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2017 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 First Test: Brute Squad Goals Raising Hell, Killing Tires, and Feeling the Heat By Jonny Lieberman, Senior Editor • Photography by Robin Trajano • Published: December 21, 2016 The Bugatti Veyron, that legendary 1,001-horsepower projection of Ferdinand Piëch’s ego, famously came equipped with 10 heat exchangers. The sheer thermal output of that hypercar necessitated such extreme cooling measures. Now, consider the 2017 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1. This 650-horsepower beast from the Bow Tie brand boasts an astonishing 11 heat exchangers. Yes, you read that correctly—more cooling hardware than the Veyron. Insert your favorite Spinal Tap joke here, because this Camaro is running hotter than a two-dollar pistol. But the ZL1 isn’t just extreme for the sake of spectacle. As Camaro boss Al Oppenheiser envisioned, this latest iteration of America’s pony car is engineered to dominate three distinct arenas: the drag strip, the winding canyon roads, and the unforgiving racetrack. Chevrolet’s marketing team has distilled this multi-faceted performance capability into a catchy hashtag: #ZL1triplethreat. It’s an ambitious objective, but fortunately for Oppenheiser, he had the perfect foundation, the right engineering talent, and access to GM’s most potent performance parts bin to pursue this trifecta of glory. The Alpha Platform Advantage One of the most significant factors contributing to the ZL1’s prowess is its underlying architecture. While horsepower has increased by a substantial 70 ponies compared to the previous-generation ZL1, weight has simultaneously been shed by an impressive 169 pounds. This weight reduction is largely attributable to the adoption of the Alpha platform. This scalpel-sharp chassis, which also serves as the foundation for the Cadillac ATS and CTS family, provides the ZL1 with an agility and responsiveness that belies its muscle car credentials. Visually, the ZL1 sets itself apart from its Camaro siblings with flared front fenders. These muscular bulges are necessary to accommodate the substantial 285-width Goodyear Eagle F1 Supercar 3 tires that grace the front axle—the same sticky rubber found on the Camaro SS 1LE. On the 1LE model, these front tires merely peek out from the fenders. In the ZL1, however, they aggressively fill the wheel wells, hinting at the immense grip capabilities that lie beneath. The Heart of the Beast: LT4 Power At the core of the ZL1’s formidable performance lies the LT4 engine, a veritable atomic device of internal combustion. This 6.2-liter, direct-injected V-8 is crowned with a top-mounted 1.7-liter intercooled supercharger, delivering a monumental 650 horsepower and 650 lb-ft of torque. This powertrain configuration will seem familiar to those acquainted with the Corvette Z06, which utilizes the same dry-sump version of the LT4. The Cadillac CTS-V employs a slightly detuned wet-sump variant, producing a still-impressive 640 horsepower and 630 lb-lb of torque. Here’s a crucial detail that Chevrolet might prefer to downplay: the LT4 in the Z06 is known to suffer from cooling issues. The mighty heart of the Corvette has a tendency to heat soak or overheat during demanding track sessions. In stark contrast, the Camaro ZL1 simply refuses to succumb to thermal distress. During our intensive testing regimen, which involved six sets of rear tires in just four days—no exaggeration—the thunderous V-8 never even approached its boiling point. The two most significant heat exchangers among the ZL1’s eleven are the intercoolers that flank the supercharger. These components have been ingeniously redesigned and repositioned specifically for ZL1 duty, playing a critical role in managing the engine’s prodigious heat output. It’s also worth noting the significance of the ZL1 matching the Z06’s output. In previous generations, the Corvette would traditionally claim the title of the most powerful Camaro variant. Today, Chevrolet appears content to let the Camaro stand shoulder-to-shoulder with its Corvette sibling in the performance hierarchy. The 10-Speed Automatic Revolution Perhaps the most significant technological leap in the 2017 ZL1 is the debut of GM’s 10-speed automatic transmission. Developed in conjunction with Ford, this advanced gearbox features unique gearing, valving, and control software tailored specifically for the ZL1’s performance mission. Gears one through six are tightly spaced to keep the engine in its optimal powerband during spirited driving, while seventh gear serves as a direct 1:1 ratio. Gears eight, nine, and ten are dedicated overdrive gears, designed to enhance highway cruising efficiency. The transmission’s impact extends to the ZL1’s tax burden. Should buyers opt for the traditional six-speed manual version, the federal government will levy a $1,300 Gas Guzzler tax. The EPA’s fuel economy ratings for the automatic variant were still pending at the time of our test. However, thanks to the inclusion of those three overdrive gears, there was speculation that the 10-speed ZL1 might only incur a $1,000 tax, or potentially even none at all. This could dramatically alter the pricing equation, potentially transforming the automatic transmission from a $1,595 option to a surprisingly affordable $295 upgrade. In our estimation, however, a $1,000 tax was the more likely scenario. Straight-Line Supremacy: 0-60 and the Quarter Mile When the previous-generation 580-horsepower ZL1 debuted in 2012, it was quickly overshadowed by the 662-horsepower 2013 Shelby GT500. That formidable Shelby, equipped with an inexplicably long set of gears, could reach 60 mph in a blistering 3.5 seconds—achieved entirely in first gear—and devour the quarter mile in 11.6 seconds at 125.7 mph. The original ZL1, by comparison, required 3.9 seconds to reach 60 mph and completed the quarter mile in 12.2 seconds at 116.6 mph. Chevrolet claims that the 2017 10-speed ZL1 can dispatch the 0-60 mph sprint in 3.5 seconds and conquer the quarter mile in 11.4 seconds at 127 mph. Our own testing team, however, was able to verify the 3.5-second 0-60 time. In the quarter mile, road test editor Chris Walton’s best effort was an 11.5-second run at 125 mph. The discrepancy between Chevrolet’s claim and our measured result can likely be attributed to the altitude and lower-octane premium gasoline (91 octane) in California compared to the higher-octane fuel (93 octane) typically used for manufacturer-stated figures. Regardless, an 11.5-second quarter-mile time is nothing short of exceptional. It’s quicker than thephantom Shelby GT500, which is no longer in production, and even eclipses the Dodge Challenger Hellcat, which requires 11.7 seconds at 125.4 mph. To put it in perspective, an 11.5-second quarter mile beats a significant number of bona fide supercars. Cornering Prowess: Figure-Eight and Track Performance The ZL1’s capabilities extend far beyond straight-line acceleration. This monstrous Chevrolet also excels on our demanding figure-eight handling circuit, where it laid down an elite time of 23.1 seconds. To provide context, the Camaro SS 1LE, the BMW M4 GTS, and the Shelby GT350R—all heralded as exceptional handling machines—each require 23.3 seconds. An astonishing 23.1-second lap places the nearly 4,000-pound Camaro in the same league as the 3,353-pound 2017 Porsche 911 Carrera S equipped with all-wheel steering. For perspective, the fastest figure-eight lap ever recorded in our testing was achieved by the hybrid hypercar Porsche 918 Spyder, with a time of 22.2 seconds. This means the Camaro ZL1 is less than a second shy of the pinnacle of automotive handling performance. In comparison, the GT500 takes a more leisurely 24.2 seconds to navigate the figure-eight, while the two-door Hellcat requires a substantial 24.7 seconds. The ZL1’s braking performance is equally impressive, requiring only 96 feet to decelerate from 60 mph. Any braking distance under 100 feet should be considered nothing short of excellent. The Driving Experience: More Boxer Than Ballerina Since experiencing the Camaro SS 1LE earlier in the year, I’ve consistently described it as one of the best-handling cars currently on the market. It earned fourth place in our annual Best Driver’s Car competition, trailing only the aforementioned Porsche Carrera S, the Shelby GT350R, and the outright winner, the McLaren 570S. There’s a natural inclination to view the ZL1 as simply an SS 1LE with an additional 195 horsepower. However, the extensive auxiliary cooling system and the nearly 20