The sixth-generation Camaro’s hottest performance variant to date is gradually arriving in Chevy showrooms as the last few weeks of December roll out. This supercharged coupe is often called a four-seat Corvette Z06 – and for good reason. The ZL1 shares much of the Z06’s technology, including the supercharged 6.2-liter LT4 V-8. Luckily I know a guy with a sparkling new example sitting in his garage, parked next to his Concours-quality 1972 Camaro Z/28.
With less than 500 miles on the ZL1’s odometer, the high-strung car is 1,000 miles short of its GM-recommended break-in period. Then meant no high-speed runs, burnouts, or hard pulls past 4,000 rpm. The warranty depends on it. Nevertheless, I set out to get a feel of the Camaro ZL1’s infamous character.
Not surprisingly, the ZL1 feels remarkably like the Camaro SS I took across country during Chevy’s “Find New Roads” campaign when the sixth-gen Camaro launched last year. The narrow windows, low roof, and high waist line gives the sensation of a cocoon, while the view over the long hood and low seating position solidify the car as something special. The heavily bolstered Recaro seats and the blatantly audible supercharger whine, on the other hand, set the ZL1 apart from the SS.
From behind the Alcantara-covered, flat-bottomed steering wheel, the Camaro ZL1 feels lighter and more nimble than its fifth-generation predecessor. Toggle the Performance Traction Management system into Sport mode, and the car tenses up like an Olympic sprinter at the starting line. The steering becomes more taught, the throttle becomes twitchier, the ride becomes firmer, and the dual-mode exhaust opens up. The change isn’t just mental – the PTM modes make aggressive changes to the ZL1’s behavior that are clearly felt.
Continue reading for the full driven review.
from Top Speed http://ift.tt/2gPMXRk
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