The 2017 Camaro ZL1 Is A Musclebound Monster

Lighter, stronger, faster. What’s not to like?

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With a supercharged 640-horsepower, 640-lb.-ft. 6.2-liter small block V8, the 2017 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 boasts 60 more horsepower and 80 more lb.-ft. of torque in a car that weighs 200 lbs. less than its predecessor. Those numbers make it the most muscled-up Camaro ever, though Chevy has yet to release official performance results or pricing.

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The ZL1 package transfers most of the track-ready hardware from the Corvette Z06 to the Camaro, including magnetic ride suspension, huge Brembo six-piston monobloc brakes, electronic limited slip differential and a launch control system perfect for impromptu drag races.

The ZL1 rolls on its own unique 20-inch wheels with Goodyear Eagle F1 Supercar tires and can be identified from its larger aerodynamic front splitter, rear wing, wider front fenders and a hood that incorporates extractor vents to aid in engine cooling. 

Chevrolet’s Performance Data Computer is available to video your laps and provide an overlay indicating the ZL1’s performance throughout the lap, and Recaro bucket seats and a suede-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob are standard equipment.

Enthusiasts will naturally want their ZL1 equipped with the six-speed manual transmission, especially because its automatic rev-matching will make them look like a hero. But the ZL1 also marks the debut of a new 10-speed automatic transmission, if your commute makes the idea of a clutch pedal unbearable.

“Driving the Camaro ZL1 is best described as ‘fast with finesse,’” said Mark Reuss, executive vice president of global product development. “It is beautifully balanced, with perfect damping and isolation for optimal performance and driver confidence in virtually any situation – from the Pacific Coast Highway to Willow Springs to Pomona.”

Or wherever else Camaro drivers choose to roam.

For the latest car news, follow @MaximRides and Dan Carney on Twitter.

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