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?
Popular WindRestrictor Coming for Camaro Convertibles
Extremely Popular Corvette WindRestrictor Product Coming Soon for Camaro Convertibles
The etched acetate and LED lit Convertible WindRestrictor Product that has taken the Corvette world by storm will be available for Camaro Convertible owners as well. (1/21/2012)
The Corvette community has fallen in love with the WindRestrictor convertible wind screen by King Penn Industries, and with good reason. While browsing through their YouTube channel I stumbled across a video yesterday that shows, without question, that they're about to release a new version of their popular Camaro WindRestrictor for the Camaro Convertible as well.
The product sets itself apart from other wind screens--a common product for the Corvette line and one I'm sure to see begin picking up popularity in the Camaro line as well--by combining the incredible functionality and wind buffering of others, but with a gorgeous and stylistic visual design. The piece is made from high quality materials that are certain to retain their look and finish for quiet some time, and which are finished with your choice of GM official licensed engravings/etchings, and LED light options. The lights provide a fantastic look, and are able to be turned on and off. If you want even more show from them, also, there's also an option for a special LED package that includes remote control and availability of switching between all color options, with dimmer and fader functions.
Here's the video for you to check it out for yourself:
And their press release concerning the new product:
"Introducing the brand new, patent pending Windrestrictor for the Camaro Convertible from King Penn Industries Inc. No we do not own rights to this song but it is All American just like the Chevy Camaro so we hope you enjoy! This product is now available through our online shop at www.KingPennIndustries.com or simply give us a call at 972-487-5987. The all new Camaro Windrestrictor is an official licensed product of GM. Our product will fit the SS Super Sport, and all other models of the Camaro Convertible. Our patent pending design is the only product in the world that you can fully customize. You can choose from multiple color options. We offer Red, Blue, Green, Yellow, Orange, Purple and Pink LED illumination systems. Or, if you prefer, we offer an "Extreme Lighting Kit" with remote control. This option allows you to choose whichever color you want at any given time. It also has a fading option that is HOT for car shows. Our product will be featured at the world of wheels show in the Grabiac Chevrolet Booth as make sure and stop by and check it out! Our windscreen for the Chevy Camaro is also customizable with different graphics options. You can choose from multiple GM licensed graphics or you can use your own and make it custom! Don't do another burn out without having one of these hot, head turning products on your Camaro. It's the best personalized accessory for the Camaro that is available today. Also, it's brand new so be the first in your city to have one! There is no comparrison between our version and others on the market. We also have this awesome product available for the Chevrolet Corvette, Cadillac XLR, Pontiac Solstice, Saturn Sky, Crossfire, Mercedes SLK, Honda S2000 and the Porsche Boxster. If you were to do a side by side review ours would wind hands down every time! The Windrestrictor for the Camaro is already highly reviewed by owners! This is the only personalized Camaro Windscreen in the world! Windrestrictor is a registered trademark of King Penn Industries Inc. All GM Trademarks are used under licencse to King Penn Industries Inc. If anyone knows about GM coming out with a convertible model of the Camaro ZL1 please let us know! Don't wait another day to add this product to your wish list of Camaro Accessories!"
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.
Non-Camaro News: Chevrolet Shows off two new Sporty Concepts at Detroit Auto Show
Chevrolet Rules Detroit Auto Show with new Concepts
Chevrolet's new 130R concept, based on the Alpha Platform designed for the 2015 Camaro, was the runaway hit at last week's Detroit Auto Show.
It appears that Chevrolet has learned from the success of its Camaro. The current hottest market in the automotive world (maybe with exception to the pony car market, of course) is the $20,000 and less, 40mpg small-car market for the "millenial generation". Chevy recently released the Sonic in to this market and the reviews and original sales have been incredibly promising. Of course, with the Sonic going up against a bevy of other vehicles like the Honda Fit, Hyundai Veloster, and vehicles from Ford, Mazda, Scion, etc. just being stylish, affordable, and having great gas mileage isn't enough. In this crowding market, you need something to help you stand apart, and the 130R has plenty of things.
There's no denying the stylistic influence of the Camaro in this gorgeous sporty sub-compact entry.
This new concept, whose styling is very obviously based on the very popular Camaro, is an incredible vehicle and one I'd love to see Chevrolet begin producing. First, there's the Alpha Platform. This platform, which was designed by Chevrolet for use on the Cadillac ATS, the 2015 Camaro, and the next-generation Cadillac CTS allows for an affordable RWD base for the 130R. By producing a RWD vehicle in this market, Chevrolet's already setting themselves apart from the rest of the market. The RWD platform, which is mostly unheard of in this market share with sole exception to the soon to be released Scion FR-S, will help make this car a sporty, fun driving entry.
At sub-$20,000, with RWD and 40mpg EPA rating, this vehicle would be a definite hit.
In addition to the fascinating RWD platform, and the gorgeous styling, this car also promises to feature some other goodies that will be sure to drive its sales. The engine looks to be the 140hp 1.4L Ecotec, which is right in line with the other vehicles in this market sector and will certainly provide the benchmark 40mpg rating that every manufacturer is fighting for. However, the platform and vehicle size also mean that the turbocharged 2.0L Ecotec engine developed for the Cadillac ATS would also fit inside this car. That engine, and its 270HP output, could potentially be released as a special, or high-end edition of this vehicle and provide some great performance numbers in such a small and sporty RWD vehicle. In fact, the release of such a vehicle--if it were able to be sold below the $30k--would certainly generate a great deal of buzz.
The tail-lights and rear-end on this RWD Chevrolet 130R concept vehicle are very Camaro-esque.
So, what do you think? Is this mini-Camaro a good move for Chevrolet? All signs point to them expecting positive results, as Chevrolet did lots of market research on its design and the concept present at the Detroit Auto Show was actually very near finished. If Chevrolet found reason to, one could believably see them entering in to production on this vehicle within a year's time--a move that I, personally, would love to see. I'd love to have one of these in my garage as a fuel-efficient daily driver to supplement my Camaro SS. Both would be gorgeous, fun, and stand-out vehicles in their market!
Your Daily ZL1 Fix – Lots of new ZL1 Videos
Seven Great Video Finds for the ZL1
With the release of the Camaro ZL1 getting closer, the number of videos concerning the vehicle that are hitting the web is rapidly growing.
The ZL1 will be hitting showroom floors in a few months time, and in the slow build up to that date there will certainly be tons of videos hitting the internet. Here's a collection of six great ones that were recently released and feature the Camaro ZL1, and the seventh one is a a little bit different: it's the complete Camaro segment from the National Geographic show 'Ultimate Factories' that shows the production of the Camaro from start to finish. Be sure to check them out and grow even more envious for the Camaro ZL1. I can't wait for the day when I'm watching one on the road and not the computer screen.
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.
Camaro ZL1 Gets a Price Tag
Chevrolet officially announced the base price for the new Camaro ZL1 coupe, and it's actually a little higher than I had expected. The new Camaro ZL1 will start at $54,995 (just shy of $55k) and go up in price from there based on options selected. It's a lot to pay for a Camaro, yes, but this is also a 580HP supercharged monster of a Camaro sporting MRS-Suspension.
Of course, even at $55k, this car is still a great bargain. To find cars against which the Camaro compares, you'll have to look in the $150k+ range--at least, as far as performance is concerned.
What do you think? Is $55k a fair price for this monster ride? It costs the same as a base C6 Corvette, which would you rather have at that price?
Also, for those interested, here's the official full color, photo-filled, 23 page Chevrolet brochure marketing the ZL1 in .pdf form. Enjoy! Camaro ZL1 Marketing Brochure
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.