What's all this about?
You're looking at pure malevolence in car form. This monster is the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, due on sale later this year, and isn't it just brilliantly evil?
It certainly is. Does that bodywork play any part in aero or cooling, or is it just for show?
Oh no, it has been designed with more than 100 hours of wind-tunnel testing and on-track validation to ensure it is both aerodynamically sound - flowing air under, over and through the ZL1 - as well as capable of cooling the mega drivetrain down if you go on track; 11 heat exchangers are fitted purely for this purpose. With wider front wings, a jutting splitter and that large rear spoiler, the ZL1 looks absolutely cracking. And as for that demonic front air intake... wow!
How well-equipped is it inside?
Chevy focuses only on the key attributes of the cabin in this announcement, so buyers will get standard-fit Recaro seats, a flat-bottomed steering wheel and a gear lever finished in suede, and the option of equipping the company's Performance Data Recorder.
Succinct. Can we talk about the engine now?
Indeed. Coyly called a 'Small Block', motive power for the Camaro ZL1 comes from a supercharged, 6.2-litre V8 with the codename LT4. This brute churns out 640hp and 868Nm - which, for people with OCD levels of neatness, is 640lb ft if you prefer. The car is 91kg lighter than the old ZL1 and boasts output increases of 60hp/108Nm, although Chevy doesn't quote any performance data at this stage. The arsenal of chassis equipment to keep all this on the blacktop is impressive: Chevrolet has fitted Magnetic Ride suspension, Performance Traction Management, an electronic limited-slip differential, Custom Launch Control and a Driver Mode Selector.
What about those wheels?
They're 20-inch forged aluminium items sitting on tyres with a track-biased compound; Goodyear Eagle F1 Supercar rubber of fat 285/30 front and 305/30 rear aspects. Bringing the ZL1 to a halt is a mighty braking system that, at the front alone, features Brembo six-pot callipers gripping ginormous 390mm two-piece discs. You've got a choice of two transmissions, as well, one with six speeds and one with ten.
A ten-speed gearbox?!
Yes, as standard the ZL1 will have a heavy duty six-speed manual but the automatic option is a ten-speed paddleshift affair. Chevrolet says it has geared this to a 7.39 final drive to ensure small steps between each cog and it also says that by the end of 2018, this transmission will be found in eight different GM vehicles.
Do we know if it's coming to the UK?
It's highly unlikely. Which is a massive shame, considering how impressive it looks both in the metal and in terms of its on-paper specification.
Matt Robinson - 16 Mar 2016
