Camaro 2012 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1: 2011 Chicago Auto Show
- Thread starter HighestOfHigh
- Start date
Beemer B773ER
Tire Trailblazer
Impressive car and mtor...but in terms of visual appeal, this can't hold a candle to the Shelby GT500 Super Snake. That's American muscle at its best!
Ohh..yeeaah! (Randy Savage style)
Ohh..yeeaah! (Randy Savage style)
Sunny
Premium
I like the vanilla Camaro over Mustang, but ZL1 over a GT500? not so sure, maybe if I see one in real life. I have seen a GT500 - a silver with black stripes parked on street side. It just screams "bad ass". Only problem is, it has so much freaking personality, you have to be Will Smith to carry it off.
Merc1
Premium
Trust me Martin, the Camaro's interior is a horrible, ugly mess of a place. I see they have at least fixed the steering wheel with the ZL1. The other models still have the ugly, ill-shaped steering wheel. The design deserves so much better.
M
The solution is just to have both, if you were a rich man. I would, once the fix the interior of the Camaro.
M
M
The solution is just to have both, if you were a rich man. I would, once the fix the interior of the Camaro.
M
Oh the Camero isn`t that bad Merc1.
I actually have been in both cars and I will admit, the Mustang has a slightly better design. The quality is about the same for both cars.
Thing is... you really sit deep in the Camero. Remember, your Pony cars are supposed to have that stripped-down look to them.
This ZL1 is really hot!
It`s going to be on the heavy side though but it should perform very well.
It will blow the doors of your standard Audi RS5 or BMW M3. The upcomeing C63 AMG coupe might give it a hard time. (let alone the Black-Series.)
I actually have been in both cars and I will admit, the Mustang has a slightly better design. The quality is about the same for both cars.
Thing is... you really sit deep in the Camero. Remember, your Pony cars are supposed to have that stripped-down look to them.
This ZL1 is really hot!
It`s going to be on the heavy side though but it should perform very well.
It will blow the doors of your standard Audi RS5 or BMW M3. The upcomeing C63 AMG coupe might give it a hard time. (let alone the Black-Series.)
^
The owners seem to agree with me. It`s not the best interior in the world but definitly not as bad as your saying.
Here is how the 2010 Camero rates on "Features Accessories Quality Design" from JDPower.com
Body and Interior Quality Design?
A tiny bit above average if you add up the two scores. Not bad for an American Pony car.
The owners seem to agree with me. It`s not the best interior in the world but definitly not as bad as your saying.
Here is how the 2010 Camero rates on "Features Accessories Quality Design" from JDPower.com
Body and Interior Quality Design?
A tiny bit above average if you add up the two scores. Not bad for an American Pony car.
HighestOfHigh
Cornering Kingpin
The interior isn't the worst thing in the world. But I have to agree with Merc1 the interior could have been way better. It's the only let down about the car.
The whole set up is so blah and messy. The whole radio area looks like an aftermarket job. I know they are trying to do retro, but sometimes it doesn't work out for the best.
I personally don't want an 80's interior in my 2011 car. I still love the exterior though.
The whole set up is so blah and messy. The whole radio area looks like an aftermarket job. I know they are trying to do retro, but sometimes it doesn't work out for the best.
I personally don't want an 80's interior in my 2011 car. I still love the exterior though.
^
Yeah, I agree with you that thay could have done better with the retro treatment. It`s amazing how the european cars do retro way better than
American cars.
Anyway I just checked the quality review of the 2010 Camero from Consumer Report magazine. The Camero is a good car. It got the exact same scores as the Mercedes S550, plus thay recommend the Camero as a very good car.
Yeah, I agree with you that thay could have done better with the retro treatment. It`s amazing how the european cars do retro way better than
American cars.
Anyway I just checked the quality review of the 2010 Camero from Consumer Report magazine. The Camero is a good car. It got the exact same scores as the Mercedes S550, plus thay recommend the Camero as a very good car.
Merc1
Premium
We're talking about Chevy owners. The people I know that have them don't really care or know about such things as true high quality interiors. They bought the car for style and power. The interior sucks don't care what Consumer Reports says.
Just because they give it the same rating as the S550 doesn't mean a thing really. They aren't judging the car to the same standards as the S550 and if they think its a great handling car then they're clueless. Seasoned sources of information about such things have griped continuously about the car. Understeer and a piss-poor cheap, ugly interior. Fix that and I would seriously consider one for a fun type car.
Grip the steering wheel and tell me its ok. Run your hand over the secondary gauges on the center console and tell me they don't feel like they're going to fall off or break in your hand. There is no excuse for such interiors in a GM product anymore with the CTS, SRX and other GM products being produced with really good interiors. More importantly the Mustang has a better interior.
M
Just because they give it the same rating as the S550 doesn't mean a thing really. They aren't judging the car to the same standards as the S550 and if they think its a great handling car then they're clueless. Seasoned sources of information about such things have griped continuously about the car. Understeer and a piss-poor cheap, ugly interior. Fix that and I would seriously consider one for a fun type car.
Grip the steering wheel and tell me its ok. Run your hand over the secondary gauges on the center console and tell me they don't feel like they're going to fall off or break in your hand. There is no excuse for such interiors in a GM product anymore with the CTS, SRX and other GM products being produced with really good interiors. More importantly the Mustang has a better interior.
M
JHF
Driving Dynamics Pro
2015 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
A final romp in Chevrolet's mightiest Camaro.
Things have changed since the Camaro ZL1 bullied its way back on the scene for the 2012 model year. A 580-hp 6.2-liter LSA V-8 and a sense of tactile refinement that veiled the beast within led many people to believe that the ZL1 stretched the pony-car blueprint to its limits.
They were wrong.
Within months of the ZL1’s arrival, Ford unleashed the Mustang Shelby GT500, a 662-hp schoolyard taunt hurled in the Chevy’s direction. While those two were busy duking it out—here they are in our comparison test—Chrysler was laying the groundwork for the completely bonkers, 707-hp 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat, a car that trumps them both in terms of raw muscle.
But while the ZL1 received many of the updates made to the rest of the Camaro lineup for the 2014 model year—excepting the new front fascia, as it didn’t allow the ZL1 to breathe as well—it was completely overshadowed by the slightly less powerful but more track-focused and iconically badged Camaro Z/28. To see how our impressions of the ZL1 have held up since our last test, we strapped on a 2015 model for one last go-round before the Camaro shifts to GM’s Alpha platform next year.
The objective of the ZL1-specific exterior aesthetic elements remains the same as before: maximize cooling and minimize lift. A unique fascia and hood are designed to increase engine and brake cooling and to help create downforce. The rear spoiler adds roughly 150 pounds of downforce to the package. The rockers are also shaped for optimal airflow and downforce. Hidden from view are the two turbulence-quelling panels attached underneath the car.
With output of 580 horsepower and 556 lb-ft of twist at 4200 rpm, the ZL1 is no longer the most potent pony in the herd, but it remains capable of humbling plenty of steeds. The 6.2-liter supercharged V-8 still delivers the smooth, linear accelerative rush we found so addictive when the car debuted. Unsurprisingly, the performance numbers we extracted from our 2015 ZL1 test car fell in line with those posted three years ago by a 2012 version: Both cars clocked an impressive 4.1 seconds in the 0-to-60 run, the newer car taking one tenth longer to trip the quarter-mile lights with a 12.4-second run. Rowing the Tremec six-speed manual’s husky shifter is a bit cumbersome in traffic, but it feels oh-so-right when it comes time to hustle, and anything lighter in action would be an affront to the ZL1’s personality. Just the same, a six-speed automatic is available.
Braking capability—a ZL1 strongpoint from day one—hasn’t moved far from the mark, either. The pedal is firm and modulation is easy. Posting a 157-foot figure in our 70-to-0-mph measure, the 2015 ZL1 is in league with its contemporaries; the heavy 2015 Dodge Challenger R/T Scat Pack did the deed in a surprisingly economical 151 feet, while the no-compromises 2014 Camaro Z/28 required 155 feet to come to a halt.
Aided by GM’s third-generation Magnetic Ride Control adaptive shocks, our 4118-pound ZL1 danced far better than it had a right to. A few circles around our 300-foot skidpad revealed 0.99 g of grip, the beefy 20-inch Goodyear Eagle F1 Supercar G:2 radials (285/35 front, 305/35 rear) hanging tight. Considering the amount of physics-defying grip on tap, it’s surprising how true the ZL1 tracks on uneven broken pavement. Living with this superpony on a day-to-day basis is definitely an option.
Although the switch to the Alpha platform will result in a lighter, leaner Camaro with a smaller footprint, Chevy hasn’t let slip if or when a ZL1 version of the next-gen Camaro might materialize. So if the ZL1 is the Camaro of your dreams, you better act fast. After all, it took Chevrolet more than 40 years to resurrect it the last time.
SPECIFICATIONS
VEHICLE TYPE: front-engine, rear-wheel-drive, 4-passenger, 2-door coupe
PRICE AS TESTED: $61,240 (base price $57,650)
ENGINE TYPE: supercharged and intercooled pushrod 16-valve V-8, aluminum block and heads, port fuel injection
Displacement: 376 cu in, 6162 cc
Power: 580 hp @ 6000 rpm
Torque: 556 lb-ft @ 4200 rpm
TRANSMISSION: 6-speed manual
DIMENSIONS:
Wheelbase: 112.3 in
Length: 190.6 in
Width: 75.5 in Height: 54.2 in
Curb weight: 4118 lb
C/D TEST RESULTS:
Zero to 60 mph: 4.1 sec
Zero to 100 mph: 9.1 sec
Zero to 130 mph: 15.2 sec
Zero to 150 mph: 22.9 sec
Rolling start, 5-60 mph: 4.7 sec
Top gear, 30-50 mph: 7.9 sec
Top gear, 50-70 mph: 6.7 sec
Standing ¼-mile: 12.4 sec @ 117 mph
Top speed (drag limited, est): 181 mph
Braking, 70-0 mph: 157 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft-dia skidpad: 0.99 g
FUEL ECONOMY:
EPA city/highway: 14/19 mpg
C/D observed: 15 mpg
http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/2015-chevrolet-camaro-zl1-test-review
A final romp in Chevrolet's mightiest Camaro.
Things have changed since the Camaro ZL1 bullied its way back on the scene for the 2012 model year. A 580-hp 6.2-liter LSA V-8 and a sense of tactile refinement that veiled the beast within led many people to believe that the ZL1 stretched the pony-car blueprint to its limits.
They were wrong.
Within months of the ZL1’s arrival, Ford unleashed the Mustang Shelby GT500, a 662-hp schoolyard taunt hurled in the Chevy’s direction. While those two were busy duking it out—here they are in our comparison test—Chrysler was laying the groundwork for the completely bonkers, 707-hp 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat, a car that trumps them both in terms of raw muscle.
But while the ZL1 received many of the updates made to the rest of the Camaro lineup for the 2014 model year—excepting the new front fascia, as it didn’t allow the ZL1 to breathe as well—it was completely overshadowed by the slightly less powerful but more track-focused and iconically badged Camaro Z/28. To see how our impressions of the ZL1 have held up since our last test, we strapped on a 2015 model for one last go-round before the Camaro shifts to GM’s Alpha platform next year.
The objective of the ZL1-specific exterior aesthetic elements remains the same as before: maximize cooling and minimize lift. A unique fascia and hood are designed to increase engine and brake cooling and to help create downforce. The rear spoiler adds roughly 150 pounds of downforce to the package. The rockers are also shaped for optimal airflow and downforce. Hidden from view are the two turbulence-quelling panels attached underneath the car.
With output of 580 horsepower and 556 lb-ft of twist at 4200 rpm, the ZL1 is no longer the most potent pony in the herd, but it remains capable of humbling plenty of steeds. The 6.2-liter supercharged V-8 still delivers the smooth, linear accelerative rush we found so addictive when the car debuted. Unsurprisingly, the performance numbers we extracted from our 2015 ZL1 test car fell in line with those posted three years ago by a 2012 version: Both cars clocked an impressive 4.1 seconds in the 0-to-60 run, the newer car taking one tenth longer to trip the quarter-mile lights with a 12.4-second run. Rowing the Tremec six-speed manual’s husky shifter is a bit cumbersome in traffic, but it feels oh-so-right when it comes time to hustle, and anything lighter in action would be an affront to the ZL1’s personality. Just the same, a six-speed automatic is available.
Braking capability—a ZL1 strongpoint from day one—hasn’t moved far from the mark, either. The pedal is firm and modulation is easy. Posting a 157-foot figure in our 70-to-0-mph measure, the 2015 ZL1 is in league with its contemporaries; the heavy 2015 Dodge Challenger R/T Scat Pack did the deed in a surprisingly economical 151 feet, while the no-compromises 2014 Camaro Z/28 required 155 feet to come to a halt.
Aided by GM’s third-generation Magnetic Ride Control adaptive shocks, our 4118-pound ZL1 danced far better than it had a right to. A few circles around our 300-foot skidpad revealed 0.99 g of grip, the beefy 20-inch Goodyear Eagle F1 Supercar G:2 radials (285/35 front, 305/35 rear) hanging tight. Considering the amount of physics-defying grip on tap, it’s surprising how true the ZL1 tracks on uneven broken pavement. Living with this superpony on a day-to-day basis is definitely an option.
Although the switch to the Alpha platform will result in a lighter, leaner Camaro with a smaller footprint, Chevy hasn’t let slip if or when a ZL1 version of the next-gen Camaro might materialize. So if the ZL1 is the Camaro of your dreams, you better act fast. After all, it took Chevrolet more than 40 years to resurrect it the last time.
SPECIFICATIONS
VEHICLE TYPE: front-engine, rear-wheel-drive, 4-passenger, 2-door coupe
PRICE AS TESTED: $61,240 (base price $57,650)
ENGINE TYPE: supercharged and intercooled pushrod 16-valve V-8, aluminum block and heads, port fuel injection
Displacement: 376 cu in, 6162 cc
Power: 580 hp @ 6000 rpm
Torque: 556 lb-ft @ 4200 rpm
TRANSMISSION: 6-speed manual
DIMENSIONS:
Wheelbase: 112.3 in
Length: 190.6 in
Width: 75.5 in Height: 54.2 in
Curb weight: 4118 lb
C/D TEST RESULTS:
Zero to 60 mph: 4.1 sec
Zero to 100 mph: 9.1 sec
Zero to 130 mph: 15.2 sec
Zero to 150 mph: 22.9 sec
Rolling start, 5-60 mph: 4.7 sec
Top gear, 30-50 mph: 7.9 sec
Top gear, 50-70 mph: 6.7 sec
Standing ¼-mile: 12.4 sec @ 117 mph
Top speed (drag limited, est): 181 mph
Braking, 70-0 mph: 157 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft-dia skidpad: 0.99 g
FUEL ECONOMY:
EPA city/highway: 14/19 mpg
C/D observed: 15 mpg
http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/2015-chevrolet-camaro-zl1-test-review
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