In Russia, the Chevrolet Camaro muscle car is typically available only with a basic turbocharged four-cylinder engine delivering 238 horsepower. However, in its home country, the USA, the Camaro comes in various powertrains including V6 and V8 options. The flagship ZL1 model is particularly formidable, equipped with a supercharged LT4 V8 engine that pumps out an impressive 650 horsepower.
The Camaro ZL1 was recently put through its paces at the high-speed Papenburg track in Germany. The car impressively clocked speeds up to 325 km/h (202 mph) in one direction and 311 km/h (193 mph) in the opposite on the 12-kilometer circuit, which features challenging profiled turns. Consequently, the super-Camaro’s top speed is officially listed at 318 km/h (198 mph). During the iconic Daytona 500—marking the start of the new NASCAR season—Chevrolet took the wraps off an even more extreme track version: the Camaro ZL1 1LE.
The 1LE package isn’t limited to just the lower Camaro trims; it enhances the vehicles with upgraded brakes, additional spoilers, an advanced cooling system, bespoke suspension setups, a self-locking differential, Recaro sports seats, a dual-mode exhaust system with acoustic valves, and even an integrated video recorder that captures speed and acceleration data. Yet, the flagship Camaro ZL1 1LE stands apart: its fierce appearance is bolstered by a massive front splitter, corner canards, a carbon-fiber rear wing, and distinctive 19-inch wheels.
The chassis of the ZL1 1LE has been tuned following the playbook of track-oriented sports cars. Engineers have fitted Multimatic shock absorbers with proprietary DSSV spool valves and included adjustable sway bars and strut mounts, allowing for quick adjustments to wheel camber. Thanks to these enhancements and the Goodyear Eagle F1 Supercar 3R tires—specially designed for this model—the Camaro ZL1 1LE achieves a lateral acceleration of up to 1.1g in corners.
Brakes – with six-piston Brembo calipers and composite discs
Multimatic shock absorbers with DSSV spool valves
Moreover, the track-ready Camaro is lighter by 27 kg, owing to the use of forged wheel rims, thinner rear glass, and a fixed rear bench. Notably, this track version comes exclusively with a six-speed manual transmission, whereas the standard 650-horsepower Camaro ZL1 is also available with a ten-speed automatic. In testing, the 1LE version lapped Milford’s proving ground three seconds faster than the regular ZL1.
While the price for the 1LE package has yet to be announced, the starting price for the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 in the U.S. is $61,000. This beast is not just built for the track—it’s crafted to dominate it.
Photo: Vasily Kostin
This is a translation. You can read an original article here: На гонке NASCAR представили трековое купе Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE
