2012 Camaro ZL1

[talwell]

I dont understand all the complaining here - this is a 550hp nearly supercar. 5 years ago none of us could have even imagined that Detroit would be pumping out such cars and now we have people complaining that they are missing the boat.

What should the ZL1 be? Should it bypass the ZR1? The CTS-V is already the fastest production sedan in the world and the ZL1 is based on that platform so I think GM did a good job on that one.

The only questionable thing I see is using the ZL1 model name rather than the Z-28 - but I am sure there is reasoning behind it. Lets wait and see what else they do but to date I extremely pleased with thier output. I took my $37k 2SS car, added a little engine work and forced induction and now have a 700hp monster that runs on pump gas and you would never know it is a 10 second car.

[Stefano]

We can put a GM crate engine in for $2,000 labor, $600 tune and the cost of the crate engine, give or take.

However, we do not use crate engines in the normal course of our builds. The only GM parts we use are the engine block, bare heads and some covers etc.

For the extreme builds we use both the RHS block and Heads.

It would have been nice to see the ZL 1 start out with a real 427 and all forged internals.

[sYc]

IMO, GM played all of their cards by naming this car ZL-1. Had GM called this a Z-28, if in the future they wanted to up the ante, say a real 427 Camaro, then they would have had ZL-1 as an option. Sort of like in '69.

[1969z280]

Maybe GM decided to steal the thunder from the aftermarket by using the ZL1 name first. They may be saving the Z28 nameplate for an 8,000 RPM small cubic inch light-weight edition to compete with the new Boss 302. Of course, it will take 3-4 years to come to market.

Or maybe they're just knucleheads?

[1969l78]

I like the car. Sure its cool to have 800+ hp but the 550hp will be waving at you when all you do is spin the tires. They need the SS badge like the SLP on the front grill. That big gold bow tie looks bad.

[resto4u]

Charley, you going to buy one, now that is built by gm instead of slp? I don't know why people are complaining about 550 hp from factory. If it is priced right, and built right it will sell. And if they build it strong, people will be able to get more power if wanted. For street use, how much horsepower do you really need? But i would like to see gm offer a drag car compared to the limited edition cobra jet or a 1LE or B4C camaro again.

[69 Post Sedan]

I went yesterday to see the show, specifically the ZL1 and it was one of if not THE hottest car there. I really like the looks of the car and the 550 hp with a 6-Speed will be fun to drive. [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/[/img]

If the LSA motor is 376 cubic inches why should that be a Z28? They only had 302 in the first gen cars. What GM should do is build a high revving all aluminum 5.3. IMO

Anyway, the car was beautiful and looked MEAN. There were a lot of people carrying FORD bags looking at the car! [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/naughty.gif[/img]

Kurt

[Stefano]

We rev the stock Camaro 376ci to 7000 rpms and our street friendly 427s to 7,500 [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/[/img]

LS engines, just rock!

[70 copo]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 69 Post Sedan</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
If the LSA motor is 376 cubic inches why should that be a Z28? They only had 302 in the first gen cars. What GM should do is build a high revving all aluminum 5.3. IMO

Kurt </div></div>

General Motors Corporation started all of the Z28 talk back in 2007 along with the specification for the blown LSA based upon the Caddy V. By mid 2008 when gas went to 4.50 per gallon and the company began its long trip to chapter GMCORP then announced no Z28 for the upcoming roll out.

Then fast forward to fall of 2009 where Ed Welburn the VP of the new post chapter General Motors Company - kicked off the latest round of Z28 talk by himself talking to the press about it.

http://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/2009/...reen-light.html

The Z28 thing has legs nearly as long as the next Led Zeppelin reunion rumor, however the now defunct GMCORP and the current GM Company own this situation as they started it killed it, then restarted it and changed the name when the cost skyrocketed out of site.

My opinion is that CAFE may also play a part here. GM was banking on a roll out 80% V6 to 20% V8 sales ratio. What they got was nearly the reverse and that impacts the CAFE average. A reasonable priced Z-28 would have had lots of guys with SS cars trading them in. The Mini diesel planned for the trucks would have helped greatly but that project also was killed as the company went into chapter.

[barker]

I was fortunate to ride in the #1 Fred Gibb ZL1 down the Las Vegas Strip with the electronic diverters WIDE OPEN!!!! THAT did turn some heads!! We also did get into the 850 HP Supercharged 427 on Sahara Drive and had it sideways. That was WITH the traction control still on. IT WAS A HELLUVA RIDE!!