M/T: Camaro ZL1 1LE first test review

[kevm14]

Oh snap.

http://www.motortrend.com/cars/chevrole ... 800FA12D43

[kevm14]

A terrible thing happened back in December during our First Test of the then brand-new Camaro ZL1. Randy Pobst, our lap-record-setting machine/professional race car driver cohort, went out and ran a 1:26.16 lap in the manual version of the burly Camaro on the big track at Willow Springs International Raceway, aka Big Willow. Then he did 1:26.48 in the 10-speed automatic version. The problem was that the auto was supposed to be the quicker of the two. That slower time not only harshed my mellow but also blew the story. But as I’ve heard Randy say many times, that’s racing. With laps in the bag, our test team left, and while the rest of us were at lunch, a Camaro engineer who shall remain nameless convinced Randy to take another stab in the 650-horsepower 10-speed monster. The result was a 1:25.87 lap. Rather, the unofficial result was a 1:25.87 lap. We used the ZL1’s built-in Performance Data Recorder to grab that number, but alas, we had no GPS info to back up the claim. So it doesn’t count. Things happen.

Why was the test against the GT350R a slower time then? Confused...

[kevm14]

I mention the above because Camaro bossman Al Oppenheiser shared an after-dinner story with us about his new Camaro ZL1 1LE, the laser-focused track-day special version of the brutal ZL1. A Camaro engineer who I’m gonna name (Bill Wise) knocked off a 7:16.03 lap of the legendary Nordschleife circuit at the Nürburgring. For some perspective, a Ferrari Enzo did a 7:25.21, a Ferrari 488 GTB did a 7:21.63, and a Porsche 911 GT2 RS did a 7:18.00. Bill was driving a Camaro. Crazy, no? Want to hear crazier? That 7:16.03 is quicker than any other General Motors (cough, Corvette, cough) product has gone around the ’Ring. His time is also more than 13 seconds quicker than what the standard ZL1 has done, 7:29.60. Al’s story, however, was one of tragedy. A little window of time had suddenly opened up one afternoon in Germany, and Bill jumped into the red ZL1 1LE and managed to run a lap in the 7:13 neighborhood. A Lexus LFA Nürburgring package ran a 7:14.64. But because everything happened so fast, Team Camaro didn’t document it. No GoPro, no one thought to hit record on the PDR, no onboard data capture equipment—nothing. These things happen, though mostly it seems to Camaros.

Ok I mean you can read the article yourself...but damn.

[kevm14]

To get optimum damping, traction, and steering under those wildly different conditions, Chevy feels the best solution is spool-valve dampers. The Camaro team then took things one step further toward full-blown race car: The dampers are hard-mounted to the body. That’s right—the tires incorporate the only rubber in the suspension. There are no rubber bushings!

Well this ought to put the GT350R to bed nicely with plenty of "engaging" NVH. And performance.

[kevm14]

There are three variables you can tweak on the ZL1 1LE. The first is front-end ride height, which can be varied plus or minus 10 millimeters. Warning: Don’t drop the nose 10mm on the street, or you’ll be buying a new splitter. Out back, the anti-roll bar (or “stab bar,” as the Camaro team insists on calling it) can be put into one of three positions: neutral, more oversteer, or more understeer. Why would you want more understeer? It helps with high-speed stability. Plus, certain tracks induce more oversteer—or understeer—than others. The final piece of the adjustable puzzle is front-end camber. The trick shocks are topped off with groovy-looking blue-anodized camber plates. Jack the front up, remove three bolts, twist, and voilà, you have 3.7 degrees of tire-chewing negative camber. You know you love it. And hey, you might even need it.

Say what you want about "too many Camaro models." The thing is, they are all good, and they are all substantive and significant in their own way.