvement and personal reward from their experience, and may even be able to cut track time discrepancies down at stock on a warmer day.
Of course, performance isn't all there is to a car. Road and Track actually stated they preferred the interior of the Camaro ZL1, as well as the standard cruising driving experience.
Ultimately, the comparison ends up being a great deal of fun, and it's awesome to see the ZL1 hold its own against a supercar nearly twice its price. The ZL1 really surprised even my biased expectations coming in to this comparison. Also of note, when watching the video, is to listen to the differences in exhaust tones. Wow, the Camaro ZL1 sounds MUCH MUCH better than the whiny tones of the GT-R.
So, what do you think? Me, I'd save my $41k and take the ZL1 over the GT-R any day of the week.
Camaro ZL1 Reviews Are Coming Out, and They’re Great!
Camaro ZL1 Reviews
Major automotive publications begin rolling out their Camaro ZL1 Reviews, and they're very very good!
So, by today most of the major automotive publications have had a chance to get behind the wheel of the Camaro ZL1, and over the last week we've seen some great reviews from them hitting the web. There's a lot of them, and I haven't had a chance yet to get behind the wheel of one, so I'll just give you some of my favorite snippets from them and include the links to the original reviews(as well as a few parenthetical remarks from yours truly). Before we get in to them, let me just say, these are incredibly exciting. The ZL1 looks to be such an amazing and exciting vehicle.
From AutomobileMag.com where they decided to compare the ZL1 to the Grand Sport Corvette for the basis of their review:
"During development, one ZL1 endured 600 clutch-dumping launches as part of the most demanding driveline durability testing program in the history of General Motors." (Sounds like a monster of a driveline in this new Camaro!)
"Third-generation Magnetic Ride dampers charge and discharge faster than earlier examples, allowing for more precise control of damping rates. Their flexibility and bandwidth also allow the ZL1 to use the same springs as the Camaro SS. Sport and tour buttons just ahead of the shifter adjust the dampers accordingly, and a third mode -- track -- is available when Performance Traction Management is active. Unlike most cars, in which sport mode alters throttle calibration for quicker acceleration with less pedal travel, the ZL1 makes the throttle-pedal mapping less aggressive to allow for finer modulation."
"Rather than focus on reducing drag to, say, hit 200 mph, the ZL1 team aimed to maximize high-speed stability with downforce. The hood extractor, front splitter, and rear spoiler create enough downforce to eliminate lift as the ZL1 nears its top speed of 184 mph."
"On a 2.75-mile road course at Inde Motorsports Ranch, twenty-one turns make the case for the ZL1. We expected the intoxicating effect of more power and assumed there would be significantly improved body control, but we were skeptical that the ZL1 would revolutionize the way the Camaro handles. In fact, it does. "
"The fast, balanced steering of the ZL1 is much more confidence-inspiring than the Camaro SS's hydraulic power steering. The effort, the damping, and the return are tuned for a perfectly natural weight, but the electric rack does filter out most of the front-end feel. That's even more true when compared with the Corvette, which boasts an equally quick rack with a robust hydraulic assist. While both cars deliver satisfying shifts, the Camaro's shorter, snappier throws are more inviting than the Corvette's longer shifts."
From Autoweek.com:
"Packaging in the Camaro allows better intake and exhaust flow, with a 30 percent reduction in flow restriction compared with the CTS-V."
"Its shifter was developed by Chevrolet, using slightly longer throws than the Hurst package in the Camaro SS, and was optimized for a road course rather than drag racing."
"The ultimate Camaro also offers something you can't get in a Mustang GT500 or Boss 302: an automatic transmission... There's another technology in the ZL1 that you can't get in a Mustang, and it's significant. GM's Magnetic Ride Suspension (MRS), now applied in supercars such as the Audi R8 and the Ferrari FF, has been upgraded for the ZL1. The Gen III MRS gets a faster processor and four smaller magnets in each shock, rather than two larger ones. The objective is quicker reaction time."
"The ZL1 comes standard with track stuff you don't get on a GT500, including a transmission cooler, differential cooler and brake-cooling ducts, and its aerodynamics have been optimized for high speed."
"Chevy says development included a 24-hour, high-speed flog at GM's proving ground in Milford, Mich., with a 150-mph-plus top speed each lap and an average of 88 mph, stopping only to change tires and brakes."
Here's Car and Driver's review. It's my favorite one of the bunch:
"It features GM’s second-most-powerful engine: With 580 horsepower, it’s behind only the truly absurd, 638-hp Corvette ZR1. No surprise that during its development it was known simply as the “HP.” And it carries the most sophisticated adjustable dampers and stability-control system any amount of money can buy. For this, GM asks a base price of $56,295, which includes a $1300 gas-guzzler tax; all the go-fast parts are standard issue."
"The ZL1 is not your old-school, all-ate-up-with-motor muscle car, although its name derives from such a vehicle. It is built with the GM Performance Division mantra of “go, stop, and turn” in mind. Track ability was always part of the HP program from back when everyone assumed the car would be called the Z28."
"Get everything right, and the ZL1 hits 60 mph in 4.1 seconds and passes 1320 feet in 12.3 seconds at 119 mph—or better, as the cold and dusty track at Inde was less than ideal for acceleration runs. Few cars costing less than $60,000 can claim such feats. And the ZL1 sounds angry, with a throaty bass-boat rumble backed by a faint supercharger whine. The V-8 fires up with a roar, and the exhaust crackles when you back out of full throttle."
"Starker is the transformation of the ZL1’s handling characteristics from those of a stock SS. In the latter, the driver is always fighting the car—it understeers on turn-in and oversteers on corner exit, all served up with a healthy dollop of body roll. The ZL1 does exactly what you want all the time, with no surprises. Front grip is tenacious enough that you actually get a sense of the tires biting in as you turn the wheel. Power comes in so creamily and with such linearity that it’s easy to forget you’re driving a 580-hp car. The brake pedal feels solid but still offers enough travel for smooth application, and it shows no fade. The ZL1 goes around the track with a composure that would shock many BMW M3 fans." (Comparisons to an M3 are huge praise from C/D who are famous for their love of the BMW M-Series vehicles)
"We saw 0.98 g on a dusty skidpad (did we mention Tucson is in the desert?). This is supercar territory."
"Each body alteration either improves cooling or reduces lift. Or, in the case of the bulging center section of the hood, which is made of carbon fiber (and covered in clear-coat paint for an additional $600), both."
"Should you wish to save some fuel, or suffer a fit of social responsibility, you can comfortably drive the ZL1 gently, but that seems contradictory to the car’s whole mission. Isn’t 580 horsepower supposed to be—and feel—ludicrous?"
"What’s crazy is that the ZL1 is not crazy; it’s comfortable and easy to drive. With the ZL1, General Motors has made the Camaro into a true GT car—daily driver, long-range missile, and track-day special all in one. "
For the purposes of their review, MotorTrend ran the Camaro up against the fastest production Mustang available right now, the Boss 302:
"For 2012, Chevy aims to redefine the ponycar completely in one electronically optimized fell swoop. The 2012 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 takes the once-simple formula for all-American performance and reworks it into a recipe for a modern cyborg warhorse. Literally leaning on suspension technology originally developed for Cadillacs and Corvettes, the Camaro achieves better-than-Boss levels of handling with the highway ride quality of a CTS-V."
"With professional racer Randy Pobst behind the wheel, the ZL1 laps the 2.2-mile Inde Motorsports Ranch circuit 2.45 seconds faster than the Boss. That's huge."
"The Camaro felt far more composed on the track than the Mustang. "I can put this thing right where I want it!" barked Randy as he slid the car around with one hand. Although heavier than the Mustang, the ZL1 still changes direction easily and is capable of pulling higher g-forces mid-corner. The constantly variable damping rates make the Camaro feel as though its tires sink into the track. Bumps that shook the Boss simply disappeared and never upset the ZL1. More important, more of the track became usable since curbing wouldn't throw the Camaro into a tailspin."
"The Camaro clearly came out on top of this fight. Although the Boss 302 is probably the best Mustang ever built, it just feels and performs like it's a generation behind. Randy summed it up: "The Mustang Boss 302 Laguna Seca was my favorite American musclecar -- until today." It isn't the lack of power; it isn't the lack of amenities. It's simply a lack of technology."
Popular Mechanics did what they do best in their review (which is to say offer solid information in an annoying slideshow format whose embedding stopped functioning for me on slide 4 of 7 and required reloading and starting over at slide 1. We should be past this slideshow format in web journalism, guys!):
"The ZL1's headline-grabbing figure is 580 hp, which, admittedly, is an addictive amount of giddyup to have under your right foot. But focusing solely on the power overlooks the fact the ZL1 is probably the first Camaro in history that turns better than it sprints."
"Depending on the driver's skill, PTM can make the ludicrously quick ZL1 feel somewhat safe when pushing the car to its limits." (Never underestimate how important driver confidence is to performance and lap times.)
"Approaching a gentle but very fast right-hand kink at Arizona's Inde Motorsports Ranch, we cut the corner just a touch too tightly, dropping the right-side wheels into a hole next to the track surface. Running at 100 mph, that's the sort of mistake that can turn ugly in an instant. The ZL1, however, bounced out of the hole, immediately regained composure, and carried on as if we'd driven perfectly. That's the kind of forgiving nature that's rare in a car as fast as the ZL1. "
"We'd be just as happy to pilot the ZL1 on a mountain road or road course as we would on a drag strip."
"Many onlookers will focus on this horsepower war, but that misses the point of the ZL1. While we've always appreciated the style and, of course, the power of previous Camaros, the ZL1 is the first one that we actually want to drive. And for all it delivers, the asking price is a bargain."
Jalopnik's review begin feeling almost bitter and grumpy, but it quickly got very positive in favor of the Camaro ZL1:
"The ZL1 itself gives me my first scare a couple of laps in as I come around the 180-degree turn that empties onto the straight. I've decided the tires—and my abilities—are as warmed up as they're going to get. Gunning it on the straight to catch up to the Bondurant race instructor playing leader in a Camaro SS, the ZL1's tremendous torque pitches the back end of the car back and forth over the width of the drag racing road surface. The sensors that send information to the PTM system are doing a full reading roughly about every inch, so within a quarter-of-a-second the relatively timid Mode 2 has set the ZL1's fishtail back on a straight line and I'm at 100 MPH with no tail flash in sight.
I'd modulated the throttle when the back end started getting squirmy because that's what one does when getting a lot of unwanted wheel slip. But according to the Camaro's engineers, I didn't have to. In fact, had I kept the throttle smashed to the floor, the car would have still done what was necessary to keep the ZL1 from spinning out into a wall."
"You'd have to really hate cars not to enjoy throwing a ZL1 around a track."
"That is the ZL1 in a nutshell: an incredible, frighting behemoth of a car, entirely too powerful for its own good, but reined in by clever engineer-wranglers who have worked very hard to allow even terrible drivers to keep themselves safe."
"You can't ever grade over the rough disappointments of youth, but you can leave them behind. And with cars as mad and indignant as the Camaro ZL1, you can sure as hell make an adulthood worth remembering."
The reviewer for MotorAuthority absolutely loved the Camaro ZL1 and gave it my favorite comparison of all the reviews--a 2012 Porsche 911:
"I realized, while mentally re-visualizing the last set of laps, that from turn-in to apex, under fast entry speeds with a fair amount of trail brake, the ZL1 felt, acted, and moved almost exactly like the 2012 911 did under similar circumstances."
"Wait for the lights, step off the clutch, and WHAM! it's off, scrabbling and chirping down the 60-foot, making the most of the tsunami of torque-producing atmosphere being crammed down the gullet of the V-8 engine by the supercharger."
"It's not that the ZL1 isn't really, really good on a road course. Its 7:41 Nurburgring time says it is, as does my own first-hand experience. It's even outfitted from the factory with transmission and differential coolers--bits the ZL1's main rival, the Ford Shelby GT500, makes optional add-ons."
"The ZL1 is a true driver's car, and regardless of its ultimate pace in comparison with sports cars or supercars in its price, power, or performance categories, it delivers an experience that, at times, is on par with the very best of them."
So, there you have it. Six of the world's biggest automotive publications have great great things to say about the Camaro ZL1. Anyone else as excited as I am to get behind the wheel of one and see for themselves?
Reigning Champ Camaro Wins the Sales Battle Once Again
2010's Pony Car Sales Champion Camaro Moved the Most Units in 2011
88,249 Camaros sold in 2011 give it a decisive sales victory over direct muscle car competitors Ford Mustang and Dodge Challenger
In sports, when a team or competitor dominates for the majority of the match and coasts to a decisive over-all victory by the very end, the term "blow-out" is typically used. In the case of the battle for most popular American muscle car in 2011, you might say that a "blow-out" victory was exactly the type that the Chevrolet Camaro enjoyed.
Following the vehicle's break-out success in 2010, 2011 saw the Camaro continue its dominance. For 11 of the 12 months the Camaro moved the most vehicles--and did so, in many of those months, with a considerable cushion of multiple thousand units. The only month that the Mustang took the sales crown was the month where Ford was moving all of its prior model year vehicles at a severely discounted price to make way for the new model year, and even in that month the Mustang only managed to move 400 more units than the Camaro.
In December alone 6754 Camaros were sold, which was good for a 20% increase over December of 2010, and a 1697 unit lead over the second place Mustang for that month. On the entire year, the Camaro's 88,249 units sold took a commanding victory over the Mustang at 70,438 and the Challenger at 39,534.
So, there you have it, the Camaro is the victor in its sector for a second straight year, and with the ZL1 hitting showroom floors--and the sales for both the coupe and convertible models of the Camaro continuing to climb--it looks like a safe bet to take home the crown on a threepeat.
A History of Greatness: GM Produces 100-Millionth Small Block Engine
GM Produces 100-Millionth Small Block Engine
A ZR1 LS9 Engine just produced by Chevrolet was the 100-Millionth manufactured by the company.
In the past 56 years, since Chevrolet began producing small block engines, the bowtie emblazoned automotive company and the small block engine has been synonymous with one another. In that time, every iconic car produced by Chevrolet has been known and linked to their famous small-block engine design in some manner. Most recently, the fifth generation Camaro has become a small block powered icon on both road and track, much like it's LS small block powered big brother, the Corvette.
The sheer number there--100,000,000 for those who like lots of zeroes--really highlights the durability, reputation, and potential of the small block and speaks to the iconic nature of the GM engine. It is fitting then to also consider that the first small block, introduced in 1955, was built for the first generation Corvette and the 100-millionth produced was a hand-crafted work of art LS9 made specifically for the sixth generation Corvette's special edition ZR1--the fastest Corvette ever produced.
Of course, the transition from the first small block to the modern pinnacle LS9 is a long one, filled with numerous exciting and memorable engines. In 1992 Chevrolet first introduced its second-generation Small Block, known as the LT1, in to its Corvette. This engine became an absolute staple on tracks across the globe, and adorned various vehicles from that Corvette, to the F-Body Camaro and Firebird, and the B-Body Impala SS and Caprice Police car. The LT1, which featured a newly developed reverse cooling, is still being used in races all across the globe today.
Following the second generation, Chevrolet then introduced their first LS Engine in 1997. This third generation small block, which was first placed in the C5 Corvette, was an even greater step forward. The LS engines are all-aluminum small blocks, and the first of them, the LS1, was rated a naturally aspirated 350HP and 365 lb ft of torque--numbers that, today, are still incredibly impressive for a naturally aspirated 5.7L engine. The LS engine was then featured, in some form, in numerous different vehicles and even had a more powerful, LS6 version introduced in the C5 Z06 Corvette in 2001. This LS6 featured the same 5.7L displacement as its LS1 brethren, but put out a stomach churning 405HP and 400 lb ft of torque.
Those numbers were fairly mind-shattering for a naturally aspirated engine of the LS6's size and weight, at least, until 2005 when the first of the fourth generation small block was released. In 2005 the Corvette went from its fifth generation vehicle to the now current sixth generation, and with the change in body also came the biggest change: the introduction of the Chevrolet LS2. The LS2 was almost identical to the LS6 engine in performance and displacement, but also featured a much more even Torque curve through-out the RPM range, and had the potential to be modified for incredible gains. It was from this base LS2 that the LS7--the now revered 505HP and 470 lb ft torque monster--was produced and introduced to the 2006 Corvette. Just one year after the update of the small block, this engine seemed to be where everything was building, and the Z06 became the undeniable greatest performance bang for the buck on the globe. Within the year, there were Z06's running against quarter-million dollar European exotics on racetracks all across the globe, and each one came with the distinctive sound and tone that only a Chevrolet small block V8 can deliver through the exhaust.
Of course, Chevrolet wasn't finished there (thankfully, they're dedicated to the production of envelope-pushing performance machines) and we saw such engines as the 430HP LS3 (now outfitting the base-level C6 Corvette and the Chevrolet Camaro SS), the LSA (a 556HP Supercharged monster that can be found in the world's fastest production sedan, the Cadillac CTS-V and will also hit the streets in the body of the new super-Camaro ZL1 this year), and the engine that would be made as number 100,000,000--the LS9.
The LS9 is an absolute marvel worth talking about as well, especially considering that everything before it brought us to this point. The LS9, which can only be found in the top of the line Corvette ZR1, produces an amazing supercharged 6.2L engine based on the LS3 block and putting out a ferocious 638bhp and 604 lb ft of torque. Those numbers, in combination with the Corvette's lightweight body and wide, aggressive stance, have produced a vehicle that runs track times that best it's $250,000+ competitors. Today, the ZR1 is the undeniable greatest bargain on wheels that exists for the performance minded consumer, and, as such, is the only engine fitting to be given the designation as number 100,000,000 of its kind.
Of course, Chevrolet's not stopping at 100,000,000 and the future of the small block engine holds a great deal of excitement. Already, official reports have come out that Chevrolet is updating their engine for the seventh-generation of their Corvette, and we may see the introduction of such features as direct injection and an upgraded combustion chamber design, as well as the improved performance and efficiency numbers to match. GM enthusiasts should expect to see the next small block engine first hit the streets in the C7 Corvette, scheduled for release some time in 2014.
June Sales Figures Posted by Chevy/GM et al
General Motors posted sales figures for the last month and the year to date, along with the rest of the industry, and is up 11% for the year. Great news for the guys and gals at GM. I figured I'd also post up Fords sales figures as well just to get another company's look on things. We've all heard that the recession is over, and although it doesn't feel like it, things are starting to turn around. Finally. It will be a slow process for sure, but the figures are proof that more vehicles are being taken and deliveries are up from a year ago. Altogether GM is up 11%, and Ford is up 14%. Also of note, it looks like the Mustang has trumped the Camaro for the first time in months, even after the introduction of the convertible into the Camaro lineup.
Blendmount Radar Detector Mount for 2010 Camaro
We're all familiar with our cars, and how fast they CAN go. I'm not saying we all drive well above the posted speed limit but when your right foot feels a little heavy some added precaution goes a long way. There's an old saying in the car world that has sort of a double meaning, "Speed costs money—how fast do you want to go?" This not only applies to the exorbitant amount of money we could spend on our cars to get the results we desire, but it also applies to the risk you run when you drive, shall we say, less than how Johnny Law would like you to in your car. A speeding ticket not only costs you up front, but on the back end as well with higher insurance, etc. So, keeping that risk in mind—you can safely assess that if you speed, chances are you'll get tagged. So, you bought some peace of mind and snagged a top of the line radar detector.
Good call.
Now you have to mount that sucker so it stays put. Good luck. Many have tried, and many have failed and felt the pangs of frustration with the use of a suction cup mounting system. It never fails, eventually it will fall off. And if you bought a $300-$500 dollar radar detector, then the last thing you want to have happen is for it to come crashing down onto the dash, and then try and fool with getting it to re stick to your windshield while you're cruising down the road. Not cool. Not surprisingly, more than a few have attempted to come up with a solution. I've seen everything from superglueing the visor mount to the windshield, to drilling the detector into the mirror housing and screwing it in place, to duct-taping visors to roofs, and a hundred other terrible ideas. Your car deserves better and so does your radar detector. Blendmount, out of Cotati, California has come up with a great solution. Their mount has taken the multitude of bad ideas and come up with a combination that solves all of the common woes and mounts the detector cleanly and efficiently.
The Blendmount detector mount mounts to the mirror stem itself, and then the detector mounts to the clip stemming from the Blendmount. No wobbling, no falling suction cups, no constant hassle to get it situated just right. Once it's in, it's in—but still quick and easy to remove for security reasons or to transfer the detector to a different vehicle. The other great thing about this mount is it's compatible with an array of different equipment. The mounts are designed for Escort, Valentine One, ScanGauge II, even Bully Dogs for the diesel crowd. The fitment varies from make to make, but these are designed to work with the widest array of vehicle manufacturers possible. Due to the shape of some mirror stems, the Blendmount might not work but most vehicles are covered. For the Camaro however- the team at Blendmount have gone so far as to make sure we V8 loving folk have been well taken care of. The Camaro mirror is shaped slightly differently than a regular rear-view mirror due to the technology (on mirrors equipped with the AutoDim function) inside of the mirror. However, Blendmount has decided that they weren't going to leave out the Camaro crowd due to its awkward mirror shape. In fact, they designed a mount specifically for the Chevy Camaro.
We installed the Blendmount on our 2010 Camaro SS with a nice new Escort 9500IX detector. We also used an Invisi-Cord that plugged into the back of the mirror and got rid of that unsightly coiled power card. The installation was very simple and the final completed product looks OEM and keeps the detector neatly tucked up under the mirror.
Camaro ZL1 Automatic?
Yep. The latest fad in high performance factory cars is to include the automatic in the equation. That way, everyone can enjoy it. While the diehards are surely upset about the "slushbox" addition to the family of the unreleased power monger, the real change in GM's logic was customer demand. So, if you don't like it—don't blame GM. The customer base that was partly responsible for the public opinion poll was the forum www.camaro5.com. The poll showed, out of 1,967 people polled 1,303 were in favor of an automatic transmission, and 664 people were not in favor. There you have it. More than 50% more people that wanted only a manual wanted an automatic transmission option. So, in other words, out of everyone polled, only a third of those polled wanted a manual (DIY) transmission. This comes as a surprise to most folks, considering the diehard community that comprises the Camaro scene, most figured a manual-only option was the diehards' only response. This however would be wrong.
Chevy has been holding Q&A sessions over at camaro5 which have been an awesome move from their marketing department/PR. Oh how technology moves. The sessions have been mostly a reiteration of information already divulged, but in terms of driving interest, I believe it has worked wonders for the ZL1. The final announcement for the decision on the transmission came last week at the Oshawa homecoming for the ZL1, where one lucky member of the forum was awarded with the chance to cruise around the parking lot in the ZL1 (What? You didn't think they were going to let him romp on it did you? Come on…). The decision was announced by Al Oppenheiser, GM's Chief Engineer for the Camaro on June 11th. Along with the automatic option, Oppenheiser alluded that the ZL1 will have a slightly higher final output than that of its cousin, the CTS-V from which its 6.2L supercharged LSA is sourced from. Also of note, but of no surprise, is the availability of the same Performance Traction Management on the ZL1 that is found on the Corvette ZR1. In the Corvette, PTM incorporates launch control, as well as the normal traction control, active handling and selective ride control systems.
So, over 550 horses, ZR1 PTM, with the option of an automatic, and the excitement of a 12 year old girl at a Bieber concert.
Now all we need is to see it in action. And maybe get those top secret 'ring times.
Just a little something to keep your appetite whet:
Camaro Still on top for Sales
The Camaro has been steadily upsetting the Mustang and Challenger in sales and deliveries taken since its debut. How big is the gap, you ask? Not small, and seems to be constantly maintaining a healthy distance from its competition over the last couple of months. It seems that the Camaro can't be stopped when it comes to the actual showdown. The Camaro has consistently topped Ford's beloved Mustang's sales for the 7th consecutive month. The delivery figures for the trio of American muscle rank the Camaro at the top by a margin of 22,342 cars as of May 2011 since April 2009. The year to date difference is 10,069 more Camaros have been sold than Mustangs, and 23,498 more Camaros than Challengers. The year to date number of Camaros taken for delivery is 40,275. So, in essence, almost 25% of what the Camaro has delivered is the lead on the Mustang. Not a bad sign for Chevy. Also considering the fact that the convertible has just been released in Camaro form, which should spark some more interest for a different demographic, not to mention the impending release of the monstrous ZL1 in the upcoming model year—Chevy should be proud of all it has accomplished thus far.
With a lot of Chevy's proverbial eggs in the same basket in their big push with the Volt, it's a great thing to see the Camaro still being a steady performer in a battered and rocky market. The upcoming release of the ZL1 should prove to be (hopefully) very successful, with the amount of hype it has received over the past year and a half. The supercharged LSA that Chevy has kept so tightly under wraps has proven to drive interest continually skyward. We couldn't be any more excited, and I'm sure the rest of the market that has so patiently waited for its release, poised and ready to drop the hammer, is ready to keep Chevy on top. Much awaits a very anxious market in the upcoming year, good on ya Chevy.
Camaro Taking Charge in the Drifting Scene
The Camaro, an unlikely candidate among the high revving, turbocharged import scene that makes up the drifting world, has made some big waves in the recent Formula Drift competition rounds. The big beast, with its roaring LS7, is far from the favorite competitor. The Formula Drift events take place over the course of the season which runs from early April until the first weekend in October. The events are a series of 7 rounds that follow a go, no-go head to head elimination format. The driver pool is narrowed down to the top 32 after 2 initial (non-consecutive) qualifying laps and then work their way down to the final two, to battle it out for the number one spot. Drivers are judged according to speed, line, angle, and whether or not they have the ability to hit their "clipping points"- basically the apexes and other racing lines on the track. The overall impression from a run also plays a major part in the decision- whether or not the run seemed sloppy, or rushed or panicked can affect the driver negatively if the opposing driver completes the track slower but has a more collected or calm feel to it. The judging is conducted by three judges that remain in the series for the duration of the season, promoting consistency of judging throughout the season.
The Camaro's are driven by none other than veteran Formula D drivers Conrad Grunewald who moved from his trusted platform of his C5 Z06 Corvette and Ryan Tuerck who migrated chassis's from the Gardella Racing Pontiac Solstice. What this means is there are two solid performers tearing up the asphalt with two very well built Camaro's.
The Gardella Racing Camaro Tuerck is driving, is decked to the hills with suspension components from Eibach and powered by a reworked LS7. Engine management is provided by AEM, and traction provided by Nitto NT05 tires wrapped around Enkei RPF-01's. Braking duties are dictated by Wilwood, while combustion and ignition duties are given to NGK, Brian Crower, and Ignite Racing Fuels. An ACT clutch helps put the power to the ground, while the exhaust scavenging duties are provided by Kooks. Altogether not a bad set up- especially considering the car is fully race prepped being stripped, caged and lightened and more than likely seam welded throughout the body. Most of us will never know what a dream that car probably is to drive.
However, Grunewald's car is a different beast altogether. He opted for an LSA crate motor transplant from the CTS-V (can you say ZL1…?) modified and putting somewhere near 600 stamping American horses to the Hankook tire shredding rear end. The suspension department is covered by Eibach and Pfadt- two names born and bred for the race track. Luke Lonberger and BR Racing took charge of the build and tuning the car to Conrad's standards. Conrad left his previous car and sponsors after a disagreement and inability to reach a middle ground with more team management in Grunewald's hands, so after much deliberation he decided to move forward on his own. Conrad Grunewald Racing was born and GM and Hankook agreed to lend a helping hand. The press release from Hankook went like this:
LOS GATOS, CA – BR Racing by Luke Lonberger in partnership with Conrad Grunewald Racing reveal they are in the process of building a 2010 Camaro SS in preparation for the 2010 Formula DRIFT Championship competition.
"I am very excited to be able to drive such an iconic American muscle car in the Formula DRIFT Championship," said Conrad Grunewald, driver and owner of Conrad Grunewald Racing. "Our main goal is to have the Camaro ready for the 2009 SEMA show but our preseason testing should start immediately after the show. I have a great amount of confidence that BR Racing and Luke Lonberger can build this Camaro into a highly competitive car and I look forward to getting back out on the track."
Hankook Tire Corporation will provide tire sponsorship for the 2010 Formula DRIFT season. Grunewald announced the Camaro will use Hankook Ventus R-S3 tires on custom Forgeline aluminum 3-piece wheels. The car is to be controlled by Eibach's Multi-Pro-R2 two-way adjustable dampers and coilovers. A GM Performance LS-A supercharged 6.2 liter V8 controlled by the AEM Universal EMS and expected to make over 600 RWHP will power the Camaro. All body work will be constructed with carbon fiber from Seibon Carbon.
The pair of Camaro's placed… wait for it... wait for it… 1st and 2nd at Round 2: Road to the Championship, at Road Atlanta in Braselton, GA on May 6th and 7th. This is of course after Grunewald's 1st place at Long Beach in Round 1. Grunewald is the only the second driver to achieve two consecutive 1st place finishes back to back (The first being Samuel Hubinette in 2007 in his Dodge Charger.) To see the two newest and most heavily watched (scrutinized for the car choice?) candidates soar to the top brandishing American muscle where Japanese power reigns supreme is a huge step for both of these companies and drivers and their respective teams. Both teams worked incredibly hard to get to this point, and although the season is still young, we can reasonably expect to see these two machines piloted by very capable drivers continue to place well over the coming months.
For more information on Formula Drift, visit www.formulad.com
For more information on each driver and/or his team visit:
http://www.gardellaracing.com/com/drift_about
