You can’t deny a Camaro’s ability to accelerate in a straight line, but cornering at high speeds can be like tap dancing in a minefield. That’s why Chevrolet Performance dug deep into GM’s engineering resources to build the 2018 Camaro ZL1 1LE. Taking aero lessons learned on the previous Z/28, extensive use of carbon fiber keeps the car planted at speed. The 6th generation car rides on the lighter and stronger Alpha chassis and ditches the comfy magnetic shocks for brutally efficient DSSV units. The 6.2 liter LT4 is borrowed from the Z06 at full power, delivering 650 hp and 650 lb-ft to Goodyear’s first cup tire.
The Eagle F1 Supercar 3R is entering an elite arena going up against Pirelli and Michelin, so Chevy gave them an advantage. Measuring 305mm, they are among the widest FRONT tires in the world. The rears are 325, a full 10mm wider than the tires on the Ferrari 812 Superfast. It is also the first production car to offer a ten-speed automatic, which was co-developed with Ford for the new Raptor. Purists like Rick Hendrick will undoubtedly order the six-speed manual for the ultimate driver experience. What does all this add up to? The ‘normal’ ZL1 was clocked at 7:29.6, so the lucky test drivers have been hard at work pushing the 1LE to its limits. A YouTube member named statesidesupercars happened to be at the right spot to catch the 1LE in action. If superchargers irritate you, our dealers have a nice selection of Super Sport and Z/28 cars to choose from. Stay with us for the official time and hopefully a dash cam view of from Chevrolet
