Photos by Scott Jacobs
Hours after the official tweet about its claimed 7:41.27 Nurburgring lap time, the very same 2012 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 prototype showed up at our photo studio in Southern California. GM's product chief, Mark Reuss, was driving it. Equipped with a full cage, the car had genuine-looking grime/patina on it, apparently residue from its 2 weeks in Germany.
Reuss told us one of the automaker's top engineers, Aaron Link, put 40 laps on the car over three days, during which time he worked out the parameters for the second most aggressive of the ZL1's five Performance Traction Management driving modes (it'll be called "Full Race" and fall just short of the "Holy crap, everything's off!" setting, as Monticello named it, on the aggression spectrum), which govern the behavior of the stability control, electric power steering and adaptive magnetic dampers. The supercharged 6.2-liter LSA V8 was reportedly running in stock tune during the lap session, meaning 580 horsepower and 556 pound-feet of torque.
As you'll see, the car is wearing street tires -- the same Goodyear Eagle F1 Supercar G:2s you'll see on the production cars -- and Reuss told us it wore these during the timed laps.
While we were crawling around the ZL1, taking photos of it and revving the engine for as long as they'd let us (no burnouts this time), Reuss talked a bit about future plans for the Camaro line.
"The next generation of these cars needs to be something that's quite different," he said. "More mass-efficient and certainly different powertrains. We won't change the car's DNA, but it will represent something quite different."
When someone asked if that translates to six-cylinders and forced induction on the performance-themed Camaros (instead of today's V8s), he didn't put down that possibility. Interestingly, though, Reuss said GM won't go that route with its trucks (a la Ford F-150 EcoBoost).
"There are a lot of other approaches on an electrification basis that may be more relevant."
Toward the end of the visit, the conversation turned to our "new" 1991 Acura NSX long-term car. "That's an awesome formula," Reuss said. Then, he related a story from his previous life as a body engineer. His team tore down an NSX back in '91. They were so impressed by the stiff yet lightweight fiberglass door-hinge pillar Acura had designed for the car that they subsequently "borrowed" it for the 1997 Buick Park Avenue.
Note the copy of Hot Rod Deluxe what are the odds that they were left there accidentally?
mboily says:
10:48 AM, 10/ 6/11
WOW, 7:41 incredible...it bloes my mind
Didi you had the chance to talk with him about pricing on this baby?
thank you for the nice pictures.
mike
mboily says:
10:49 AM, 10/ 6/11
Correction:
WOW! 7:41 incredible...it blows my mind.
Did you have the chance to talk with him about pricing on this baby?
Thank you for the nice pictures.
mike
throwback says:
11:14 AM, 10/ 6/11
Nice car, but umm, who's the blonde lady? An engineer?
subytrojan says:
11:20 AM, 10/ 6/11
She is the best news editor around!
bodyblue says:
12:03 PM, 10/ 6/11
Anybody ask him about the new GM/BMW joint research project? Has not been getting much news.
stovt001 says:
12:03 PM, 10/ 6/11
So cool, but I'm worried about the next gen. There had better be a naturally aspirated V8.
ufoninja says:
12:28 PM, 10/ 6/11
I wonder how much that roll cage adds to the Camaro rigidity.
stovt001 says:
12:31 PM, 10/ 6/11
I've heard the Zeta platform is extremely rigid (one possible reason it is also so very heavy) so the cage may not add much.
rayzor says:
12:39 PM, 10/ 6/11
Wow! This is so great. One of my favorite dream car!!! Nice going IL!!!
stress83 says:
12:49 PM, 10/ 6/11
Did you have an opportunity to belittle or make condescending remarks about GM to their face, or is that merely relegated to the blog postings?
yellowperil says:
12:49 PM, 10/ 6/11
Why the camo job?
blackdynamite1 says:
01:36 PM, 10/ 6/11
Why didn't they run it on Michelin Pilot Sport Cups, like the ZR1, Viper ACR, and GT2 RS did to get their best times?
BD
alukashe says:
02:27 PM, 10/ 6/11
Because the camaro wont be available with the Sport Cup tires unlike the cars you've mentioned.
chevy598 says:
02:45 PM, 10/ 6/11
Does anybody else notice the scrapes going down the side of the Camaro? Someone was driving the Camaro like he stole something. BRAVO...
Whoever was driving must have had permission to swing for the fences, and that is a good thing.
blackdynamite1 says:
02:48 PM, 10/ 6/11
Alukashe
Thanks for stating the obvious. The question is why not?
They are motivated enough to run recorded Lap Attacks @ The 'Ring before the car is even in production, but they don't use the rubber the ZR1 used to improve their time by 7 seconds?
BD
wrinklebump says:
03:35 PM, 10/ 6/11
the dude ran the ring to configure parameters for one of the suspension settings, as stated in the article. it serves no engineering purpose to run on slicks for the sole purpose of igniting flame wars.
how often we forget that the course was a development circuit before it became a lightning rod for keyboard battles.
chevy598 says:
03:44 PM, 10/ 6/11
wrinklebumb,
Well said, and it makes a lot of sense. GM engineers were there to "tweak" suspension settings. It makes no sense to change suspension settings based on tires that won't be on the production Camaro.
mbukukanyau says:
04:08 PM, 10/ 6/11
That is an awesome car. Its a collectors item
natdmann says:
06:11 PM, 10/ 6/11
This ZL1 reveal reminds me of the 2003 Mustang Cobra reveal circa 2002. Almost a decade later Chevrolet has really come around to embrace the supercharged V-8 idea, I wonder where all the Chevy homers are that were bashing the idea back then. Believe me, its a GREAT idea, anyone who drives it wont be able to wipe the smile from their face. I have been driving an 03 Cobra for the last 8 years, STILL SMILING!
smallfield says:
06:23 PM, 10/ 6/11
I wonder if the new M3 next year will be faster around the ring?
This is about 20 seconds faster then current M3. That a lot to make up - especially if they use a FI - 6. I know what they say about the interior, blah, blah, blah. But if you were looking at an M3 and wanted a nice interior, wouldn't you go Audi?
john1168 says:
07:15 PM, 10/ 6/11
Get your big V8's while you still can because it sounds like in a very few years they'll be gone or very limited in availability with the looming cafe standards. It sounds like the next Mustangs will be the same way.
oneliterbeater says:
07:34 PM, 10/ 6/11
Sparco Evo L passenger seat. Large lol.
mk40 says:
08:22 PM, 10/ 6/11
What's the point of the all the camo? 7:41 is impressive. GM should release a short in car video on the ring for about a mile just to wet our appetites some more.
"There are a lot of other approaches on an electrification basis that may be more relevant."
Oh sweet... like maybe a massive 200lb-ft chain driven E-assist on a 5.3L DI V8 with cylinder deactivation. The E-assist would allow the V8 to stay in deactivation mode in more situations and for longer. No turbo lag. The E-motor may be the turboboost of the future. Of course on a pickup there are plenty of places to stash a modest size battery pack for such a mild hybrid system.
How about instead of a expensive more compact e-motor a log shaped industrial grade e-motor nestled in the V like a supercharger with a chain dropping down to the crankshaft?
zr1man says:
08:32 PM, 10/ 6/11
I am happy to see IL taking a Chevy product seriously. Perhaps, GM making IL the first stop after the Nürburgring run is the start of a beautifully friendship.
The ZL1 is a wonderful car and is a great value. However, personally I like the performance and handling of the ZR1 better.
The pics that show the car, all decked out to take the ring, are absolutely awesome.
It's good to see little bro grow up.
maxx18 says:
12:18 PM, 10/ 7/11
This thing has been fully race prepped. How are they trying to pass off this time as being equivalent to what a car off the showroom floor could do? This car is completely different than what you will buy at a dealer. Who cares if it is running stock tires......that is the least of this car's issues.
kosmo69 says:
01:10 PM, 10/ 7/11
Racing buckets? WTF that definately helps w/ the time.
Cups tires wont work on this car as its too heavy. The thread life will be about 2000miles!
Overall at about $50k its a good performance value. Hey Ford improve the Cobra.
natdmann says:
09:28 AM, 10/ 8/11
I dont think there is a FORD MUSTANG COBRA anymore. Shelby GT500, BOSS, GT, and Base....No Cobra. I did notice they put a little COBRA in that Camaro. (not Ford related though)
pontiaksolsice says:
09:52 PM, 10/ 8/11
My only complaints run with the interior of the car - the steering wheel and lack of proper sport seats.
I'm thinking this car, and all Camaros for that matter should have a Recaro seat package - a la CTS
I'm also a little disappointed that the steering wheel remains the same. The Regal GS gets a slightly thicker and flat bottomed wheel, and it fits the car's personality that much more. With an even greater power boost between the SS and ZL1, it seems that there would be a little more interior performance oriented upgrades in the works..unless that is part of the surprise :)
hwyspeeder says:
10:21 AM, 10/10/11
Lol "next camaro generation improved efficiency" is just a parroted GM party
line. The car might get 2-3 extra mpg and reduced emmissions, and have their
little Cruzes and Volts for green adverts but they'll keep building sports cars,
trucks, and SUVs people want to drive. Body kit and wheels look pretty cool, but
they'll miss the mark on pricing. It'll probably be well north of $65K, when in
reality this trim should be around $50K. Great car but at the end of the day it's
a camaro. The SRTs were probably the biggest rounded bargain in recent history,
425HP for $42K. I don't care about the interiors, I drive the car, not look at its
interior. I test drove a V6 the other day and 300HP for $23K, with the exhaust blip
and low end torque was pretty great.
hwyspeeder says:
10:23 AM, 10/10/11
Lol "next camaro generation improved efficiency" is just a parroted GM party
line. The car might get 2-3 extra mpg and reduced emmissions, and have their
little Cruzes and Volts for green adverts but they'll keep building sports cars,
trucks, and SUVs people want to drive. Body kit and wheels look pretty cool, but
they'll miss the mark on pricing. It'll probably be well north of $65K, when in
reality this trim should be around $50K. Great car but at the end of the day it's
a camaro. The SRTs were probably the biggest rounded bargain in recent history,
425HP for $42K. I don't care about the interiors, I drive the car, not look at its
interior. I test drove a V6 the other day and 300HP for $23K, with the exhaust blip
and low end torque was pretty great.
5lv8 says:
03:31 PM, 10/14/11
As Mustangs and Camaros increase in speed and handling ability, I think Chevrolet needs to discontinue the cheaper Corvette models. The Base Corvette and Grand Sport Corvette are falling too far behind the Z06 and ZR1 models. I would choose a GT500 or ZL1 Camaro over either lower price Corvette.