The Camaro ZL1 Versus the Corvette: Chevy Taking Aim at Itself?
There's a lot of news out there about the Camaro5 Fest coming up, and lots of other Camaro things dominating the various news feeds these days (February sales numbers, etc.), but I wanted to explore in theory another bit of news: the regular rumor that the ZL1 will come with a $47k price tag. It makes sense, the price associated with the 550HP supercharged monster of a Camaro, but it also raises some questions. Obviously, it puts it just below the Mustang GT500 by about $2500, so that's meant to be its primary competition--and the two vehicles stack of amazingly well to one another on paper--but it also puts the Camaro ZL1 right in line with the base C6 Corvette, for an interesting thought: will the ZL1 Camaro take away from Corvette sales, or vice-versa?
At first, the Camaro and the Corvette seem like two very different vehicles: one's a heavy, HP concerned, more affordable pony car; the other's a lightweight, race-inspired, monster of an American muscle car. Those differences though will ultimately be made much less apparent when the two vehicles hit the track. The extra weight of the Camaro will be negated by the increased HP load, and the MRC suspension given to each vehicle will help them both handle the course equally well. The notoriously difficult to control rear-end of the Corvette may even seem less responsive than the Camaro when on a windier track--a thought that's fairly impressive to think about. So, when the comparisons hit the web of the two vehicles (and we know they're inevitable) I'm incredibly excited to see how the two vehicles, which are almost identical in price, fair against one another. It's pretty fair to assume that the Camaro, with the extra HP and vastly improved suspension, will outperform the Mustang GT500 readily, and be right in line with the lighter and more race-specific Corvette's performance numbers. What separates these two vehicles at that point then? A MPG rating that will certainly be a little better on the Corvette, or the Camaro's extra back-seat? Maybe the argument for a consumer ultimately comes down to a battle of style and namesake (the Camaro's beloved by the population, but few vehicle or vehicle names hearken back to such incredible thoughts as the Corvette does) between the two vehicles? I'm afraid that Chevrolet's gearing up to compete with itself here, and I'm not sure if that business move will be a good one in the long run. As it stands right now, the Camaro outsells the Mustang and Challenger handily, and the Corvette stands as the next step up. When two options from the same company exist in the same market point, how will they help/hinder one another?
I'm not sure how these vehicles will affect the market-shares of each other, but, I do think that as competition goes the ZL1 and the C6 Corvette will be more in line with each other than the SRT8 392 Challenger or GT500 Mustang are. What do you think? Obviously, the ZL1's going to be an amazing vehicle and a great step forward by Chevrolet as a company--but will it be a successful business move? Since the restructuring of GM, this question begs to be asked about every move they make.
Hennessey Camaro, or the Camaro ZR1 (if you will)!
Hennessey, the vehicle tuning shop out of Texas run and operated by John Hennessey, has been making fast cars go a lot faster for a long time now. Over the last 20 years they've introduced twin-turbo Venom Vipers, suped up 911 Twin Turbos, 1000+ HP Ford GTs, and that's just beginning to scratch the surface of what they're capable of. Well, their newest endeavor is one of their most impressive. Hennesey has taken the ever impressive LS9 (more commonly known as the stage 1 rocket booster powering the Corvette ZR1) which was already pumping 638 bhp, amped up its BHP output to 725 with some ingenious touches, and dropped it in a 2010 Camaro. Sounds like a whole lot of fun, doesn't it?
So, an extra 100hp out of an already extremely powerful motor is no easy task, how did the Hennesey guys do it? They started by installing a smaller pulley on the blower's snout, which effectively raised the supercharger's peak boost from 11.0 psi to 14.5 psi. After the shortened pulley, they installed a custom created carbon fiber 4 inch cold air intake system, utilizing a K&N cone nose filter, and paired that with a more efficient central plenum which utilized improved air to water heat exchangers to help the engine run cooler and stronger. Not finding themselves satisfied there, they also installed 1 7/8" long tube headers, which run down to a 3 inch center X-Pipe, and improved stainless high flow cats. All of these exhaust modifications equate to a more powerful, wider breathing exhaust system, with a deliciously rich exhaust note on the end. Basically, this car not only flies, but really sounds like it as well.
Of course, there were some issues with the LS9 install in the Camaro. Typically housing a LS3 V-8, the size difference between the LS9 and LS3 was not much, so very little engine bay modification was necessary to make the engine drop in and sit. The electronics though, were something totally different. According to Hennessey, in the modern Camaro system all vehicle systems communicate with one another (from the air bags to the radio to the fuel pump), and perfecting a computer system which utilized the new engine's electronics with the pre-existing Camaro vehicle was no easy task. Hennessey did figure it out though, and then went about modifying the Camaro's fuel delivery system, which ultimately required a very intensive reworking. The LS9 requires 40psi more fuel which meant that larger injectors, a higher volume fuel pump, and new fuel rails were ultimately installed as well.
Through all of this, you have one of the meanest sounding and performing Camaros ever created, but now one must beg the question: Well, how does it look? The answer to that, quiet simply, is fantastic! While it will ultimately be available in any color combination desired, right now Hennessey has it in Cyber Gray Metallic with Blue Hockey Stick Accent striping. Adorned with carbon fiber ground effects spoilers and body kit touches, and a slightly wider wheel stance, make this car looks fantastic. Add to that the gorgeous 18 spoke wheels, housing the gigantic Brembo brakes and KW complete coil-over kit, and the exterior of this vehicle is very striking and beautiful. Inside, the Hennessey Camaro has a fairly standard Camaro look. All leather, and upgraded trim touches are some of the few visible touches, apart from the short-shifter. This fantastic feeling, short throw racing shifter, looks great and custom in the center of the Camaro does a lot for the vehicle.
All of this said, the vehicle does have some issues. Currently, there's no transmission that can make the most of the powerful engine, and the engine's 741lb-feet of torque will very literally shred the Camaro tires. Because of this, and the general weight of the Camaro, the car isn't as fast as one would expect, ultimately. It does handle fantastically, and is more nimble than the stock Camaro, but that's still not enough of a difference. The Hennessey Camaro (which is almost 100 HP stronger) is .8 seconds slower than the Corvette ZR1 to 60mph. The Hennessey Camaro is also .6 seconds slower the quarter mile than the ZR1 Corvette, but is a full second faster than the Camaro SS. The vehicle does handle well and look great, but some more work is necessary before it is seemingly worth its $125,000 price tag. (Compared to the $31,000 for the Camaro SS and the $107,000 price tag of the Corvette ZR1).
