The 580HP 2012 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

Our old pal Jonny Lieberman gets to have all the fun. The former Autoblog editor now gets to play with multiple supercars at a time for his post at Motor Trend. As part of MT's Best Driver's Car award process, Lieberman and the rest of the magazine's team quarter-mile all of the year's contenders in what they call "The World's Greatest Drag Race." Based on the contenders, we're inclined to agree with their bluster.

While last year's race saw the Nissan GT-R edge out the Ferrari 458 Italia, this year features a few new contenders, including the Lamborghini Aventador and McLaren MP4-12C. Other contestants include the Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Black Series, Chevy Camaro ZL1, Ford Mustang Shelby GT500, Subaru BRZ, Jaguar XKR-S and Porsche 911 Carrera S, which – spoiler alert – actually won the Best Driver's Car award this year. Oh, and the updated version of Nissan's GT-R makes a repeat appearance, but no Ferraris are in the field this year.

A special thanks should go out to the Subaru BRZ. It was so far behind the competition that it provided many of the wide-angle shots that captured the whole rest of the field. The straight line is not the forte of a 200-horsepower drift-o-matic, but a fourth place finish in this year's Best Driver's Car competition is a mighty feat for this seemingly outmatched sports car.

The biggest competition in this drag race will be from the new Aventador and the MP4-12C. Do they have enough to take on a new Godzilla? You're just going to have to scroll down to find out. And make sure to stick around for the closing credits to hear each one of these contenders rev their engine in a sweet mechanical symphony.

News Source: AutoBlog.com, Motor Trend via YouTube

2012 ZL1 Camaro Take Two

2012 ZL1 Camaro

The 2012 ZL1 a supercharged LSA V-8, borrowed from the Cadillac CTS-V. Producing an estimated 550 hp with the actual output of the original and 550 lb ft of torque from the 6.2 liter beast, this burly Camaro is seemingly built to tear up drag strips rather than road courses. A short-throw, six-speed Tremec manual transmission.

ZL1 Camaro Rear

 

ZL1 Camaro Upgrades

Interior ZL1 Camaro

ZL1 Upgraded Seats

Supercharged 2012 ZL1 Camaro Engine

ZL1 Camaro Engine Bay

The ZL1 comes stock with the beefed-up driveshaft and differential with asymmetrical half-shafts; the latter twist fat, 305-width ZL1-specific Goodyear Supercar F1 gumballs. The 20-inch forged wheels are 10 inches wide in the front and 11 in the rear, but the overall wheel and tire package is 22 pounds lighter than the Camaro SS's narrower 20-inch setup. It is estimated the ZL1 will cover the 0-to-60-mph run in four seconds flat, while 0 to 100 mph should be accomplished in 9.9 seconds and the quarter-mile in 12.5. Two piece Brembo rotors, measuring 14.6 inches in the front and 14.4 in the rear, and six and four piston calipers are the centerpieces of the braking system. Like the the Corvette models drivers can choose between Tour and Sport settings. The ZL1 also marks the introduction of a new electric power steering system. Weight is said to be about the same as the Camaro SS's, which puts this Camaro at 3900 pounds.

2012 ZL1 Camaro

2012 ZL1

PRELIMINARY SPECIFICATIONS


Overview
Model:  Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
Body style / driveline:   four-passenger, front-engine, rear-drive coupe
Construction:  unitized body frame, one- and two-sided galvanized steel
EPA vehicle class:   coupe
Manufacturing location:   Oshawa, Ontario, Canada
Key competitors:   Ford Mustang Shelby GT500

Engines
  LSA 6.2L Supercharged V-8
Displacement (cu in / cc):  376 / 6162
Bore & stroke (in / mm):  4.06 / 103.25 x 3.62 / 92 mm
Block material:  cast aluminum
Cylinder head material:  cast aluminum
Valvetrain:  overhead valve, two valves per cylinder 
Fuel delivery:  1.9L supercharger with intercooler; sequential fuel injection
Compression ratio:  9.1:1
Horsepower (hp / kW @
rpm):
550 / 410 @ 6100 (estimated)
Torque (lb-ft / Nm @ rpm):  550 / 745 @ 3800 (estimated)
Recommended fuel:  premium required
Maximum engine speed
(rpm):
6200

Transmission
  Tremec TR6060 six-speed manual 
Gear ratios (:1):  
     First:  2.66
     Second:  1.78
     Third:  1.30
     Fourth:  1.00
     Fifth:  0.80
     Sixth:  0.63
     Reverse:  2.90
Final drive ratio:  3.73

Chassis / Suspension
Front:   double-ball-joint, multi-link strut; direct-acting stabilizer
bar; progressive-rate coil springs; with Magnetic Ride
Control
Rear:  4.5-link independent; progressive-rate coil springs over
shocks; stabilizer bar; with Magnetic Ride Control
Steering type:   electric power steering with variable-ratio, variable-effort
rack-and-pinion
Steering ratio:  16.1:1
Steering wheel turns, lock-to-lock:  2.5
Turning circle, curb-to-curb (ft / m):   37.7/11.5

Brakes
Type:  four-wheel disc w/ ABS; ventilated two-piece front and one-piece rear rotors; six-piston fixed Brembo aluminum front
and four-piston rear calipers
Rotor diameter, front (in / mm):  14.6 / 370
Rotor diameter, rear (in / mm):  14.4 / 365
Rotor thickness, front (in / mm):  1.26 / 32
Rotor thickness, rear (in / mm):  1.1 / 28

Wheels / Tires
Wheel size and type:  20 x 10-inch aluminum (front)
20 x 11-inch aluminum (rear)
Tires:  P285/35ZR20 summer (front)
P305/35ZR20 summer (rear) 

Dimensions
Exterior
Wheelbase (in / mm):  112.3 / 2852
Overall length (in / mm):  190.4 / 4836
Overall width (in / mm):  75.5 / 1918
Overall height (in / mm):  54.2 / 1376
Track, front (in / mm):  63.7 / 1618
Track, rear (in / mm):  63.7 / 1618 
Curb weight (lb / kg):  TBD
Weight balance (% front / rear):  TBD
Coefficient of drag:   TBD

Interior 
Seating capacity (front / rear):  2 / 2
Headroom (in / mm):   front: 37.4 / 950
rear: 35.3 / 897
Legroom (in / mm):  front: 42.4 / 1077
rear: 29.9 / 757
Shoulder room (in / mm):  front: 56.9 / 1444
rear: 42.5 / 1080

Capacities
Cargo volume (cu ft / L):  11.3 / 320
Fuel tank (gal / L):  19 / 71.9
Engine oil (qt / L):  8.9 / 8.5

Note:  Information shown is current at time of publication.


For more details visit http://www.chevrolet.com/camaro-zl1/#image1