What's the news?
This vicious-looking brute is the 2017 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 and the US carmaker is asserting that it will give the 'most advanced sports coupés in the world' a run for their money. Well, with 640hp and 868Nm to play with, are you gonna argue with them?
Exterior
Not simply designed to put the wind up any other road users unfortunate enough to get in its way, instead Chevy says the Camaro's form has been shaped during more than 100 hours of wind-tunnel testing and on-track validation, to ensure both the aerodynamics and the cooling are up to snuff. All of its exterior elements play a part in funnelling airflow over, under and through the ZL1, although you're looking at that demonic lower front air intake and thinking it's just to scare kids, right? Wrong - it channels more air into the engine bay than the item seen on the front of the Camaro SS. Further ZL1 identifiers come in the form of a jutting chin spoiler, wider front wings and a large rear spoiler. We happen to think this Camaro looks the absolute bomb, if you're interested.
Interior
Very brief from Chevrolet here - inside are standard-fit Recaro seats, a suede, flat-bottomed steering wheel, a gear lever finished in the same material and the option of having the company's Performance Data Recorder fitted.
Mechanicals
In one of those beautifully quaint contradictions in terms the Americans are famed for, the gigantic LT4 supercharged 6.2-litre V8 engine is described as a 'Small Block'; we hesitate to think what a 'Big Block' would be like. This monster kicks out 640hp and 868Nm (which, curiously, equates to 640lb ft), and Chevrolet doesn't quote any performance data. We'd hazard a guess that it will be seriously fupping quick.
Its maker has tried to make the ZL1 handle as well as it goes, however. Chief in this is a weight reduction of 91kg compared to its predecessor, while it is 60hp and 108Nm up on its previous outputs. Chevy fits Magnetic Ride suspension, Performance Traction Management, an electronic limited-slip differential, Custom Launch Control and a Driver Mode Selector, all of which aim to make it biddable on road or track. And on that latter score, the ZL1 has 11 heat exchangers for optimal powertrain cooling during circuit work. Wow.
In the arches sit 20-inch forged aluminium wheels on 285/30 front and 305/30 rear Goodyear Eagle F1 Supercar tyres, and behind the rims are Brembo brakes with six-piston front callipers gripping gigantic 390mm two-piece discs. Power is sent to the rear wheels via a six-speed manual transmission as standard, or - and wait for this one, now - a ten-speed paddleshift automatic. That's right, ten cogs: Chevrolet says this gearbox has a 7.39 overall drive ratio to ensure smaller steps between gears. This ten-speeder will be in eight different GM vehicles by the end of 2018.
Anything else?
"The Camaro ZL1 is designed to excel at everything," said Mark Reuss, executive vice-president of Global Product Development. "It's a 2+2 coupé offering incredible performance - acceleration, handling and braking - with the highest levels of technology and perfect chassis damping, making it suitable for everyday driving. It will compare well to any sports coupé, at any price and in any setting."
The Camaro ZL1 goes on sale later this year.