In Russia the Chevrolet Camaro muscle car is normally sold only with the basic turbocharged four-cylinder engine of 238 horsepower. At home in the USA the range is far wider, with V6 and V8 options, and the flagship ZL1 is formidable: a supercharged LT4 V8 producing 650 horsepower.
325 km/h at Papenburg
The Camaro ZL1 was recently put through its paces at the high-speed Papenburg track in Germany. It reached 325 km/h (202 mph) in one direction and 311 km/h (193 mph) in the other on the 12-kilometer circuit, which has demanding banked turns. The official top speed for the super-Camaro is therefore 318 km/h (198 mph). At the Daytona 500, the race that opens the new NASCAR season, Chevrolet then pulled the covers off something more extreme still: the Camaro ZL1 1LE.
What the 1LE Package Adds
The 1LE package is not reserved for the flagship — it is offered on lower Camaro trims too, bringing upgraded brakes, extra spoilers, an improved cooling system, bespoke suspension settings, a self-locking differential, Recaro sports seats, a dual-mode exhaust with acoustic valves, and a built-in video recorder that logs speed and acceleration. The ZL1 1LE nonetheless stands apart: a massive front splitter, corner canards, a carbon-fiber rear wing and distinctive 19-inch wheels make the point at a glance.
The Chassis
The ZL1 1LE chassis follows the playbook of track-focused sports cars. The engineers fitted Multimatic dampers with the company’s DSSV spool valves, and added adjustable sway bars and strut mounts so camber can be changed quickly. Between those changes and the Goodyear Eagle F1 Supercar 3R tires developed specifically for the car, the ZL1 1LE pulls up to 1.1g of lateral acceleration in corners.
Brakes – with six-piston Brembo calipers and composite discs
Multimatic shock absorbers with DSSV spool valves
Lighter, and Manual Only
The track Camaro is also 27 kg lighter, thanks to forged wheel rims, thinner rear glass and a fixed rear bench. It comes exclusively with a six-speed manual gearbox, where the standard 650-horsepower ZL1 can also be had with a ten-speed automatic. In testing, the 1LE lapped Milford’s proving ground three seconds faster than the regular ZL1.
The price of the 1LE package has not been announced. The Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 starts at $61,000 in the U.S. This is a car built not merely to go on track, but to dominate one.
Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE: The Key Facts
- Engine: supercharged LT4 V8, 650 horsepower
- Top speed of the ZL1: officially 318 km/h (198 mph), from runs of 325 and 311 km/h at Papenburg
- Grip: up to 1.1g lateral, on Goodyear Eagle F1 Supercar 3R tires made for the car
- Dampers: Multimatic with DSSV spool valves; adjustable sway bars and strut mounts
- Weight: 27 kg less than the standard ZL1
- Transmission: six-speed manual only
- Lap time: three seconds quicker than the ZL1 at Milford
Frequently Asked Questions
How fast is the ZL1? Officially 318 km/h, or 198 mph. The figure comes from two runs at Papenburg — 325 km/h one way, 311 km/h the other.
What does 1LE change? Brakes, aerodynamics, cooling, suspension, a self-locking differential, Recaro seats, a dual-mode exhaust and a data-logging video recorder. On the ZL1 it also brings a splitter, canards, a carbon-fiber wing and 19-inch wheels.
Is there an automatic? Not on the 1LE. It is six-speed manual only, though the standard ZL1 offers a ten-speed automatic.
What does it cost? The 1LE package price was not announced. A Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 starts at $61,000 in the U.S.
Photo: Vasily Kostin
This is a translation. You can read an original article here: На гонке NASCAR представили трековое купе Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE
Published September 18, 2024 • 3m to read
